Cover Price of Boiler & Central Heating Breakdown Reviews & Comparison

WITH THE RIGHT LEVEL OF BOILER COVER, YOU COULD AVOID AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL IF YOUR BOILER BREAKS DOWN.

Boilers have a habit of breaking down when we need them most and can often cost an arm and a leg to fix. For these reasons, more and more people across the UK are taking out boiler cover, which is designed to protect homeowners against the costs of emergency repairs

What is A Boiler Cover?

Boiler cover is a type of insurance that protects you from pricey call-out fees, as well as the costs of parts and labour. So, if your boiler stops working and you have a good boiler cover policy, you’ll get emergency assistance from a qualified engineer and avoid having to pay for any repairs. Some boiler cover policies also include the cost of replacing your boiler if it is deemed irreparable. You will, however, have to pay a monthly or annual fee for boiler cover from your chosen provider.

Who Needs Boiler Cover?

All homeowners should think about getting boiler cover, provided your boiler is not already covered by your home contents insurance. Even if your boiler is not automatically covered on your home insurance policy, it’s worth asking your insurer about add-on boiler cover as you may find they offer you a better deal. If you live in a rental property, it’s your landlord’s responsibility to take out boiler cover to ensure you always have hot water and stay warm whatever the weather.

It’s important to mention that some property types are excluded from boiler cover, as are boilers above a certain age. Many providers will only offer cover for boilers that are 7 years old or younger, whereas others have higher age limits of 10 or 15 years.

Types of covers

Whether you’re just looking for a cheap boiler insurance, or want a full cover with no excess, there’s a range of options for all budgets.

You can cover the costs of servicing and repairing your boiler or heating system for a monthly or annual fee: call-outs, parts and labour costs can all be included, depending on the type of cover you choose.

Boiler cover

• Covers your boiler and its controls.
• 24/7 call centre so you can immediately arrange a call-out for a boiler breakdown.
• Optional annual service and maintenance check

Boiler & central heating cover

• All the benefits of boiler cover.

Plus +

• Covers radiators, pumps and flue.

Boiler, central heating, plumbing & wiring cover

• All the benefits of boiler and central heating cover

Plus +

• Choose whether you would like your plumbing and drains, electrical wiring or both included.

https://www.uswitch.com/boiler-cover/application/

Can I get cover for an older boiler?

Some policies set maximum ages for boilers they will allow you to take out cover for – usually 15 years – so if you have a very old boiler you may need to shop around for cover. Our boiler cover reviews include this information in the tech specs. Some policies may also limit how much they’ll pay towards repairs. It’s worth choosing a policy with an unlimited claim cost, which will also replace your boiler (or pay some money towards a replacement) if it’s beyond economic repair.

How much does boiler cover cost?

Those in our August 2020 survey of Which? members paid, on average, £288 a year for a boiler cover package. In general, the more your cover includes, the more you’ll pay for it. While boiler cover may offer peace of mind that you won’t have to shell out a fortune if your boiler breaks down, in reality, the likelihood of needing a very expensive repair is low. We’ve calculated that paying for boiler cover is financially worthwhile for just 6% of people on average. This is based on the proportion of those we surveyed whose combined boiler repair cost plus annual boiler service cost (based on an average boiler servicing price of £80) exceeded the average annual boiler cover cost of £288 over the past year. The majority of people (66%) told us that they buy boiler cover for peace of mind. Just 4% have boiler cover because their boiler is unreliable or keeps breaking. Based on our survey respondents’ experiences, if you’re unlucky enough to have to pay for a repair, you’re likely to only need to do so once or twice over a boiler’s lifetime. Overall, 35% of survey respondents have never had to call out an engineer to fix their boiler.

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/boiler-cover/article/how-to-choose-the-best-boiler-cover-aYodD8Z46xjC

How does boiler cover work?

You’ll be covered for boiler repairs, which generally includes labour and spare parts, as well as any extras included in the policy. However, depending on your provider, the cover may work in different ways:

• There may be a limit on how long the engineer can spend on repairs
• You may also be restricted on how many claims you can make a year
• There may be a waiting period after you take your policy out during which you won’t be able to claim
• Your boiler might not be covered if it’s too old or can’t be economically repaired.

Do I need boiler cover?

Boiler cover can sometimes be included as part of home insurance, so it’s worth checking to see if you already have cover in place before taking out another policy. If you’re renting, boiler cover should ultimately be your landlord’s responsibility – though you may be able to take out your policy if your landlord permits you.

It’s always a good idea to have boiler cover in place if you can, as many providers have waiting periods that prevent you from claiming at the start of the policy. This is to discourage people from only taking out boiler cover during an emergency –it’s, therefore, a type of policy worth considering to ensure you won’t be without heating and hot water if something does go wrong.

