With many households in County Down unaware of the significant savings they could be making on their energy bills, OFTEC and the Consumer Council Northern Ireland are urging consumers to book a professional boiler service that could reduce fuel bills by as much as 10% per year.
Recognising that over 60% of households use oil as their main heating source in Northern Ireland, OFTEC, which represents the oil installation and servicing industry, has teamed with the Consumer Council, to produce a series of short, practical videos to help keep households safe and make their boilers more efficient.
This campaign is very timely with household incomes and spending under severe pressure according to the latest inflation figures. OFTEC and the Consumer Council videos aim to arm consumers with tips to make their budgets go further.
The campaign not only focuses on cost and energy savings but reinforces the importance of home heating and oil tank safety to protect homes and the environment. With approximately ten oil tank incidents reported to UK environment agencies every day, there is a significant concern that consumers are unaware of the importance of looking after their oil tanks to prevent leaks and minimise the risk of house fires.
The new campaign will see OFTEC registered technicians working alongside the Consumer Council to raise awareness amongst consumers of responsible steps that can be taken to protect homes and ensure storage tanks are fit for purpose.
John French, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council said: “We want consumers to receive the best service when it comes to home heating and energy. We would encourage all households to use an OFTEC registered technician for boiler and tank servicing. We hope the campaign and videos will raise awareness of this and help consumers make informed choices.”
David Blevings, Head of OFTEC Ireland, added: “Feedback from technicians indicate that many households unfortunately only get their boiler cleaned, rather than serviced. An OFTEC registered technician will ensure your boiler is serviced correctly using a flue gas analyser which is the only instrument that can detect carbon monoxide.
“In addition, you will receive a CD11 report advising you of what work has been done, the efficiency level of your boiler and any recommendations to improve your heating system. We are delighted to work together with the Consumer Council in Northern Ireland to bring this message to households, with the independent body reinforcing the importance of using an OFTEC registered technician to ensure a reliable service.
“Organisations such as OFTEC exist to reassure consumers that their home is in good hands. Technicians all have an identification badge with the OFTEC logo clearly visible to enable customers to easily ascertain if the technician is registered.”
For more information and to view the videos, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCirzg7kbVhwVupsVK7Ju8IA
