Boiler Insurance Cover: What to Consider
Boiler insurance. It’s not a question of wanting it, more a case of needing it.
Moreso during the cold winter months. When temperatures drop and boilers go into overdrive as our demand for heating shoots up.
Of course, the worst time for anyone’s boiler to pack up is during the winter months. The thought of no heating and hot water at this time of the year, when the weather is bitterly cold, is something most householders fear. And with that in mind energy providers are keen to sell their central heating and boiler cover to customers.
But is it really worth the money?
What is boiler insurance cover?
Boiler insurance cover does the same job as any other insurance. So if something goes wrong, you’re covered.
Take out insurance to cover your boiler (or full central heating system) and you won’t need to fork out for the repair. In the best case, the insurer will cover all charges for any callouts, labour and parts. An annual service will also be included too. Some insurers may only cover one of these. Which is why you should always read the small print.
Most boiler insurance cover is paid monthly. But you may be able to pay an annual fee.
Do you need boiler cover?
If you’re renting then you’re not going to be able to get cover for the boiler. Your landlord will be responsible for the boiler and any faults.
Are boilers covered by home insurance?
Some home insurance covers the boiler, some don’t.
To find out, you’ll need to have a read through your home insurance policy. Your boiler could be covered as standard, or as an extra add on cost. So because certain home insurance policies actually include boiler breakdowns it’s always best to check the small print.
Can I insure an old boiler?
If your boiler is on the aged side then it may be too old to insure.
Most insurance policies exclude boilers over the age of 15. And if it’s over a certain age (often 7 years old) then it may have to undergo a physical to check its condition.
At the opposite end of the scale, if your boiler is less than 12 months old then it should already be covered by the manufacturer warranty. Certain makes and models often come with extended warranties and guarantees too. This could see that your boiler is covered for over 10 years in some cases. Find out the best boiler warranties.
So doing your research beforehand could save you a heap of money in the long run.
Taking into consideration the boiler's age, frequency of faults developing and inability to get insurance it might be worth cutting your costs and getting a new boiler and installation.
Not sure when your boiler was installed? Find out how old your boiler is.
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What you need to watch out for
No claim periods
Taking out boiler cover when it breaks is a bad idea.
In most cases, insurers will set a no claims period at the start of the policy. So until the no claims period comes to an end, you won’t be able to make a claim if you have trouble with your boiler. This could be a few days or a number of weeks.
Excess charges
Some insurers don’t cover the full cost of a repair. So you’ll be expected to pay the rest.
New customer offers
Watch out for deals where the price of the cover rises after a few months. Comparing insurers every now and then can help to save you money.
Boiler insurance cover tips
- Shop around to get the best possible price. And remember you don’t have to take out cover with your energy supplier
- Don’t wait until your boiler breaks to take out insurance
- Read the small print carefully – does the policy have a limit on callouts or claims
- Look for cover that includes an annual service and safety inspection
- Keep your boiler healthy with an annual boiler service
When the insurer might not pay out
All insurers have certain terms that could see you picking up some of the costs.
If you fail to get the boiler serviced each year
An annual boiler service is essential to keep the boiler cover valid. The engineer who services the boiler must be Gas Safe registered (OFTEC for oil boilers) and you’ll need to get a copy of the service certificate once they’re done.
The same goes for manufacturer warranties too.
You’re making too many claims
There will be a limit to how many times you can call out an insurer each year. This could be 3, it could be 5. It’s all down to the insurer.
There’s a limit to the cover
Most insurers will only pay out up to a certain amount. So if your repair bill ends up being higher than this limit, you’ll need to cover the additional costs.
Repairs take a long time
Some boiler repairs take longer than others. And your insurer may not cover any repairs that take a certain amount of time. In this case, you’ll be expected to pay the rest.
What level of cover will you need?
You could get cover for the boiler itself or your whole central heating system.
Taking out insurance for the whole system will be more expensive. But it will give you more peace of mind.
Insuring the boiler alone could come to £10-£13 each month. Meanwhile, all inclusive cover can set you back anything from £12-£25 per month. Generally speaking you get what you pay for. So, while you don’t want to be under-covered it’s as important not to be over-covered. Unless you’re happy to be throwing money away!
Popular boiler cover providers
- British Gas
- EDF
- HomeServe
- Scottish Power
- SSE
- 24/7 Home Rescue
What if the boiler is beyond repair?
If a heating engineer can’t repair your boiler then it will need to be replaced. Your insurer is unlikely to cover new boiler costs. So you’ll need to get a new boiler then find a new policy.
To keep the costs of installing a new boiler to a minimum, you should compare quotes. Getting quotes from at least 3 heating engineer is a good idea. And you can get free quotes from heating engineers near you right here. All you need to do is tap through our simple online form.
