Boiler Service Exeter: Gas Safe Yearly Servicing

A quarter of Exeter households rented privately at the 2021 Census, and a large part of that is student housing around Duryard, St James, Newtown and Mount Pleasant. For landlords, the annual gas safety check is a legal deadline, not an optional service.

Exeter's water is in South West Water's soft supply for most of the city, so limescale is less of a concern than in many English cities. A service here focuses on combustion, seals, the fan and the condensate system.

Exeter at a glance

Water hardness: Mostly soft. South West Water says most of its supply comes from moorland rivers and reservoirs and is soft or moderately soft. East Devon, supplied from boreholes, is the one area it treats as hard, so homes on the city's eastern edge should check their postcode. Source
Electric heating by area: In St David's ward, which covers the city centre, 27.6% of households (1,319) heated with electricity only in 2021. Exwick was at 19.7%, Duryard and St James at 17.4% and Newtown and St Leonard's at 16.3%. Source
Renting: 24.9% of Exeter households rented privately in 2021 and 16.6% rented from the council or a housing association. Source

Student lets and HMOs

Every gas appliance and flue in a rented home must be checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer every 12 months. Give tenants a copy of the record, within 28 days for existing tenants and before new ones move in, and keep it for two years.

Student houses often change tenants in summer. Booking the check for June or July, when the house is empty or between lets, avoids access problems. You can do it up to two months early and keep the same anniversary date.

Remember that a safety check is not a full service. Ask for both if you want the boiler maintained as well as certified.

On the visit

The engineer opens the boiler, inspects the burner and heat exchanger, analyses the flue gases, and checks gas pressure and safety devices. They should clean the condensate trap and inspect the flue along its length, including any sections hidden in a ceiling or cupboard.

Not every Exeter flat has a boiler

About one in nine Exeter households heats with electricity only, and in St David's ward it's more than one in four. If your flat has storage heaters or a communal system, you don't need a boiler service. A heat interface unit on a heat network is maintained by the network operator.

Exeter homes and what they need

Interwar and post-war semis

Semis in Whipton, Pinhoe and Alphington often have the boiler in the kitchen with a side-wall flue. Check the flue terminal isn't blocked by a new fence, shed or extension.

Victorian and Georgian terraces

Terraces in Heavitree, St Thomas and St Leonard's may have boilers in lofts or tight cupboards. Make sure there's safe access and good light.

New-build estates on the edge of the city

Newer homes in Cranbrook, Pinhoe and Alphington may be on a communal heat network or a heat pump. Check what you have before booking a gas engineer.

Areas covered

Engineers who cover Exeter work across areas including Heavitree, St Thomas, St Leonard's, Pennsylvania, Alphington, Whipton, Pinhoe, Exwick, Topsham and Cranbrook.

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Questions people in Exeter ask

Does an Exeter combi need a scale reducer?

Usually not in soft water areas. If you live on the East Devon side of the city, check your water hardness by postcode first.

How long does a service take?

Around 45 minutes to an hour. Our boiler service guide explains what's included.

Sources

Also nearby: Boiler servicing in Plymouth, Boiler servicing in Bristol, Boiler servicing in Bournemouth

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