Best Boiler Cover, Breakdown Cover & Boiler Insurance Plans: Are They Worth It?

It seems to be a law of the universe that if your boiler is going to break down, it’s bound to happen in a month when cash is tight. 

Then there’s the hassle of finding a local company that will come and fix the issue quickly AND without charging you an arm and a leg for the privilege.

If your heat exchanger goes, then sometimes this can amount to more than what a new boiler costs.

The answer? Protecting your boiler, your wallet, and your sanity with boiler insurance cover. If you have an old boiler, then choosing a solid boiler cover could be a lifesaver.

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What Is Boiler Cover?

Boiler cover is a guarantee similar to an insurance policy that protects you from unexpected repairs or breakdowns of your home’s heating system. This includes coverage for:

• The boiler
• Radiators
• Thermostats
• Pipes

The guarantee can cover the cost of repairs or replacement, as well as any necessary parts and labour.

The level of cover and cost can vary between policies, with some offering more benefits than others, such as emergency callouts and priority service.

Boiler care cover can be beneficial if you depend on your heating system for warmth and hot water. However, it’s important to review the terms and conditions to ensure it suits your needs and budget.

To learn more on the subject, check out our what is boiler cover article.

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What Is Included In The Boiler Cover?

Boiler cover provides peace of mind that if your heating system breaks down, you can make a quick phone call, and someone will be there to sort out the problem for you.

• The service typically includes a 24/7 helpline available every day of the year (including public holidays).
• Repairs, including parts and labour, are included for all types of boilers, though there may be an upper limit as to how much work will be covered.
• There is usually an upgrade option available for an additional cost that covers the central heating system, which includes the boiler and radiator cover together.
• Some plans may also provide an annual boiler service.
• Some policies can be extended to include home emergency cover for complete home coverage. This covers your drainage system, gas supply pipes, and electrics. 
• Some gas boiler cover plans also provide a replacement boiler when there are faults that can’t be repaired.

Tip: When taking out boiler cover, you must specify exactly what you want the cover for. If you don’t, then the policy may just cover the boiler itself.

If you need boiler and heating cover, it may be considered a separate requirement and require an extended form of cover.

Can I Get Boiler Cover For Older Boilers?

Yes, you can get boiler protection for older boilers, but there are several things to be aware of.

Despite their long lifespans, even the best combi boilers and best system boilers break down eventually.

Often, it’s tempting to only consider cover when you know that your boiler is getting older. Perhaps you’re starting to experience some problems or reduced efficiency. 

However, some plans place restrictions on the replacement benefit and may only cover boilers under a certain age. The cost of your boiler and central heating cover may also increase in future years.

Some plans have a callout fee in addition to the cost of the cover. So, if you do need assistance several times a year, it may work out cheaper to just have a new boiler installed. 

Tip: Don’t forget that new boilers are much more efficient, so replacing your old boiler will also likely reduce your monthly utility bills.

Compare Boiler Cover From The Top Providers

We’re sharing a detailed boiler and heating cover comparison to bring you the best offerings available to UK homeowners. 

Here’s a quick overview of the costs. We go into more detail below:

Provider	Basic cover (boiler only)	Complete cover	Call-out fee/excess
Boiler Central	£13.99/month	£21.99/month	£0 or £60 call-out
British Gas	£21/month	£28.20/month	N/A
HomeServe	£12.50/month	£19/month	£60 excess
Scottish Power	£14	£24.50	£0 or £99 call-out/ £50 excess
EDF	£7/month	£20.40	£95 excess or call-out

Boiler Central Boiler Cover

Boiler Central has a range of plans to suit all budgets. 

First is the boiler service plan for £8.99/month. This provides an annual service and keeps your boiler’s warranty intact.

There are three other plans available which can be taken with a £0 or £60 call-out fee. If you opt for the £0 fee, you’ll only pay slightly more each month.

