Is boiler cover worth it?

What is boiler cover?

Boiler cover is a type of insurance that helps you cover the cost of essential boiler repairs. If your boiler stops working, your boiler cover provider will help you do some or all of the below, depending on the level of your policy:

• Pay for the cost of the repair. When you make a claim, you’ll be asked to pay the excess you agreed to when you took out the policy. The rest will be paid for by your provider, up to an agreed claim limit.
• Arrange for a heating engineer to fix the problem. Some boiler cover providers will send a Gas Safe registered engineer to fix the problem, so you don’t have to call around to get quotes and arrange a date for your repair.
• Replace your boiler if it’s beyond repair. Depending on your level of cover and the age of your boiler, some providers may offer a payment towards a new one or replace your boiler entirely.

Is your boiler covered by your home insurance?

Home insurance policies may cover your boiler, but coverage can depend on certain circumstances i.e. sudden or accidental damage (be sure to check your policy).

Usually, a home insurance policy won’t cover a boiler that fails due to wear and tear or neglect.

However, they could pay for damage caused by a faulty boiler, such as if oil or water leaks from your boiler and damages the floor or carpet.

You may be able to add boiler cover to your home insurance policy for an extra cost, but make sure you check the terms and conditions. Some policies won’t pay out if your boiler is of a certain age or model, or if you haven’t had it serviced regularly.

Does home insurance cover boiler replacement?

Most standard home insurance policies won’t pay out for a boiler replacement. Check the level of your cover and what’s included to avoid a shock if something goes wrong.

If you’ve opted for extra boiler cover or home emergency cover as part of your policy, then make sure you check your policy documents to see if there are any limitations or exclusions.

Some policies may only pay a certain amount towards a boiler replacement, so it’s always useful to get a few quotes and have a ballpark figure in mind about how much a boiler replacement might cost before you commit to a policy.

What does boiler cover include?

Boiler cover often comes in different levels and tiers so you can customise your cover to suit you. You might see the following options:

• Level of cover i.e. Do you want to cover your boiler or the pipes connecting to it as well (sometimes called central heating cover)?
• Level of excess (how much you’re willing to pay for each new claim)
• The option of a free or paid boiler service

HomeServe for instance, offers 2 tiers of boiler cover:

Gas boiler cover

A boiler only policy will help get your boiler back up and running when a problem occurs, it also covers your boiler controls and HomeServe will even pay for a replacement if it’s beyond repair (if the boiler is less than 7 years old, we’ll pay for the installation, too).

Inclusions

• A boiler breakdown that leaves you without heating or hot water
• Repairs to your boiler’s controls and components
• A leaking gas supply pipe
• A gas boiler service (free in your first year)
• Replacement of your boiler where it’s beyond repair

Exclusions

• Faulty radiators
• Water pipes, tanks and cylinders external to your boiler
• The gas pipe leading into your meter
• Installation costs (parts, labour and VAT) where the boiler is aged 7 years or over

Gas boiler and central heating cover

If you want complete peace of mind, then it sounds like boiler and central heating cover is for you. With this cover, you’ll be able to claim for boiler repairs and problems with your heating pipes and radiators.

Inclusions

• A boiler breakdown leading to loss of heating and hot water
• Repairs to your boiler’s controls and components
• A repair of a leak inside your central heating system
• A gas boiler service (free in your first year)
• A leaking gas supply pipe
• Replacement of your boiler where it is beyond repair

Exclusions

• Plumbing and/or drainage problems
• The gas pipe leading into your meter
• Installation costs (parts, labour and VAT) where the boiler is aged 7 years or over

What’s not included in boiler cover?

Even comprehensive boiler cover doesn’t cover everything. For instance, the gas pipe leading to your gas meter is the responsibility of Cadent or your gas distributor, so it won’t be covered by your policy.

Some policies may also have exclusions or limitations around new boiler replacements, so be sure to check the details.

How much does boiler cover cost?

Boiler cover can cost anywhere from £4 to £20 per month, and the price you pay will depend on:

• The level of cover
• The amount of excess you need to pay per claim

The right level of cover and excess will be different for everyone, but you should try and find the balance between affordable monthly payments and an excess that you’d be comfortable paying if something goes wrong.

HomeServe’s boiler and central heating cover costs £14.50 a month in the first year with a £60 excess for each new claim you make. Plus, you can claim as many times as you need for unexpected boiler and central heating problems.

For context, the average emergency call-out charge for a heating engineer is £74.97*, but the cost of an actual repair with replacement parts could be much more.

Do you need boiler cover? Is it worth it?

Whether boiler cover is worth it or not depends on you, your home and your financial situation.

Since your boiler and central heating have a big impact on your life, boiler cover can make those unexpected breakdowns a little less stressful by helping you sort the problem quickly, without the potentially costly repair bill.

How to determine if boiler cover is right for you

To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together a few top tips to make sure boiler cover is worth it for you:

1. Pay attention to the terms and conditions

Most insurers won’t cover a boiler that already has a problem, so be sure to read the application questions carefully to make sure your boiler qualifies for cover. Some companies (like HomeServe) will send an engineer to inspect your boiler to make sure it can be covered before you can make a claim.

2. Check if your boiler over 7 years old?

If so, some insurers might not pay for a replacement if it can’t be repaired, though they may offer some money towards a new one. At HomeServe, if your boiler is over 7 years, we’ll cover the cost of a new boiler if your old one breaks, but you’ll have to arrange and pay for the installation yourself.

3. Check for unlimited callouts and repairs

Some providers will put a cap on how many claims you can make in 12 months, which could leave you facing unexpected costs if you reach your claim limit. With HomeServe you get unlimited claims, each with a claims limit of up to £4,000.

Boiler cover from HomeServe

Congratulations! You’ve completed our crash course on boiler cover. Invest in boiler protection now to help you avoid potentially expensive repairs later. Don’t wait for a breakdown — get peace of mind protection by choosing from our range of boiler cover options.

Frequently asked questions about boiler cover

Can I transfer my boiler cover if I move home?

Transferring your cover will depend on your cover provider, but it’s usually an easy process.

Since the cover will apply to a different boiler, an engineer may have to come out and assess whether the boiler in your new home can be covered by the policy.

If it’s been installed incorrectly, has existing problems or is too old then you may have to downgrade or potentially cancel the cover depending on your situation.

* BCIS© Research, September 2024 (prices include labour, parts, call-out charges and VAT)