What a Boiler Service Should Actually Include
What a competent heating service involves, what should appear on the paperwork afterwards, the questions worth asking, and what to keep in your own records.
Guide
Home systems · HS-02
Water Heater Maintenance Log
A free printable water heater maintenance log — flushing, anode checks, pressure relief valve tests and temperature settings for a cylinder or tank.
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2 pages. Choose your paper size — both versions are laid out identically, so neither one gets shrunk to fit.
Print it and write on it
Fill it in type and save
The fillable versions have real form fields — open them in any PDF reader, type into them and save. Printing help.
What this sheet is for
Track the two jobs that decide how long a water heater lasts: flushing out sediment and replacing the sacrificial anode before it is gone.
Who it is for
Homeowners with a storage cylinder, tank or tankless heater — especially in hard water areas.
How to use it
- Fill in the identification block once from the rating plate.
- Record each flush, anode check and relief valve test.
- Note the temperature the thermostat is set to.
- Use the warning-signs list as a prompt at each check.
What is on the sheet
2 pages, in this order:
Page 1
Printed under the title: Servicing and inspection record for a hot water cylinder, tank or tankless heater. Sediment flushing and anode replacement are the two jobs that decide how long it lasts.
Write-on lines: Location · Make & model · Serial number · Capacity · Installed · Type · Anode type / last replaced
Service record
Table, 13 rows: Date · Flushed · Anode checked · T&P valve tested · Temp. set to · Work / parts · By
Page 2
Watch for
- Rumbling or popping when heating — sediment build-up
- Rusty or discoloured hot water
- Damp, staining or corrosion at the base
- Weeping or dripping from the pressure relief discharge
- Water noticeably slower to reheat than it used to be
Ruled lines: Notes and anything specific to yours
Questions
What is an anode rod and why does it matter?
It is a sacrificial metal rod that corrodes instead of the tank. Once it is used up, the tank starts corroding. Replacing it is far cheaper than replacing the cylinder, but it is invisible unless someone checks.
How hot should the water be?
Set temperature involves a trade-off between scalding risk and bacterial growth, and there is specific guidance in most countries. Follow your manufacturer's instructions and local guidance, and record the setting here.
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