If you pick one of the following plans, you also get 50% off your first three months:

Cover	Cost with £0 call-out fee	Cost with £60 call-out fee
Boiler cover	£9.49	£6.99/month
Boiler & heating	£13.49	£10.99/month
Complete cover	£15.99	£13.49/month

All plans include a free annual boiler service and access to the 24/7, 365 emergency helpline. You also get a boiler replacement contribution and carbon monoxide test.

Cover for landlords is also available at a slight cost increase (around £2 extra per month).

British Gas HomeCare Boiler Cover

British Gas offer three different levels of cover under their British Gas HomeCare brand. 

Cover	Cost
Essential	£21/month
Classic	£26.20/month
Complete	£28.20/month

There are no call-out fees, but you can choose to add on an excess payable if you have any repairs carried out. The higher the excess you opt for, the lower your monthly premium will be.

All policies include an annual service and safety check and cover the boiler and its controls. 

Do be aware that British Gas states that 50% of their customers pay the prices quoted on their website but that you may end up paying more depending on where you live.

HomeServe Boiler Cover

HomeServe has a range of five different policies. You will pay an excess fee of £60 for each repair.

Cover	Cost
Gas boiler	£12.50/month
Gas boiler and central heating	£14.50/month
Heating and plumbing	£15.50/month
Heating, plumbing, and electrics	£17/month
Heating, plumbing, and electrics plus	£19/month

All plans cover your gas boiler and the gas supply pipe. A free boiler service is included but only for the first year of the policy.

Once you’ve had the policy for six months, HomeServe will offer to replace the boiler if it can’t be fixed (as long as it’s less than 7 years old).

Scottish Power Boiler Cover

Scottish Power offers three levels of cover, all of which include a free annual service:

Cover	Cost with fee	Cost without fee
Boiler, radiator, & service	£14/month + £99 call-out fee	£26.50
Heating & plumbing protect	£20.50 + £50 excess on repairs	£35.50
Heating & home emergency protect	£24.50 + £50 excess on repairs	£39.50

All policies include a replacement boiler of up to £750, but this doesn’t cover the costs of delivery or boiler installation.

Depending on which plan you choose, you’ll either pay a £99 call-out fee or a £50 excess. However, £0 options are available in exchange for a higher monthly premium.

EDF

EDF has four types of policies available. Value and Total are just for maintenance and support, while the Gold and Platinum plans cover central heating as well:

Cover	Cost	Fee
BoilerCare Value	From £7/month	£95 excess
BoilerCare Total	From £20.40/month	£95 excess
BoilerCare Gold	From £11.60/month	£95 call-out
BoilerCare Platinum	From £15.80/month	£95 call-out

All policies except for the Value plan include a free annual boiler service.

There is a range of excess options available which you can apply to reduce your monthly premiums.

How To Choose The Best Boiler Breakdown Cover—Top Tips

The cover doesn’t need to be with your gas supplier

It’s easy to understand why so many people sign up with their gas supplier. However, this may not provide the cover you need for your home, nor may it be the best value.

Don’t wait until there’s a problem!

Most policies have a no-claims period at the start, and that’s designed to prevent people from taking out the policy the moment they have a boiler breakdown. 

Ideally, you should take one out as soon as you’ve had a new boiler installation.

Look for cover that includes an annual service and safety check

Not only does this give you peace of mind, but it will also reduce the likelihood of problems developing to begin with. 

A regularly serviced heating system runs more efficiently, saving you money in the long term. 

Cheap boilers break down more often, too.

So, Which Boiler Cover Is Best?—Summary

Boiler covers can be a great option and provide comfort in knowing that you will never be without working heating and hot water. 

But you do need to do a little investigative work to ensure that the policy covers everything you need it to. We also recommend getting some boiler cover quotes to compare costs.

If you need a new boiler, check out our new boiler deals.

Get Boiler Cover From Boiler Central Today

Boiler Central provides some of the most comprehensive boiler breakdown cover plans, find out more here.

And they’re easy to apply, too,—just pick your plan and pay online. If you need a little help in choosing the right plan, we welcome you to contact us to find out more.

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