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/boiler-cover/

Top 17 Best Boiler Cover Plans: Compare From £4.99 A Month

Boilers keep your home warm and ensure you have access to hot water, so it’s essential to keep them in good working order. Boiler cover and maintenance plans may offer peace of mind if something does go wrong and ensure you know who to call to get the problem fixed as soon as possible. Many companies and manufacturers offer boiler cover or maintenance plans, and we outline the best plans from the top providers below.

The table below gives a quick comparison of the best UK boiler cover and maintenance plans.

COMPANY	MINIMUM PLAN COST (PER MONTH)	EXCESS
YourRepair	£9	£60*
24|7 Home Rescue	£6.99	£95
Prominence Support	£4.99	£50
Aviva	£12.50	£50
HomeServe	£8	£100
Corgi	£12.35	£60
British Gas	£14	£60
Axa	£5.49	£99
Scottish Power	£3.50	£99
EDF Energy	£7.92	£95
E.ON	£7.99	£100
WarrantyPeople	£3.99	£100
SSE	£4.95	£90
Domestic & General	£17.50	£0*
Vaillant	£51.98	Not stated
Baxi	£11.75	Not stated
Worcester Bosch	Not stated	Not stated
Hometree – Insurance	£12.95	£95

* Indicates a call-out charge rather than excess.

** The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing (November 2020) but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples-to-apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide is a starting off point for more research on your part, and you should always read through the full terms and conditions before purchasing any insurance or maintenance plan.

Below we profile each of the companies’ plans and features in a bit more detail.

1. YourRepair

• Gas boiler and controls care
• £60 call-out charge
• Unlimited call-outs
• Free annual boiler inspection
• No exclusion period if you switch
• Carbon monoxide test

2. 24/7 Home Rescue

• Emergency breakdown cover for your boiler
• 30-day rolling contract
• Complimentary boiler service in the first year
• £95 excess on all claims
• No claims value limit for boilers in good working order
• Parts and labour included in the cover

3. Prominence Support

• Up to £1,000 per claim
• Covers Boiler and Controls
• Optional Yearly boiler service
• 24/7 UK call centre with trained technicians
• No excess options
• Multiple claims per year

4. Aviva

• Cover for your gas boiler, gas supply pipe, and central heating
• Initial boiler health check
• Annual boiler service, with carbon monoxide detector
• No claims limit for boilers in good condition
• Replacing a boiler less than 7 years old costs only your excess
• Unlimited gas supply pipe claims, up to a value of £4,000

5. HomeServe

• Breakdown cover for your gas boiler and gas supply pipe
• Boiler health check included
• Optional free boiler service
• Unlimited claims
• No claims value limit for boilers in good condition
• Additional cover for central heating available for purchase

6. Corgi

• Cover for your gas boiler, gas supply pipe, and central heating
• Excess of £60
• Annual boiler service
• Unlimited call-outs
• Combined claims limit of £2,000
• Boiler repairs limited to £300 in first 3 months

7. British Gas

• Breakdown cover for your gas boiler and gas supply pipe
• Excess of £60
• Annual boiler service
• Unlimited claims, up to £1,000 each
• Further coverage can be purchased

8. Axa

• Emergency gas and central heating systems cover
• Engineers available on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• No call-out charge
• Up to 5 claims per year
• Claims limit of £1,000 including parts and labour
• The credit of £250 towards replacing faulty boilers

9. Scottish Power

• Breakdown cover for your gas boiler and controls
• Excess of £99
• No call-out charges
• The claim limits up to £1,500 annually
• Up to £750 towards a replacement boiler
• Repairs by Gas Safety registered engineers

10. EDF Energy

• Emergency gas boiler and control cover
• Excess of £95 per claim
• No call-out charges
• One boiler service in the first year
• Up to £500 towards a replacement boiler
• 12-month guarantee on all parts

11. E.ON

• A gas boiler, central heating, and gas supply pipe cover
• Free boiler health check
• Complimentary boiler service for new customers in the first year
• Unlimited claims and no ceiling on the value of claims
• Gas supply pipe repairs covered up to £4,000
• 6-month exclusion on boiler replacements

12. WarrantyPeople

• Emergency cover for your boiler and controls
• Unlimited call-outs
• No limit on claims or claims value
• Parts and labour included in the cover
• Response in as little as 4 hours
• UK call centre open 24/7

13. SSE

• Emergency cover for your boiler and controls
• Parts and labour included in the cover
• Unlimited call-outs 24-hours/day
• Call centre open 24/7
• £250 towards boiler replacement
• 18-day freeze on claims for new customers

14. Domestic & General

• Maintenance for boilers and controls
• Boilers less than 15 years old covered
• Includes annual boiler service
• No call-out charge
• £1,500 repair limit per year
• Up to £750 towards a replacement boiler

