British Gas reveals the jobs Brits are avoiding most – and encourages households to get winter-ready this summer

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British Gas teams up with football mascot Boiler Man to give households the nudge they need to move boiler servicing up the to-do list before winter arrives. 

• 82% of the nation admit they'll do anything else before tackling dreaded chores – with oven cleaning, sorting the junk drawer and booking a boiler service among Britain's most-postponed jobs 

• The never-ending to-do list strikes again, with 85% saying everyday jobs are piling up and 54% convinced they'll never reach the end 

• Some household jobs can wait until tomorrow, but boiler servicing is one worth getting match-ready for - with 22% delaying for up to three months and 18% only booking after a reminder 

• Boiler Man is swapping the pitch for pre-season preparation, teaming up with British Gas to help households get winter-ready with services from £79 as part of its Summer Sale 

Whether it’s scrubbing the oven, sorting the junk drawer or finally tackling that growing pile of life admin, Brits are proving there’s always something they’d rather be doing. And it’s not just a few guilty procrastinators - a new survey from British Gas reveals 82%^[1] admit they’ll do almost anything before facing the jobs they’d rather avoid. 

Cleaning the oven tops the nation’s newly compiled list of the 20 most-postponed chores, followed by sorting the junk drawer and defrosting the freezer. Worryingly, even essential maintenance is being put off, with booking a boiler service featuring among the nation’s most-postponed tasks. 

Whether it’s watching a film (44%), catching up on trashy TV (41%), playing games on their mobile (37%) or reading a book (34%), Brits are finding plenty of creative ways to avoid tackling the to-do list. 

But while an untidy drawer can probably wait another day, a boiler service is one job that's worth bringing forward. A fifth (22%) delay arranging a boiler service for up to three months, while 8% admit they've been putting off booking one altogether. For many, it takes a nudge to finally get it done, with almost one in five (18%) only booking a service after receiving a reminder, while 7% wait until something goes wrong. 

To help households get ahead of winter, British Gas is teaming up with Ideal Heating's Boiler Man, a familiar face at West Bromwich Albion through the brand's long-standing partnership with the club. This summer, Boiler Man is stepping off the pitch and onto the streets to remind Brits to give their boilers a pre-season fitness test before winter kicks off. 

Because when it comes to boilers, there’s no such thing as extra time. More than one in five (21%) say they've experienced a boiler breakdown because they delayed having it serviced or skipped a service when it was due, leaving 11% without hot water after their boiler broke down and 10% shivering through winter because their heating failed.  

For many Brits, the to-do list is becoming less of a checklist and more of a running tally of jobs waiting in the wings. With everyday tasks constantly competing for attention, it’s no surprise nearly six in ten (59%) describe themselves as major procrastinators, while 85% say they’re juggling a growing list of jobs. In fact, 57% have as many as ten tasks waiting to be ticked off, with more than half (54%) feeling there’s always another job ready to take its place. The pressure of unfinished tasks has even caused household tensions, with almost half (48%) admitting they’ve fallen out with someone over a job left undone. 

There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of finally ticking a job off the list – especially when it helps avoid a bigger headache later on. A third (33%) have ended up spending more money after delaying a task, while 21% have paid for a more expensive repair as a result. In fact, 30% of Brits admit they’ve missed out on a good deal by putting off household tasks. 

To help Brits move boiler servicing from the bottom of their to-do list to the top, British Gas is offering households the chance to book a boiler service during its Summer Sale. Customers can book an annual boiler service for £79 when they join free British Gas Membership. 

Nathan Martin-Nicholls, Technical Repair Engineer at British Gas: “I know what it is like having a never-ending to-do list, sometimes I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get on top of mine – my freezer is calling out for a defrost, while I have a collection of rubbish that is patiently waiting to be taken to the tip!  

“Life is busy at the moment so it’s inevitable that certain jobs fall to the bottom of the list, like the boiler.  

“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. That's why we're working with Boiler Man this summer to remind households it's a good time to get their boiler serviced.” 

With the Summer Sale now live, British Gas is encouraging households to use the longer summer days and weekend downtime to get ahead of winter. Research shows that when Brits do finally get around to their outstanding tasks, it’s most likely to be at the weekend (26%), on days off (14%) and during the summer months (14%). Avoiding bigger problems down the line (32%) and saving money (24%) are among the biggest motivators for getting things done - making now the ideal time to book a boiler service before winter arrives. 

With winter just around the corner, British Gas is reminding households that summer is the ideal time to service their boiler, and potential issues can be spotted before they become bigger problems. Households can find out more about the Summer Sale and book a boiler service at https://www.britishgas.co.uk/heating/boiler-service.html. 

THE TOP 20 JOBS BRITS PUT OFF 

1. Cleaning the oven - 41% 

2. Sorting out the junk drawer - 30% 

3. Defrosting the freezer - 28% 

4. Ironing a pile of shirts - 25% 

5. Unblocking a hair-clogged shower or plughole - 24% 

6. Cleaning the wheelie bin - 23% 

7. Taking rubbish to the tip - 21% 

8. Making an appointment with the GP about something you've been ignoring - 21% 

9. Scraping dog mess out of the grooves in your shoe - 20% 

10. Cleaning the gutters - 20% 

11. Returning an unwanted online purchase - 18% 

12. Clearing out the loft - 17% 

13. Trying to get scrambled egg off the bottom of a non-stick pan - 15% 

14. Putting together flat-pack furniture - 15% 

15. Filing a tax return - 14% 

16. Pairing up a huge pile of odd socks - 14% 

17. Fixing a dripping tap - 13% 

18. Calling the bank - 11% 

19. Sewing a button back on - 11% 

20. Booking a boiler service - 8%