Why should you get central heating cover?

What does the nights drawing in make you think of? Is it cosy comfort food, warm hot chocolate with lashings of cream and marshmallows and a lovely warm welcoming house? Sounds lovely doesn’t it?

But since most of us are dependent on central heating systems for our heating and hot water, what happens when your boiler breaks down, the central heating pump seizes or the central heating programmer stops working? The lovely warm toasty images become tinged with ice, long waits and unexpected bills for central heating repairs. Not quite such an attractive image is it? But it’s something you can avoid if you invest in a central heating cover package.

So apart from avoiding a freezing house in the cold winter months and ruining your careful budgeting with unexpected central heating breakdown bills, why should you get central heating cover?

What are boiler and central heating cover?

Boiler and central heating cover protect the householder against adverse events that may affect their boiler or central heating. It differs from house buildings and contents insurance, which insures against damage to the house and property.

Some traditional house insurance policies do include some level of boiler or central heating cover but this may only cover the boiler and central heating at certain times of the year, for example, September of year one to April of year two. If the cover forms part of the buildings and contents policy, a claim under the boiler or central heating cover may affect the no-claims position of the main policy. This could make the whole policy more expensive to renew.

What is a gas boiler cover policy?

A gas boiler cover policy protects against boiler breakdown. It covers the gas boiler and controls. The best boiler cover will also include an annual boiler service and the chance of a discount on a new boiler, if the existing boiler cannot be economically repaired.

Hometree offers a gas boiler cover package with both of these features, that is available with or without a standard call-out charge, and payable either annually or monthly.

It is important to compare boiler cover packages. To ensure the package you purchase is the best cover with service. Gas boiler cover with an annual boiler service is cost-efficient. An annual boiler service can cost between £65 and £85. This may be more during the winter months if there is a shortage of registered gas safe engineers. Larger firms, with bigger operating costs, often charge more than small contractors for an annual boiler service. It makes financial sense to have your boiler service and cover together. Hometree’s boiler cover includes an annual boiler service, in addition to covering the gas boiler and controls.

Manufacturers of the best gas boilers stipulate that an annual boiler service is required to maintain the manufacturer’s warranty on the boilers.

Important Information

Some providers offer insured plans to look after your Boiler and Heating and other home services like plumbing, drains and electrics, whereas other providers offer non-insured plans. An insured plan will be underwritten by an insurer and also regulated by the [Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)](https://www.fca.org.uk/). Non-insured plans are not backed by an insurer and are not regulated by the FCA. Often non-insured or maintenance plans include an annual service of the equipment covered, whereas these may or may not be included in insured plans.