15. Vaillant

• Repairs and maintenance for Vaillant boilers and controls
• 1-year guarantee on parts
• 90-day guarantee on labour
• No call-out charge
• £1,500 repair value limit
• Up to £750 towards a replacement boiler

16. Baxi

• Cover for your gas boiler
• Annual boiler service
• No call-out charge
• Yearly claims limit of £1,500
• Will replace boilers up to £750
• Call centre open 7 days a week

17. Worcester Bosch

• Boiler and control maintenance and care
• Annual service included
• Up to £1,500 worth of repairs
• Maximum of £750 towards a replacement boiler
• Worcester-based call center open 24 hours
• The network of 300 Gas Safe engineers

Things to take note of when you compare boiler cover service providers:

• Your boiler may be too old to be repaired with currently available parts.
• You may find a limit to the amount of time an engineer can spend on a repair.
• When you take out your policy, you may have to wait a period of time before you can
  make a claim.
• You may only be able to make a certain amount of claims a year.
• Your boiler cover may not include an annual service as standard; please check the level of your policy.
• Your boiler may not be covered if you don’t regularly maintain it. (I.E. limescale buildup)
• Your home insurance may already cover boilers so please check your policy before buying a new one.
• If you’re a renter, your landlord might have to cover the boiler repair and maintenance so check your rental agreement for more information.
• Make sure your engineer is certified gas safe before allowing any repairs or modifications to your system. Gas safe engineers are the only ones legally allowed to do any repairs on gas systems in the U.K.
• You should be aware of your boiler’s working condition and able to recognize tell-tale signs of a fault such as a pilot light not being blue, strange smells, weird sounds, and any drop in performance that can help you take action asap.
• The cover is available for all types of boilers from gas, condensing, combi, and even oil boilers.

What does boiler insurance include?

Your boiler insurance can cover the cost of:

• calling an engineer out
• the labour
• replacement parts
• an annual boiler service by a registered Gas Safe engineer as part of a boiler service plan.

Boiler cover can be used for three main types of gas- and oil-fired boilers. These are conventional boilers, condensing boilers and combination boilers.

What can I claim for with my boiler cover?

All boiler insurance policies are different. Most often, boiler breakdown cover is for repairs and replacements for your boiler and controls and your central heating.

With the boiler and controls, you can call an engineer out if your boiler, thermostat or programmer stop working. Sometimes, boiler breakdown cover means you’ll get a new boiler if it’s under seven years old and can’t be repaired.

Having central heating cover means you won’t have to pay for repairs to your gas central heating system. This includes your radiators and hot water cylinder.

You might also want to think about getting home emergency cover too. This covers things like your plumbing, drains and electrics. You’ll pay more, but you might feel it’s worth it. Find out more about the home emergency cover here.

The most basic, cheapest boiler cover is usually just boiler breakdown cover. But if you’re willing to pay more, you could get everything included, such as central heating cover and a boiler service plan.

https://www.money.co.uk/home-insurance/boiler-insurance.htm

Beware of price hikes

British Gas, in particular, will take you on at a reasonable price and then start hiking the monthly charge after the first-year elapses, or if you make a claim. This week, Money was contacted by a reader who has just been told his British Gas HomeCare Four policy (which includes the whole central heating, electrics and plumbing) was rising to £711 a year. The same cover was offered to new customers online for £456 a year. The worst thing you can do is to sign up to a provider and not monitor the sums being taken by direct debit each month. A year ago we reported how British Gas had ramped up another customer’s premium to an astonishing £895 a year – more than the cost of a new boiler. You have been warned.

Self-Insurance

Assuming you have a reliable boiler – ideally one that is still in warranty – do you need cover at all? An annual service typically costs £80, and if your boiler is still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, that’s all you need each year. Just make sure that you comply with the warranty rules and use an approved contractor if required. Outside warranty, we reckon most people will find that it will be cheaper to pay as they go assuming they have a reliable plumber close at hand – ideally the person who installed it. You will have to be pretty unlucky to run up bills of more than £280 a year, which is what most people pay for these policies.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/sep/14/boiler-cover-plans-are-they-worth-buying

Boiler breakdown cover eliminates the hassle and stress of having to find an engineer in an emergency. Heating cover can offer security and assurance that a problem can be fixed quickly avoiding an unexpected and potentially expensive repair bill. The price and what is included in the cover varies greatly – Boiler Guide compares the deals currently on offer from the leading suppliers. All covers displayed include parts and labour, 24/7 emergency helpline and unlimited call-outs.

What’s Included In A Boiler Cover Package?

Depending on the plan you choose, some several features and services may be included. Some plans offer annual boiler servicing as part of their cover and some will cover the costs for any parts and labour needed. Unlimited call outs are provided by some suppliers and some even guarantee same-day response.

