THE BENEFITS OF BOILER BREAKDOWN COVER AND WHY IT’S A GOOD INVESTMENT

Boiler breakdown cover can be a godsend.

The boiler is the unsung hero of the modern home, and we often fail to appreciate the impact it has on our daily lives.

However, that will soon change if you encounter a major fault.

When those situations occur, boiler coverage could be the key to restoring normality in the quickest possible time.

Here’s everything you need to know about boiler coverage, from what it is to how to choose the best service.

WHAT IS BOILER BREAKDOWN COVER?

Boiler coverage is an insurance plan that will pay out for the costs of services and boiler repairs when the boiler encounters a problem.

This will include labour costs and any new parts that are required.

WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF BOILER BREAKDOWN COVER ARE THERE?

Boiler coverage plans are usually broken into two categories.

Firstly, there is the boiler-only packages and full system packages.

However, some providers may also cover drains and external factors.

WHAT DOES BOILER ONLY HEATING COVER PROVIDE?

As the name suggests, this service will cover the call-out, labour, and parts needed to repair boiler breakdowns and faults with the controls.

Some providers will include annual boiler checks within the plan while others only do so at an extra cost.

WHAT DOES FULL SYSTEM BOILER COVER PROVIDE?

Full system boiler cover packages offer the benefits of the boiler-only deal, but additionally take in the other parts of your system.

This will include radiators, pumps, and flues.

Annual boiler checks may be inclusive in the price or may need to be added on for an extra fee.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING BOILER COVER?

There are two main benefits to having boiler breakdown cover plans in place.

Paying the monthly/quarterly fee is a better way.

It means that you won’t need to suddenly locate hundreds of pounds.

It can easily add up when you have an expensive repair job.

Secondly, the plan provider will hook you up with the best plumbing experts available.

This saves you the hassle and fear of making a bad selection.

For peace of mind and long-term financial rewards, this is a worthy investment.

WHAT MIGHT NOT BE INCLUDED IN MY BOILER COVER?

Some boiler cover plans will carry a limit regarding the number of claims or call outs made per year.

Meanwhile, others may only pay the expense up to a certain limit.

In many cases, some types of fault may exempt from the coverage.

HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT LEVEL OF BOILER COVER FOR ME?

Essentially, this is a personal decision in which you’ll weigh up the costs against the potential risks.

If the boiler is old, it’s more likely to encounter faults, which is why the more comprehensive full system deals are best.

When you are in a new property or have a brand new system, the boiler-only items should suffice.

WHAT TYPES OF BOILER ARE THERE?

Every homeowner should know which type of boiler they have.

For a traditional gas or oil-fired boiler, the three terms to know are; conventional, condensing, and combination.

WHAT IS A CONVENTIONAL BOILER?

The conventional boiler heats water by burning fuel in the combustion chamber.

This is before transporting water to the heating system.

The combustion chamber is surrounded by a water jacket, but some heat (around 22%) is lost via the flue.

This is usually the cheapest of the three options.

WHAT IS A CONDENSING BOILER?

The condensing boiler isn’t too dissimilar from the conventional boiler.

However, it offers greater efficiency (just 10% heat loss).

Water is heated and then transported throughout the heating system and to taps etc.

Like the conventional boiler, they need a water tank.

WHAT IS A COMBI BOILER?

The combi boiler provides the home with instant hot water and removes the need for a water tank.

They are small in size and running costs.

Their market share continues to increase, and up to 78% of UK homes could have them by 2020.

HOW IS PRICING CALCULATED FOR BOILER COVER PLANS?

Naturally, boiler-only coverage is cheaper than the full system alternative.

However, there are a number of other variables that will influence the costs.

These include boiler type, age, and manufacturer.

Meanwhile, the property size and general heating habits may have a telling influence on the price too.

WHAT TO CHECK WHEN CHOOSING BOILER BREAKDOWN COVER PLANS?

When choosing boiler breakdown cover plan, you need to know the availability times.

The best plans offer a 24/7 basis as you never know when a problem will surface.

Your boiler make and model must be included while you’ll want to know the situation re: annual checks.

Limits (callouts and costs) and average response times are also important features for the checklist.

Get these aspects under control, and you won’t go far wrong.

TIME TO GET SOME BOILER BREAKDOWN COVER

So there you have it. Everything you need to know when getting yourself covered.