A new survey from British Gas has revealed that 82% of Britons admit they will do almost anything to avoid their most dreaded household chores, with booking a boiler service among the tasks most likely to be postponed.
Cleaning the oven topped the list of the UK’s most-delayed jobs at 41%, followed by sorting the junk drawer (30%) and defrosting the freezer (28%). Booking a boiler service ranked 20th, with 8% admitting they put it off altogether.
When it comes to boiler maintenance, 22% delay booking a service for up to three months and 18% only arrange one after receiving a reminder. A further 7% wait until something goes wrong.
Nathan Martin-Nicholls, Technical Repair Engineer at British Gas, said: “It’s easy to forget about your boiler when it’s warm outside, but summer is actually one of the best times to have it serviced. A simple service can help spot any issues early and gives you confidence that your heating is ready for when the temperature drops.”
The consequences can be costly. Around 21% of respondents said they had experienced a boiler breakdown after delaying or skipping a service, with 11% left without hot water and 10% losing heating during winter.
Copyright © 2026 Energy Live News LtdELN