 Whether these options are included in your plan, will depend on the level of insurance cover you require and how much you are prepared to spend on your premium.

Always read the small print before signing up to a boiler or central heating cover plan. All providers usually have some limitations on what is included. Some put an upper limit on the amount that can be claimed, others offer a limited number of call-outs per year. Always check what the provider terms as an emergency. Situations such a dripping tap may not be entitled to a call out from an engineer or a boiler over a certain age.

How important these limitations are to you will depend on exactly what you require from your insurance, the level of service you want and the financial cost of the premium.

Benefits of boiler cover

It can be inconvenient and annoying if your boiler or central heating system happens to break down. Not only are you left with a cold home but also it can be difficult finding a plumber at very short notice. If you have boiler insurance, you will have peace of mind that should a breakdown occur, it will be dealt with quickly and efficiently by a qualified engineer provided by your heating cover supplier.

All heating engineers sent out by boiler insurance providers are Gas Safe registered and fully approved, meaning the work will be carried out professionally. Help will be available to you, as and when you need it.

Am I eligible for boiler cover?

There are certain situations where you may not be eligible to take out central heating cover or boiler insurance:

• Some providers will not cover boilers over a certain age. It is unlikely you will be offered insurance for a boiler over 15 years old.
• Council tenants are excluded from purchasing boiler insurance or heating cover. There will be provisions already made in their tenancy agreements for any repairs or emergencies.
• Properties used for commercial purposes are excluded from certain cover plans.
• Not all providers will offer cover for homes with a very large boiler output. Properties with seven or more bedrooms are usually ineligible.
• If you own your own home, you are eligible to take out boiler insurance except if you live in a bed-sit or mobile home. If you rent your home privately, it is your landlord’s responsibility to arrange boiler cover and council tenants have special arrangements laid out in their tenancy agreement provided by their local authority.
• Not all central heating systems are eligible for heating cover and boiler insurance. Most providers will not cover a system over a certain age, as repairs will not be economical. Older central heating systems and boilers may break down frequently, resulting in expensive repair costs or replacement parts may no longer be easily obtained.

Switching boiler cover provider

Did you know that you don’t have to take out your boiler cover with your energy supplier? If you currently have a cover with your energy provider, you are free to change to another company if you find a deal that better suits your needs, without switching energy supplier.

Before cancelling your current boiler cover plan, check the small print in the terms and conditions. Each provider will have different methods for cancelling or terminating cover plans. Sometimes the procedure may be as easy as letting your supplier know you wish to end your contract and cancelling your Direct Debit if you have one.

Sometimes when you cancel insurance your provider may offer you a refund on the time remaining on your plan. This will depend on several factors, such as whether you paid the full premium in advance or whether you have made any claims during the period of cover. Not all providers will offer a refund; however, some may offer a full refund and others only a partial amount.

Switching your heating cover provider is a simple and straightforward procedure but first of all, ensure you compare prices of all the boiler insurance and heating cover plans available. If you find a supplier who can offer you a better deal and provide you with a cover that suits better, you are free to switch at any time.

Key Considerations When Buying Boiler Cover

As boiler cover policies vary greatly, you must select a plan that best suits your needs. When you start looking into the different levels of cover available, you may find that a boiler-only cover plan is not enough. Here are the two main options you need to consider:

Boiler breakdown cover

This type of policy only covers the cost of any repairs to the boiler and its controls.

Boiler and central heating cover

If you take out boiler and central heating cover, not only are your boiler and its controls protected but also your central heating system including your radiators, plumbing and more.

Both types of cover policies may include free extras or add-on options for a fee, such as an annual boiler service. When choosing a policy, always look carefully at the conditions to see precisely what you’re getting for your money. Also, make sure you choose a policy that gives you 24-hour, year-round cover for breakdowns.

We should point out that some plans carry an excess. Certain policies also include claim limits, and others require you to pay out for emergency call-outs or part of the repair costs. For example – if your boiler stops working and the cost is £800 to get it fixed but you’re only covered for £500, you’ll have to pay £300 towards the repairs. However, there are slightly more expensive plans available that don’t have these limitations or any additional charges.

Before signing up for boiler cover, ask yourself whether you need it. If you have savings that will easily cover potential repair costs, it may not be worth the money. Another option is to self-insure by putting aside some cash each month to cover boiler emergencies. But remember, having cover gives you peace of mind that you’ll never have to wait long for a qualified engineer to repair your boiler.

Always Compare Boiler Cover

If you feel that boiler cover is the right option for you, we recommend you shop around for the best deal. Prices vary depending on the provider, the type and age of boiler you have, and whether you want a cheap, mid-price or comprehensive plan. With this information in mind, it’s a good idea to know how much you’re willing to spend before you shop around.