Boiler cover & care plans
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What is boiler cover?
Boiler cover could help you get emergency repairs if your boiler breaks down outside its guarantee period. It could cover the cost of repair bills and get your boiler back up and running.
Typically, boiler cover only cover boilers up to seven years in age, but this restriction can vary among providers.
Many boiler cover policies also include an annual service to make sure your boiler is kept in good working order. And comprehensive boiler care plans may include cover for your entire central heating system, plumbing, drains and electrics too.
What types of boiler cover are there?
There are three main types of boiler breakdown cover you can choose from:
- Boiler-only cover – covers the boiler and its controls. It might also include an annual boiler service plan.
- Boiler and central heating cover – protects your boiler and central heating system, including pipes, radiators and pumps.
- Full home care plan – the most comprehensive home breakdown package. It covers your boiler and central heating system, plus plumbing, drains and electrics.
Some home care plans include extra features, like pest control, roofing repairs or home security cover. As you’d expect, the more you include in your policy, the more expensive your cover will be.
Compare the Market has partnered with Hometree – one of the UK’s top-rated home care providers – to help you look for the best boiler cover for you.
Some home contents insurance policies offer boiler cover or home emergency cover, either as standard or a paid-for extra. Check any contents insurance policy you’re considering to see what’s covered and whether you’ll need to pay an excess if you make a claim.
How does boiler cover work?
When you take out a boiler cover plan, you’ll have the option to choose the level of cover you want. As a minimum, most plans include the cost of repairs to your boiler and controls, including labour and spare parts.
You’ll normally be given an emergency helpline number to call if your boiler breaks down. If you make a claim that’s covered by your policy, a Gas Safe-registered engineer will be sent to your home to try to fix the problem.
Boiler care providers typically charge an excess or call-out fee. This is a payment you agree to make towards the cost of calling out an engineer. You may be able to choose how much you pay. The higher the call-out fee you choose, the lower the cost of your policy.
When buying boiler cover, check whether there are limits on how much you can claim and how many call-outs you can make in a year.
Should I get boiler cover?
You might want to consider boiler cover if:
- You own your home and boiler breakdown cover isn’t included in your home insurance.
- You’re a landlord and you need the peace of mind that an engineer will come out quickly if your tenants’ boiler breaks down.
You probably won’t need boiler cover if:
- You’re renting. It’s the responsibility of the landlord to take care of boiler repairs and servicing – including an annual gas safety check.
- You’ve just had a new boiler fitted. You should be covered for faults under the manufacturer’s warranty, although this may not extend to wider central heating problems.
- Your home insurance has a home emergency add-on that includes boiler breakdown cover.
What our expert says...
"When comparing boiler cover, it’s important to know what’s included and what isn’t. Boiler breakdown cover can be quite specific, so look out for any exclusions around the types of boilers and faults you can claim for, as well as any claims limit."
- Anna McEntee, Home, pet and travel insurance expert
What does home boiler cover include?
Boiler cover typically includes the cost of breakdowns and repairs to your boiler and controls. A good boiler cover policy could include:
- Unlimited engineer call-out charges
- Parts and labour
- Annual boiler service
- 24-hour emergency helpline
- Discount on a new boiler if yours is beyond repair and needs to be replaced.
Depending on the plan you choose, boiler cover may also include:
- Your entire central heating system, including the radiators and hot water cylinder
- Repairs to the plumbing and water supplies pipes, including unblocking drains and waste pipes
- Repairs to the mains electrical system and wiring in your home.
What isn’t included in boiler cover?
Boiler cover can vary among providers, but it’s unlikely to include:
- Faults caused by sludge, limescale or blockages
- Leaking showers and taps
- Shared drains
- Boilers that aren’t regularly serviced
- Older boilers over a certain age
- Household appliances, like gas ovens, fridges and washing machines
- Outdoor heating and electrics
- Intentional damage, incorrect use, bad repairs or design faults.
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What types of boiler can I get cover for?
You should be able to find boiler cover for most types of boiler, including combi, condensing and gas boilers. Some providers won’t cover oil-fired, LPG, electric or biomass boilers.
