Experts have issued a warning over a boiler mistake that could cost you thousands of pounds this winter.
Households have been advised to service their boiler or risk having to pay £2,597 to replace it.
Concerns have been raised after research revealed one in five homeowners are not servicing their boiler due to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
And almost a quarter of respondents have not had their boiler serviced in more than two years, it showed, which significantly increases the risk.
The survey, commissioned by the Heating and Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC), looked at 2,000 homeowners in the UK.
Director Stewart Clements said: “The cost-of-living crisis has been felt widely across the UK, and heating is one of the first expenses people are looking to cut down on.
"When a boiler is serviced, it will run more efficiently, resulting in less energy usage and lower bills come the end of the month."
With the average cost of a boiler replacement coming in at £2,597 according to Which?, many Brits could be at risk of far larger bills than they bargained for.
While the average cost of a service is £86.
The research also shows the majority of Brits are worried about the price of heating this winter.
More than nine in ten households said they are worried about the price of their heating this winter.
As a result, almost nine in ten say they will also be changing their home heating habits to battle the rising costs.
It comes amid geopolitical tensions and climate concerns affecting the global price of energy.
Not servicing your boiler not only means it could run less efficiently but it will also run a higher risk of repairs and replacement works.
This could lead to a bigger upfront fee instead of a service charge which averages around £100.
There is also likely to be a sharp rise in boiler replacements as people cut spending, since more than half of Brits have no breakdown cover plan, according to the research.
The HHIC has now issued a warning for homeowners to understand the financial risks of avoiding boiler servicing.
Mr Clements said: "Not only does an annual service of your boiler mitigate larger sums of replacement, but it can also save you money by cutting your energy usage.
"It is up to the heating industry to demonstrate to UK households that a service is a cost saving measure in the long run, no different to a service we get done annually for a cart."
The HHIC also released a guide with tips on how to get your boiler serviced, using thermostats to increase efficiency, system water treatment and using inhibitors to ensure the heating system is working at its best.
Mr Clements added: “In order to ride this period of energy bill increases, the industry must share with the wider public key information on how to use energy more efficiently to their long-term benefit.
"This avoids an ad-hoc approach where efficiency is down, and risks of system malfunctions are up."
