A pre-winter home check in Ireland usually covers a boiler service, a gutter clean, a chimney sweep and a look at attic insulation and exposed pipework. Taken together, a typical semi-detached home can expect to pay roughly €250–€550 in call-out and service fees in 2026, before any repairs are found and quoted separately.
Prices checked: October 2026
| Job | Typical cost (2026) | Why it matters before winter |
|---|---|---|
| Gas boiler service | €70–€180 (average around €130) | Keeps the manufacturer’s warranty valid and catches faults before the first cold snap |
| Oil boiler service | €60–€100 | Same reasons as a gas service; most home insurance policies expect an annual service record |
| Gutter cleaning, 2–3 bed semi-d | €70–€180 | Blocked gutters overflow in heavy rain and can lead to damp walls and rotten fascia |
| Gutter cleaning, large or detached house | €150–€300+ | More roofline and downpipes, often needs a tower or scaffold for access |
| Chimney sweep | €50–€120 (Dublin tends to sit at the higher end) | Reduces chimney fire risk and is required by some home insurance policies |
| Attic insulation top-up, net cost after the SEAI grant | Roughly €100–€400 depending on house type [CHECK with your installer] | An uninsulated or thin attic is usually the single biggest source of heat loss in an Irish home |
Access is the biggest factor for roof and gutter work: a two-storey detached house with a steep roof costs more to work on than a bungalow or a mid-terrace. For boiler servicing, the make and age of the boiler matters, since older or unusual models can take longer and need specific parts. For attic insulation, the SEAI grant amount depends on your house type: €2,000 for a detached house, €1,500 for a semi-detached or end-of-terrace, €1,400 for a mid-terrace and €1,100 for a top-floor apartment, rising to as much as €2,500 for first-time buyers and people getting certain welfare payments. Your attic must have been built and occupied before 2011 to qualify, and you need the grant offer in place before work starts.
A standard boiler service usually covers a visual inspection, a flue gas analysis, cleaning of key components and a safety check, with a short written report. It does not usually include replacing parts such as pumps, valves or seals, which are quoted separately if something is found. A gutter clean covers clearing leaves, moss and silt from the gutters and checking downpipes run freely; it does not usually include repairing cracked gutters, replacing brackets or fixing fascia and soffit, which are quoted as extras. A chimney sweep clears soot and debris from the flue; it is not a full structural inspection, though most sweeps will flag obvious problems like cracked liners or nesting birds.
Gas boilers can only be legally serviced by a Registered Gas Installer (RGI) in Ireland. Ask for the installer’s RGI number and check it on the RGII website before work starts. If any electrical work is involved, such as wiring for heating controls, use a Safe Electric registered electrical contractor (REC) and confirm them through the Safe Electric “Find a REC” search. For any tradesperson, ask for proof of public liability insurance and, for bigger jobs, get more than one quote in writing before you agree to the work. TradesmanIreland.ie does not vet or verify the tradespeople who list on the site, so this checking is worth doing yourself every time.
You can usually clean low, easily reached gutters yourself from a stable ladder on level ground, and most people can check their attic insulation depth and top it up over existing insulation if the attic is safe to move around in. Lagging exposed pipes in a garage, attic or outhouse with foam pipe insulation is a straightforward DIY job. Never attempt to service a boiler yourself, and never attempt gas or chimney flue work: these need a registered professional, both for safety and to keep your insurance valid. Roof work at height, particularly on steep or two-storey roofs, is also best left to a roofer with the right access equipment.
Aim to get it done before the clocks go back in late October, while installers still have availability. Booking early also means any parts that need ordering arrive before the first really cold week.
Most homes need gutters cleaned once or twice a year, typically in autumn after the leaves have fallen and again in spring. Homes near trees may need an extra clean.
Yes. Soot and creosote build up even with light use, and a blocked or dirty flue is a fire risk and can let fumes back into the room.
Yes, SEAI continues to offer fixed grants toward attic insulation for homes built and occupied before 2011. Confirm the current amount and apply for your grant offer before any work starts, since work carried out before approval is not eligible.
For a frozen pipe, you can try gently warming it with a hairdryer on a low setting or warm towels, but call a registered plumber if you are unsure. For a burst pipe, turn off the water at the internal stop valve or the stopcock in the attic cold water tank, then open taps to drain the system before calling a plumber.
For gas work, check the installer’s RGI number on the RGII website. For electrical work, search for the contractor on the Safe Electric website. For every job, ask to see proof of insurance and, where relevant, photos of previous work.
[Tradesperson input: ask a member tradesperson to confirm these prices and add a one-line quote with their name and county.]
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