Always double check that your boiler will be covered before taking out a policy. And look out for any restrictions on the age of your boiler.
Although some providers cover all boilers, regardless of age, there may be restrictions on cover as your boiler ages. If your boiler is more than 10 years old, you may need to prove your boiler is in good working order.
How much does boiler cover cost?
The cost of boiler cover can vary a lot. It will depend on the boiler and heating system you have, and the level of cover you want.
To give you a general idea, basic premiums start from around £8 a month. The most comprehensive home care plans can cost around £20 a month or more.
Rather than automatically signing up with your energy provider, it’s worth shopping around and comparing prices to see if you can get a better deal elsewhere.
Many providers offer an introductory discount to encourage you to sign up. But before agreeing to a deal, check the terms to make sure that there won’t be any price increases later on in the contract.
And set a reminder to look out for better deals at renewal.
Boiler maintenance – how to keep your boiler healthy
Your boiler cover might not pay out claims resulting from poor maintenance, like limescale build-up. It’s up to you to make sure your boiler is regularly maintained.
Follow these essential energy-saving tips to help keep your boiler in good condition:
- Service your boiler annually – this is the best way to increase the lifespan of your boiler. It helps prevent damage and keeps it running efficiently.
- Keep the pressure up – boilers don’t run properly when the pressure is too low. Check the pressure gauge on the front of your boiler to make sure it’s within the manufacturer’s recommended values, usually between the 1 and 1.5 bar. If you need to adjust it, follow the instructions in your handbook.
- Bleed your radiators – it’s a good idea to bleed your central heating system at least once a year, to keep it running efficiently.
- Turn on your boiler occasionally during the summer – switching it on for 15 minutes once a month can help prevent problems in winter. Otherwise, it’s fine to keep your boiler mostly turned off during the summer months (or if you have a combi boiler, only switch on the hot water) to save money and energy.
- Insulate your pipes – in cold weather, pipes can freeze over, making your heating inefficient or even causing a boiler breakdown. To stop this from happening, lag your pipes before winter sets in. You can buy ready-to-use lagging from DIY stores at a relatively low cost.
For more tips, read our boiler maintenance guide.
How often should a boiler be replaced?
Typically, boilers can last for around 10 to 15 years. But it depends on the model and how well the boiler is maintained throughout its lifetime.
If your boiler is past its prime, it could be time to consider replacing it with a newer, more energy-efficient model. You may also need to consider replacing it if you notice signs that it’s not working as it should, for example:
- It’s noisy
- It’s breaking down often
- It’s taking longer to heat up
- There’s not enough hot water.
If you think it might be time to replace your boiler, read our guide to how much a new boiler could cost.
Warning signs you need to act on fast
If you notice water leaking from your boiler, call for emergency repairs. If left unfixed, a leak could lead to electrical short circuits or even structural damage to your home.
If you notice that the flame on your gas boiler has turned yellow, this is a sign of a carbon monoxide leak. While an eggy smell coming from your boiler means there’s probably a gas leak.
If you suspect a gas or carbon monoxide leak, switch off the boiler immediately and call the 24-hour National Gas emergency helpline on:
- 0800 111 999 from England, Scotland and Wales
- 0800 002 001 from Northern Ireland.
How can I get cheap boiler cover?
Here are some steps you can take to help reduce the cost of boiler cover:
Don’t over-insure – think about the level of cover you need. Extras like electrics, pipes and drainage may already be covered by your home insurance policy.
Pay annually – check whether you can save money by paying for a year’s boiler cover in one go, rather than spreading the cost in monthly payments.
Pay a call-out fee – it’s not usually compulsory but paying a fee can often reduce the cost of your premium.
Who is Hometree?
Hometree is one of the UK’s top-rated home care suppliers, not only because of its highly regarded customer service but also for its comprehensive home care plans.
Hometree provides homeowners and landlords with a range of simple and transparent boiler, central heating and home care plans. The company works with more than 5,000 qualified engineers and currently protects over one hundred thousand homes across the UK.
