Boiler Repair - Choosing The Best Cover
If you’ve ever had to deal with a boiler breakdown, you’ll know that it tends to happen when you least expect it. For homeowners, it can happen first thing in the morning when you’re rushing to shower before work or getting the kids to school - for landlords, you might receive a call late at night from unhappy tenants who are suddenly left without heating.
Arranging boiler repair is costly, stressful and inconvenient, but there are steps you can take to make sure you aren’t surprised with bad boiler news again.
A boiler cover plan can help to set your mind at ease and ensure you don’t fall foul of expensive emergency call outs. Boiler repair plans cover emergency breakdowns and repair costs for your boiler, from as little as £4 a month. In the UK, the average boiler repair bill is £314, and it can take weeks to find an available engineer in the area. With a cover plan, a working boiler is just a phone call away.
What is a boiler repair cover plan?
A boiler cover plan is a type of home protection that you can take out to cover any emergency repairs you might need for your boiler in future. For a small monthly or annual fee, your plan will cover the cost of having a qualified engineer repair your boiler if something happens to it.
Having a plan that covers boiler repair can protect you from any number of mounting costs and inconveniences you could otherwise expect. Hourly rates for plumbers can climb to around £90 if they come to your home in the evening or weekend, and may even exceed that if you live in a certain part of the country. Retailer B&Q’s engineer call outs had engineers available on weekdays for a marginally more affordable £79 per hour - if you didn’t mind the 36 hour wait. If extra parts were required or the engineer needed to work for longer than an hour, you could expect an extra £120 fee! With our boiler cover plan, you don’t have to worry about these costs.
When shopping around for boiler repair cover, you'll usually be met with two basic types of cover, though most good plans for boiler repair will offer a decent amount of flexibility depending on what you’re looking for. Traditionally, you can choose cover just for your boiler and controls or you can choose cover for your whole heating system, which includes hot water. Some boiler cover plans will also allow you to add in extra cover for things like plumbing, electrics and drains. Since cover plans are much more affordable than the unexpected and expensive repair bill you might face if something breaks in your home, choosing a plan that fully covers your main household appliances can save a lot of time and money in the future.
What should you look for in a boiler cover plan?
Just because you get your power from a particular energy supplier doesn’t mean you should take out boiler cover with the same company. As you would do with car and home insurance, take some time to shop around and find a plan that’s the best deal for you.
With a basic boiler cover plan, you can expect to find repairs to your boilers and controls (including thermostats, clocks, timers and programmers) featured. However, you should make sure your plan for boiler repair also includes parts, labour and unlimited repairs, so you know that you won’t be made to pay extra charges if your boiler runs into multiple issues or the repairs take longer than expected.
A good boiler cover plan will offer an annual boiler inspection, to check your boiler is operating safely and efficiently in your home. Your engineer will ensure that it’s running in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, that it has sufficient ventilation and that your boiler is compliant with the safety checks outlined in 1998’s Gas Regulations.
For the plans that offer greater cover, think carefully about other expensive items you might like to insure at the same time. Since your boiler and central heating system go hand in hand, cover packages that include them both are popular. Plans that protect your central heating system typically include repairs to pumps, radiators, pipes, fittings and hot water feed - again, check that the package offers unlimited repairs and nothing extra to pay per repair.
It goes without saying that, when choosing the best boiler cover, it’s advisable to look out for a company with high ratings from their previous customers. Some cover plans can include hidden charges or a limit on the number of times you can request a repair, so choose a company that is reliable and trustworthy.
How do I know if I’m eligible for a boiler cover plan?
If you’re a homeowner and your home insurance doesn’t include boiler repair as a standard feature, you should be eligible for a boiler cover plan.
The only thing you’ll need to do before you get started with your cover plan is to check the age and model of your boiler. Many cover plans require that the boiler is below a certain age: if your boiler is more than fifteen years old then you might find it harder to get a maintenance plan, and boilers more than seven years old sometimes require an inspection first. Most popular boiler models are included in boiler repair plans, but there are occasionally exceptions.
If you rent, you don’t need to purchase boiler cover, as it’s the responsibility of your landlord to make sure your boiler is running properly. However, boiler cover is still something you can discuss with your landlord - it’s in both of your interests to have a plan in place for any problems you might encounter. Some cover plans for boiler repair offer packages specifically for landlords, which protect rental properties from emergency breakdown costs and offer added benefits like free gas safety certifications. Landlord cover also tends to let tenants report any problems directly to the company, which saves the time and hassle of going between multiple different people.
YourRepair is the right choice for your boiler repair cover
Boilers are one of the most expensive items in a home, so it's important to be prepared in case your system fails. With a cover plan in place for future boiler repair, you protect yourself from long waiting times for call outs, expensive emergency fees and potentially weeks without heating or hot water.
By choosing YourRepair for your boiler cover, you can keep you and your family safe and warm all year round. We're dedicated to providing the best customer service we can: 97% of our customers gave our services five stars.
With access to over 5,000 Gas Safe registered engineers, all you need to do is pick up the phone if your boiler breaks down and we’ll aim to have someone with you within two hours. You don’t need to worry about the stress of hidden charges either - YourRepair boiler cover plans are available with absolutely no charges per repair.
To find out more about protecting your boiler this winter, browse the selection of boiler cover plans we have available or contact us today.