Do You Need To Buy Boiler Cover?

Last year some 20% of boilers broke down, leaving households with an bill of £320 but do you need to buy boiler or go without and join the other 58% of households that don’t have cover?

According to uSwitch.com, as many try to save money, around half consider boiler cover as an unnecessary expense or something that’s too expensive. For some though there has been an about turn as having suffered the cost of a breakdown they believe it is now in their best interests to buy cover.

As with any type of insurance cover you need to assess your own needs and buy accordingly.

For some, buying boiler cover provides peace of mind and for others it simply means they will not be faced with a surprise cost should their boiler breakdown.

As Kevin Sears, energy expert at uSwitch.com, says: “If boiler cover is the right option for you then it is vital to shop around for the best deal.

“Prices and the level of cover can vary, with some suppliers also including an annual boiler safety inspection. As well as saving money this could also potentially protect your family’s health.

The other point to consider is that you are not obliged to take boiler cover through your gas supplier – you really are free to shop around to take advantage of a deal that suits your household’s needs.”

MoneyHighStreet comments: “Boilers that are not serviced regularly will invariably cost more to run and so opting for boiler cover that includes an annual service, whilst costing money, may actually save you money too.

“Equally replacing an old conventional boiler with a new high-efficiency condensing one can help you save money on your heating bills.

“On the face of it boiler cover plans can seem very attractive and cost-effective. Certainly too if you need to budget you may feel paying a monthly fee, rather than being hit with a large bill, is a good option.

“Consider the cover you need though and also consider the likelihood of your boiler breaking down. Even if it is relatively new it of course may breakdown but the probability is perhaps much lower than perhaps if you have a very old, much used boiler.

“If you need peace of mind and knowledge that you have access to an expert should your boiler breakdown then taking out cover may well be a good option for you. At a starting cost of £89 this won’t be prohibitive for many either.

“But whilst paying out from £89 upwards per year doesn’t sound much, it is still a bill that has to be paid even if your boiler doesn’t breakdown.

“If you are disciplined and want to take a slightly more risky approach, another option is to put the money you would need to pay out on a cover plan into a savings account. The upside is you earn interest on the money you save. The downside is you may suffer a boiler breakdown that costs you more than you have saved to fix.

“The key is to weigh your options up carefully and select the one that best suits your needs.”

According to uSwitch, the following are a list of plans and prices to provide boiler and controls cover, based on a 5 year old Baxi Gas combination boiler with no existing cover in Nottingham:

Supplier	Plan Name	First Year Cost	Monthly Cost	Maximum cover per year	Safety Inspection (includes initial and annual)
HomeServe	EasyPay Gas Boiler Breakdown Cover	£89.16	£7.43	Unlimited	X
npower	Hometeam 50 Boiler care Flexi	£126.00	£10.50	Unlimited
HomeServe	Gas Boiler Breakdown Cover	£132.60	£11.05	Unlimited	X
npower	Hometeam boiler care	£144.00	£12.00	Unlimited
ScottishPower	Home Comfort Standard Care	£154.80	£12.90	Unlimited
SSE	Shield Boiler and Controls	£154.80	£12.90	Unlimited
British Gas	HomeCare 100	£156.00	£13.00	Unlimited
E.ON	Boiler & Controls Care Option 1	£159.00	£13.25	Unlimited