WHAT IS BOILER INSURANCE?

Do I need boiler insurance?

Gas boiler insurance is the ideal choice for homeowners and landlords looking to keep their boilers protected should they run into a fault or breakdown. Please bear in mind that if you are renting, it’s the responsibility of the landlord to take out insurance. If you are a landlord or homeowner yourself, your home insurance policy may already have some form of boiler insurance included within your buildings and contents insurance.

It’s quite common for your boiler to be covered under a standard manufacturer warranty, especially if it’s been installed in the last 10 years. All Vaillant and Worcester Bosch boilers are covered by a 5-year standard manufacturer warranty, which can be extended by a further 5 years if the installer is Vaillant or Worcester accredited. If your boiler is old and has seen better days due to its age, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to take out boiler insurance, or if you are able to, it may come at a higher cost.

You may be wondering whether it makes sense to have boiler insurance, in particular, if the manufacturer warranty already covers you. Well, you may want to check the terms and conditions of your warranty. Manufacturer warranties are unlikely to cover the costs of a boiler repair or breakdown if the fault is caused by physical damage or caused by another area of your central heating system such as limescale build-up in your pipework. And since warranties typically do not cover certain repairs and breakdowns, you’d have to pay for the repairs out of your pocket, which can easily run into the hundreds of pounds. Add to that the cost for your annual boiler service to keep your boiler in full working order and your warranty valid, and boiler insurance suddenly becomes a lot more attractive. Boiler insurance will give you access to unlimited call outs, a 24/7 helpline, repairs to your boiler controls, and an annual boiler service - all included within a monthly or annual price.

Boiler insurance vs Central heating insurance

To ensure you get the right cover for your home, it’s important to bear in mind that boiler insurance will only keep your boiler and controls protected, and not your entire central heating system. Central heating insurance will protect your boiler, controls, pipework, hot water cylinder, and more. You may also find that central heating insurance is referred to as central heating cover or boiler and heating cover.

What boiler insurance do I need?

All boiler insurance packages pretty much offer the same thing, but it’s always good to compare them side by side to see what each provider has on offer. The main differences you’ll find are related to differences in monthly costs, whether their helpline is available 24/7, and whether the excess is included as part of their boiler insurance package. In some cases, you may only have a limited number of claims you can make in a year, with an extra cost if you need any additional call-outs. Certainly, something to consider if your boiler is rather on the old side.

Does insurance cover replacement boilers?

Some boiler insurance packages include replacement boilers if your boiler has been pronounced dead, or if the parts for your boiler are no longer being manufactured. While some boiler insurance packages will offer money off a new boiler, others may only offer a discount off the price. In any case, you would need to have the boiler replaced by the insurance provider’s engineers.

What does a boiler service cover?

As mentioned earlier, to ensure your boiler keeps ticking away, you’ll need an annual boiler service to discover any faults that can be easily resolved by an engineer. An annual service will include a visual check of your boiler and controls, as well as an inspection of the inside of your boiler to ensure that it’s firing correctly and in full working order. Most boiler insurance packages will come with an annual service included in the price, free of charge.

What does excess in insurance mean? What is excess?

If you’re researching boiler insurance packages, you may have come across boiler insurance with excess. Excess is usually an extra cost you have to pay as part of your claim to pay for an engineer to visit your home and complete repairs should your boiler run into a fault. Some companies charge around £50 for excess. However, in some cases, the excess will be included within your monthly cost.

Can I switch insurance provider?

Switching is a lot more straightforward than you may think. After all, you don’t need to stay with the same boiler insurance provider year after year. If you switch, you can start making savings on your current boiler insurance. Before you switch, it’s worth checking the terms and conditions of your existing provider to see if there’s a cancellation fee and the date on which you signed the contract. Policies usually last up to 12 months, so you can either pay a cancellation fee and back out immediately or wait until you’re out of contract before switching.

Choose 24/7 Home Repair - Boiler Care

At 24/7 Home Repair, we provide nationwide care plans for your boiler, heating and home. We promise to never unfairly hike your price by more than inflation (which is usually no more than 3% of your annual price). Even if you have had a call-out in a year, we will still aim to keep your price as close to your original price on renewal.

In addition to our no price hike promise, 90% of our repairs and call-outs are completed within 24 hours of the first call. Our UK call centres are manned 24/7 by real humans, with 96% of your calls answered within a minute.