Hometree promises unlimited call-outs, a 24-hour emergency helpline and no price hikes above inflation if you don’t make a claim.
What do I need to get a boiler cover quote?
Getting a quote with Hometree is easy. You’ll just need to:
- Say whether you’re a homeowner or a landlord
- Choose what level of cover you want
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Provide some details about yourself, including your address and postcode.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose boiler cover if I switch energy supplier?
Your boiler cover shouldn’t be affected when you switch energy providers. That’s because it’s typically bought as a separate product.
However, if you bought boiler cover from your energy supplier, get in touch before you switch to make sure it won’t impact your cover.
Is boiler cover included in home insurance?
Your boiler is likely to be covered if you have home insurance that includes home emergency cover as standard. If not, home emergency cover can be added as an optional extra to your home insurance policy or bought as a standalone policy.
While home emergency cover might not be boiler-specific, it will typically cover 24/7 emergency call-out fees and repair costs if your boiler breaks down.
If you want more comprehensive and specific cover for your boiler, you might be better off with dedicated boiler cover.
Does boiler cover start straight away?
Most boiler cover policies include an initial no-claims period, which could typically be the first 14 to 30 days, depending on the provider. This is largely to prevent people taking out cover on the day their boiler breaks down, then claiming for it straight away.
With Hometree, you can’t arrange a call-out within the first 14 days of your contract starting.
Is there a limit on how much I can claim?
This depends on the policy and level of cover you choose. Some policies have an annual maximum limit – for example, £1,000 or £1,500 – while others are unlimited.
Who do I call if there’s a problem with my boiler?
If you have boiler cover or home emergency cover, your provider should always be your first port of call if there’s a problem. Most providers have a 24-hour helpline for emergencies and you may also be able to book an engineer online.
If you don’t have boiler cover, you’ll need to look for a suitably qualified tradesperson in your area.
With a gas boiler, you should check that the engineer is Gas Safe-registered and qualified to carry out boiler repairs. Alternatively, you can contact the boiler manufacturer.
What happens if my boiler can’t be fixed?
If your boiler is beyond repair, you’ll often be offered a discount to fit a new one if you have boiler cover. Hometree will give you 15% off the cost of a new boiler as long as they install it.
Can I get cover if my boiler and heating system is very old?
If your boiler and heating system are older than 10 years, you may have fewer options when it comes to finding cover or you may have to pay a higher premium. Any age restrictions should be included in the boiler cover wording.
However, if you choose boiler care from Hometree, there’s no age limit.
Do I need to service my boiler?
Most boiler companies recommend a service at least once every year. It’s usually a condition of your boiler cover or warranty to have the boiler serviced every year by an approved engineer.
You can also opt for standalone home care cover that gives you the option of including an annual service.
A boiler service must be carried out by a Gas Safe-registered engineer, who will check for leaks and other problems, and make sure your boiler is working safely.
How much will it cost to service my boiler?
A gas boiler service will typically cost you between £80 and £150. But the price will depend on who you choose to do the service and how long it’s been since your boiler last had one. The cost of any new parts will be on top of this.
What’s the difference between boiler cover and a service agreement?
The main difference is that providers offering boiler cover are regulated by financial watchdogs. This ensures they act fairly to protect policyholders and that their businesses are financially sound.
Our boiler cover partner Hometree is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This means you should be protected if you get boiler cover.
Service agreements like boiler care plans aren’t regulated, so if the company you’ve signed up with becomes bankrupt, you might not be financially protected. You may also find it difficult to make a complaint about poor service.
Make sure you understand what you’re signing up to.
How long does a call-out take?
If it’s an emergency – for example, there’s a risk to your health or your home isn’t fit to live in – an engineer will normally be sent out to you within 24 hours.
This isn’t guaranteed, though, and call-out times can vary among providers. If the problem isn’t urgent, you can usually book an appointment at a time to suit you.
How do I cancel my boiler cover?
You can cancel your plan by contacting your provider. Whether you’ll need to make any remaining payments for the period of your contract or pay a cancellation charge depends on your policy, so check your documents carefully.
