Hi, as a service engineer, I can tell you
servicing your appliance is a good idea, not only does it require cleaning
and testing to ensure efficiency, but a FULL and PROPER service checks
your entire house for gas leakage, and checks all the safety systems on
your appliance are in good working order. It also ensure the applaince consumes the correct ammount of gas and bruns it completely ensuring
the minimum ammount of carbon monoxide (safe limits) are generated and
safely dispelled to the outside.
Point in fact, ona recent visit to a customers house, where a gas boiler installed 5 years previously had never been serviced or checked, when testing the appliance was producing over 1000ppm of carbon monoxide due to a 5 year old installation fault. If god forbid a flue seal got damaged
lets say during room decoration this appliance was one step away from killng....yes killing the occupants (they would have had about 10-15 mins before unconsiousness) so I do belive in having you appliance serviced anmd safety checked once a year as minimum, alos your gas fire, hob, cooker, tumble dryer and any other gas appliance should alos be checked on the service visit.......