We still have an old oil heating system from 2008 running at home and I'm wondering how often it needs to be serviced. A buddy mentioned it's important for safety, but I'm not sure if yearly or every two years is enough.
Do you use the heating all year round or just in winter? Generally, an oil heating system should be serviced once a year - it's not just important for safety, but also to keep the system running efficiently and make it last longer. With a heating system from 2008, I wouldn't be any more lenient about it - you should take it seriously instead. Your buddy's right, it's worth it.
Your buddy's right that maintenance is important, but whether it really *has* to be yearly depends a bit on your situation. With an oil heating system from 2008 that's still running, I'd say: at minimum every two years is the absolute bare minimum, but yearly is better. The reason isn't just safety (soot buildup, burner wear), but also consumption - a poorly maintained system burns through way more oil, and you'll notice that pretty quickly on your bills.
A practical tip that a lot of people forget: check the inspection sticker from your last service (if you've got one) or call the heating installer who put it in or serviced it last. They can tell you straight up how long ago that was and whether your system is even still worth anything. Some old oil heaters eventually just aren't economical to repair anymore, and then maintenance doesn't make sense either. With a 2008 system, that could definitely be relevant.
If you don't know when the last service was, I'd get one done now and then do it yearly after that. It doesn't cost a fortune and saves you a fair bit of money over the year in the end.
Annual maintenance is really standard for oil heating systems and legally required - your buddy's got that right. With a system from 2008, I wouldn't take it any easier, but rather take it seriously, because older systems are more prone to wear and tear and regular inspections help catch bigger problems early on. The technician checks the burner, filter, nozzle and measures the exhaust values - that might cost you 150 - 250 euros, but it saves you potential repairs in the five-figure range. If your heating is still running reliably, that's a good sign, but that's exactly when you shouldn't skip the maintenance.
With oil heating systems, maintenance is legally required and must be done annually - it's not optional, it's mandatory. With a system from 2008, I'd recommend not putting off maintenance but having a qualified technician come out regularly so efficiency doesn't tank and potential problems get caught early.
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