Preparing For Winter
Lack of home heating check-ups is costing households in Munster a pretty penny
Less than half of Irish households commit to an annual home heating service, with approximately one in ten in Munster claiming to only get their heating checked when there is an issue, despite vital safety and money-saving benefits of a regular service.
Research from OFTEC Ireland has revealed that only 9% of households prioritise a home heating service on their ‘ life-admin’ to do list, with tasks such as assessing banking options or insurance policies taking priority.
Commenting on the recent findings, Consumer Expert Sinead Ryan emphasised how many households are unaware of the increased efficiency of a properly serviced boiler, as well as the decrease in annual fuel bills that come with it.
“It’s not just the increased efficiency associated with regular boiler servicing; it’s also a safety issue. Taking the simple and inexpensive precaution of getting an annual service should be part of every household’s admin list,” Sinead commented.
Although a ‘membership of professional registration scheme’ was deemed the most important for Irish households when choosing to service their heating equipment, just under half didn’t previously recall receiving a report of the work done.
Sinead added: “Before you invite a technician to start work on your home, it is so important to check they are certified, qualified and can undertake the job safely – you need to know your home is in good hands. Less than half of those surveyed who had recently had their appliances serviced could recall receiving a report for the work done; this should not be the case. Households need to be careful, I would encourage people to really commit to a certified annual service and don’t let it fall off the ‘ life admin’ to do list. Regularly servicing your boiler is just as important as regularly servicing your car.”
The findings also highlighted that the 55 – 64 year old generation are more likely to spend money on home improvements, rather than expensive holidays or a new car. As pre-retirement home alterations increase in popularity, it is expected that many will avail of grants to upgrade their oil-based heating system to ensure it runs effectively and at a reduced rate.
David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager pointed out that technicians across every county of Ireland have often come across botched repair jobs and inefficient boilers which are subsequently adding to the homes running costs. “Unfortunately, many households only get their boiler cleaned, rather than serviced. A certified service reduces fuel bills and saves money on costly call-out fees for unexpected breakdowns,” he said.
Oil is the most prominent home heating fuel in Ireland, particularly in rural areas, with over 700,000 homes using it as their main heating source. It is one of the cheapest home heating fuels in Ireland over a four year average, with competitive prices due to a large number of distributors across the country.