Under no circumstances should you try to fix your home heating oil boiler!
With a bank holiday looming, it’s a great time to catch up on those jobs around the house. However, attempting to fix your own oil central heating system could result in injury or even death! The concern comes from many qualified oil heating engineers who have turned up to potentially lethal ‘bodge jobs’. 
The ‘DIY fails’ listed include a poor attempt to service a broken down oil central heating boiler, relocating a heating oil tank, blocking up flues and attempting to fit new radiators (badly). Should you experience any problems with your oil fired central heating system, it is imperative, that a qualified engineer carries out the work.
- Gas heating systems need a Gas Safe Registered engineer
- Heating oil and solid fuel systems need an OFTEC registered technician
Northern Energy can put you in touch with a long list of qualified technicians on 01423 770 666. Malcolm Farrow, Marketing and Communications Manager at OFTEC, commented: “Whilst spring is a great time to reach for the tool box, it is easy to get carried away and attempt to fix or repair jobs which really should be left to the experts.
Don't DIY!
“Some of our technicians have raised concerns over the growing trend of DIY heating fixes. Undertaking this kind of work without appropriate training is fraught with risk, not just to you but also your family and neighbours. It can potentially lead to a fire or explosive hazard or the possibility of a serious fuel leak. There is also the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which is notoriously hard to detect because it is a clear and odourless gas - but it can kill. “A botched job can also leave you in the cold with a heating system that is even more costly and time consuming to repair.” Mr Farrow added: “Following prolonged use over the cold winter months, now is a good time to have your heating system serviced to check it is working correctly and efficiently. By using an OFTEC or Gas Safe registered technician, you can be confident the work will be completed professionally and to a high standard. “It’s particularly worthwhile for domestic heating oil households that are continuing to benefit from a significant fall in the price of oil, helping them make huge savings. We recommend using some of this extra money to employ a professional technician to give you complete peace of mind.”
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Having an annual boiler service makes sense – It can reduce your running costs by up to 10% per annum and prevent expensive repairs. Our Emergency Boiler Breakdown Cover will provide you with the complete peace of mind that you won’t be left without heating or hot water for long periods of time. Our emergency assistance takes the hassle out of you having to find a heating engineer and entitles you to two call-outs within each twelve month period of membership. With no excess to pay, and trusted OFTEC or Gas Safe engineers, be prepared for the unexpected with our oil or LPG emergency boiler breakdown cover.
It is important to note that the oil boiler ban, as proposed by the UK government, aims to phase out the installation of new fossil fuel boilers, including heating oil boilers, by 2026. This means that homes will no longer be able to install new oil boilers after the specified date. The ban is part of the government's efforts to transition to more sustainable and cleaner energy sources to combat climate change.