Save £££ on heating insurance Your expert guide to heating insurance and how to nd the best deals

Greenstar is the most popular boiler from Worcester Bosch, ideal for small to medium-sized homes. Prices start from £1,062, excluding installation

DO YOU NEED heating insurance?

If your boiler packs up, it’s not only cold, inconvenient and a hassle you could do without but it can also be costly to x. Unless you have insurance to cover it…

e all know how chilly the

Wwinter months can be, so imagine you wake up one morning to nd your boiler has given up on you and there’s no heating or hot water. This is denitely a job for the professionals, so if you don’t want to pay a small fortune for parts, labour and callout fees, not to mention having to wait days or weeks for an engineer to visit, it makes sense to take out boiler or central heating insurance.

Boiler insurance covers all your costs in the event of your boiler breaking down. It gives peace of mind that a Gas Safety registered engineer will come quickly to assess the problem and x it. Some insurance also includes an annual boiler service, which is essential for an ecient, safe boiler in good working condition, but not all policies do, so always check before you sign up. Usually, you’re covered for any boiler repairs, including spare parts and labour, though some providers have a waiting period to prevent you from claiming at the start of a policy. If you are going to take out insurance, it’s best to get it in place sooner rather than later so you’re able to get help when you need it.

You may already be covered as part of your home insurance or home emergency

If you want a smart heating system, check out the Google Nest Learning Thermostat – its 3rd Generation model is £189 on Amazon

TOP TIPS

Martyn Bridges, director of technical communications and product management at Worcester Bosch, has this advice:

Some service plans cover the heating system as well as the boiler, oering added peace of mind.

You can spread the cost over 12 months if that suits you better.

A reminder is usually sent out letting you know that your boiler is due its annual service rather than you having to remember each time.

Spare parts are often expensive so having heating insurance can protect against unexpected costs.

Taking out an insurance policy usually means you get priority service, which guarantees that an engineer will visit quickly to sort out the problem.

Getting the boiler serviced annually ensures it runs eciently and safely.

cover so check rst if boiler breakdown is included before taking out another policy. If it is, make sure it oers all the protection you think you’ll need. You may not require separate insurance if you have recently bought a new boiler, as you should have a manufacturer’s warranty and these can last as long as 10 years. Register it as instructed and note down the warranty’s expiry date. For rental properties, any boiler or heating issues are the responsibility of your landlord.

As well as boiler cover, which protects the boiler and its controls in the event of it breaking down and leaving you without heating or hot water, you can also take out full central heating insurance. While it does cost more, it also covers plumbing and radiators. There are even fully comprehensive policies that also include electrics, drainage, roofs and pest infestation too.

At its most basic, boiler insurance will cover the cost of a plumber to come out and x the problem at any time of the day or night; as well as the cost of replacing broken or worn-out parts. Some policies also replace the boiler if it can’t be repaired, as well as providing an annual service. Cover will vary between providers, so shop around to see what you get for your money.

When it comes to getting the boiler serviced, Louise Murton, customer service director at Baxi Heating, recommends that it be serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. ‘An annual service is a condition of our boiler warranties,’ she explains, ‘so if you need a repair while your boiler is still under warranty, you will need to provide your annual service reports to show your warranty is still valid.’

For prices, it’s best to compare cover online at one of the comparison sites such as uswitch.com, moneysupermarket.com, moneysavingexpert.com or gocompare. com. At the time of writing, we found cover from as little as £2.50 per month with British Gas, with a £99 fee per callout but unlimited callouts. The cheapest policy with zero callout fee was EDF at £13.06 per month, again with unlimited callouts, so it’s always best to shop around for cover that suits your budget. A one-o service from a heating engineer should cost around £86.

Curved radiators are ideal for bay windows. Classic bespoke model from Bisque, price on application The Baxi 800 Heat Only boiler comes with a 10-year parts and labour warranty and costs £936

PROS AND CONS

PROS

O Peace of mind should anything go wrong.

Keep towels toasty on the Astute radiator from Vogue (UK), which comes in Anthracite or White and is priced from £318

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O Speedy service any time of the day or night. Parts and labour are covered so no unexpected costs. Some policies have no callout fees and an annual service included.

CONS

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O Possible waiting period after taking the policy out before you can claim. May be a limit on how long an engineer can spend on repairs. Could be restrictions on how many claims you can make per year. Boiler may be too old to qualify for cover, usually if it’s more than seven years’ old. Look out for excess charges or conditions such as having your heating system ushed before a contract can start.