What is Boiler Cover… And do I really need it?

Your boiler is the beating heart of your central heating system. It keeps your home warm in those cold winter months, while also giving you hot water when you need it most. And like most of the wonderful modern contrivances that enrich our lives – the harder it’s working, the easier it is to take it for granted.

You may have assumed that Boiler Cover was an unnecessary extra pushed on consumers by over-zealous energy suppliers. Boiler Cover, like any form of insurance, seems superfluous when you don’t need it. However, it can be tremendously useful when your faithful boiler starts to show signs of ailment. It can save you a small fortune in repair costs. What’s more, it can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you won’t have to go without warmth or hot water in the cold winter months.

What is Boiler Cover?

Boiler Cover is a specific form of insurance that protects your boiler against faults, ensuring that repairs are dealt with in a timely and cost-effective manner. Boiler cover is known by a number of names including:

• Boiler insurance
• Boiler care
• Boiler servicing

However, the intention behind all of the above is the same. Protecting your household from the cost and inconvenience associated with boiler faults. And given that a broken boiler can cost thousands of pounds to repair or replace (including the cost of repairing water damage etc.) it’s definitely worth considering.

Why should you invest in Boiler Cover?

As a financially conscious household, you’ll be keen to avoid unnecessary monthly expenses. Your carefully balanced budget doesn’t allow for unnecessary expense.

However, as we’ll see, Boiler Cover is a worthy investment for a number of reasons.

1 in 3 boilers breaks down within 6 years

According to an independent study, 1 in 3 boilers breaks down within the first 6 years. You may be among the 66% of people who enjoy their boilers for over a decade without incident… but is it really worth the risk?

It can save you energy and money in the long term

Boiler Cover and annual servicing go hand in hand. Most policies include annual checkups to ensure your boiler is operating at peak efficiency. So you save energy and money in the long run.

If you’re curious about how you can reduce the cost of heating your home Ofgem has some useful advice.

It’s really affordable

Boiler cover policies start at just £3.50 a month. A negligible expense that could save you a fortune in future.

What are the different kinds of Boiler Cover?

There are a number of different Boiler Cover options available. So you can choose the right kind for your needs and budget:

Basic Boiler Cover

This covers your boiler in the event of a breakdown or fault. This kind of cover, however, only applied to the boiler unit itself, the controls and (in most cases) the heat exchanger. It will not cover pipework, radiators or other central heating apparatus. Basic boiler cover policies include the cost of repairs, and most will include either free or discounted servicing. In some cases, if a boiler cannot be repaired it may be replaced free of charge. However, this is usually only if your boiler is less than 7 years old and you have held your policy for 6 months or more.

While all providers ensure a timely repair (i.e. within 24 hours), it’s important to note that not all providers have a 24/7 call-out facility. You should factor this in when making a decision.

Boiler and Central Heating Cover

Boiler and central heating cover has the same features as above but will also cover your radiators, flue and pumps against faults and failure. Please note that Boiler and Central Heating Cover will not include things like removing sludge from radiators or other general maintenance tasks. Faulty taps are also not usually covered, neither is work carried out by other engineers.

Boiler Central Heating and Wiring Cover

Most Boiler Cover options, even those that include central heating will not cover wiring and electrical issues. However, you may find policies in which these are included and some will even include cover for your plumbing and drains. This can help to save you money on repairing damaged caused to wiring by power cuts and other electrical issues that are not your fault.

However, these will also not include general maintenance issues, and most policies will not cover your home’s external wiring. Policies may or may not cover damages caused by household pests. Always check your policy!

Boiler Cover Providers

There are a number of companies that provide boiler cover. You can find out more about popular Boiler Cover providers in the table below:

Boiler Cover Costs

Broadly speaking Boiler Cover costs an average of £245-£340 per year. Exactly how much you pay will depend on your specific needs. Some suppliers will offer a better rate if you pay annually rather than monthly.

Let’s take a quick look at what you can afford to pay with the above suppliers:

Eon

• £7.99 PCM- Basic Boiler Cover.
• £12.99 PCM- Boiler & Central Heating Cover.
• £15.99 PCM- Boiler Cover, Electrics & Heating.
• £19.99 PCM- Boiler, Plumbing, Electrics & Heating.

EDF

• £8.95 PCM- Boiler Protect.
• £13.60 PCM- Heating Protect.
• £16.83 PCM- Total Protect. This includes heating, wiring, plumbing, pest infestations and even fallen roof tiles.

Corgi

• £13 PCM “Essentials”- Boiler & Central Heating Cover.
• £15 PCM “Starter”- Boiler, Central Heating, Plumbing & Electrics.
• £18 PCM “Advanced”- Including gas supply pipe, water and internal drainage.
• £21 PCM “Complete”- Includes priority helpline and boiler replacement.

British Gas

• £2.50 PCM- Boiler and Control Cover.
• £5.50 PCM- Boiler & Central Heating Breakdown Cover.

Both have an excess of £99, and neither include boiler servicing which starts at £85 per year.

SSE

• £4.95 PCM- Boiler Breakdown Cover (£90 excess).
• £9.50 PCM- Boiler & Heating Breakdown Cover (£50 excess).
• £13.45 PCM- Boiler Cover & Servicing (£50 excess).
• £16.95 PCM- Boiler, Heating & Servicing (£50 excess).

Important things to remember about Boiler Cover

Though Boiler Cover will prove very valuable for most people, there are some things you’ll need to be aware of before choosing a policy.

• You don’t need Boiler Cover if your boiler is under warranty.
• Not all insurers will cover older boilers.
• Your home insurance may include Boiler Cover.
• You usually can’t make a claim within the first 14-30 days.

Let us help you find the perfect boiler cover for your needs
We can help you to find the right Boiler Cover provider for your needs and budget. We’ll also work with you to ensure that you get up and running quickly and easily.

Want to know more?

Call us today on 0330 054 0010. We’re available from 8am-6pm.