This is a step that many neglect in October, however, it is a necessary part of maintaining a house and the consequences can be serious if it is forgotten.
Autumn is slowly setting in. The days get shorter, the air gets cooler and the house becomes a cocoon again. We turn on the heating again, we prepare the first fires in the fireplace, we enjoy more cozy evenings. But this season also has its downside: it marks the return of often neglected obligations in the house. And if you forget them, the consequences can be serious: in the event of a disaster, your home insurance may reduce or even refuse compensation.
Many owners don’t know: being insured is not always enough to protect your home. In the event of an incident, your company may request proof that certain checks have been carried out. Without this document, no coverage. And the problem is not limited to administrative paperwork. Behind this formality lies a much more concrete risk: that of carbon monoxide poisoning, an invisible and odorless gas, responsible for several thousand accidents each year in France.
To avoid these tragedies, the law has made precise control obligatory. Since decree no. 2009-649 of June 2009, all boilers with a power between 4 and 400 kilowatts must undergo annual maintenance. This is not a simple recommendation: it is a legal obligation which engages your responsibility.
Concretely, this maintenance must be carried out by a qualified professional. He inspects, cleans and checks the proper functioning of your boiler. At the end of the intervention, he will give you an official certificate which you must keep carefully. In the event of a claim, this document is your only proof to the insurer and without it, reimbursement may be compromised. A little practical advice: make an appointment in advance, because in the fall, heating engineers are often saturated.
And the boiler is not the only point of vigilance. The sweeping of chimneys and stoves is also a legal obligation, governed by the General Code of Territorial Communities (L.2213-26). Here again, only the intervention of a professional counts, with a certificate as the key.
By complying with these mandatory checks, you protect your home, avoid unpleasant surprises and maintain your rights with your insurance. So before winter sets in, think about this step: a simple gesture to gain security and peace of mind.
