Calibration of your thermometer is an important consideration if you are going to rely on it for your results and to ensure that the readings it provides are accurate. Although there are no hard and fast rules about how often to have your thermometer calibrated, it is considered good practise to have it checked at least once a year.
Types of Calibration
Not all calibration is equal, when you need your thermometer calibrated you usually be offered a traceable certificate. This means that your thermometer will be checked against another thermometer which has a UKAS certificate. So, your thermometer results are checked against another thermometer results and the differences noted.
The other type of calibration certificate is a UKAS certificate. This can only be issued by a UKAS certified laboratory, which means the laboratory to whom you are sending your thermometer will have to meet and then be subject to a strict review process by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). A UKAS certificate of calibration is a higher level of certificate than a traceable certificate.
