Boiler Cover for a New Home: Is It Worth It?
New home buying comes with plenty unknowns. Whilst it may look good when you move into the property, there may be faults with an appliance that are not immediately visible.
Protection plan is one way gaining peace of mind about the boiler. This is particularly true for older appliances or cost repairing would cause stress for a homeowner. It is worth checking the appliance age, whether it has a warranty, service records for an appliance and whether there is emergency cover in place.
Citizens Advice, some individuals might already have boiler or home emergency cover via their home insurance policies, work insurance policies or bank accounts. It is worth checking these policies first before purchasing a protection plan.
What Is boiler cover
This includes a policy that will assist with cost for repairing an appliance if it breaks down. Some policies will only cover an appliance. Others may also cover heating controls, radiators, pipework, electrics and plumbing along with emergency callouts for boiler issues.
Often, relatively low protection plan prices do not include all those expected features. There are typically exclusions with insurance policies for specific circumstances and costs. Therefore, it is worth reading the policy thoroughly before committing to buying it.
Why new homeowners consider it
New property owners may not be aware of care that was taken with previous homeowner’s appliance. There may be no service record history. Appliance age may be much more significant than the buyer is used to. In these instances, the property owner may want a protection plan if:
- Appliance warranty has expired
- Several years old
- known to be unreliable
- Expensive for a boiler repair.
Having predictable costs each month on an appliance opposed to worry about expensive repairs. In these circumstances, protection plan worth considering.
Check the warranty first
Before purchasing a protection plan, it could be worth checking to see whether manufacturer warranty is still valid. Many manufactures require that homeowners perform annual boiler servicing to maintain warranty validation. Regular boiler servicing means having an annual check up of the appliance by a qualified gas engineer.
If the warranty is still active, it may be worth checking what kind of coverage it provides. This can then be compared to features of protection plan being considered. This may show homeowners whether warranty provides worthwhile protection.
Service before you decide
Undergoing boiler servicing could help to show current condition.
For gas appliances, any engineers undertaking servicing work must be members of the Gas Safe Register. Gas Safe Registered engineers who are members are legally permitted to undertake gas work.
Oil boilers require engineers who are members of OFTEC register. Allstar Systems offers a range of heating engineers who have appropriate OFTEC and gas safe competence.
When boiler cover may be worth it
Under the following circumstances, This could be worth considering for a homeowner:
- boiler is several years old
- no service records
- warranty has expired
- homeowner wants to have predictable costs
- Property owner could not afford a repair
- property has experienced issues before
In these instances, purchasing protection plan may be worth it.
A protection plan may not be worth having if the boiler under warranty, if a homeowner already has emergency home cover or if they are able and willing to pay for any repairs.
Boiler cover or home emergency cover
Home emergency cover policies might include emergencies like heating loss, burst plumbing pipes or even electrical faults.
It is worth checking both policies to see what kinds of emergencies they will cover. It is worth checking that routine servicing of the unit is included under the policy. Many home emergency cover policies will not include servicing work.
Need help understanding a boiler in a new home
If a buyer is considering purchasing, it could be worth getting in touch with a professional who can tell a new homeowner about an appliance they have in their new home. This can help them to avoid purchasing a protection plan that will overlap with their home insurance policy and may also help them to rectify any issues with an appliance that might exist before.
FAQs About Boiler Cover for a New Home
What is boiler cover?
Boiler cover is a paid plan that may help with certain boiler breakdowns, callouts, parts, labour or servicing, depending on the policy.
Is boiler cover worth it for a new home?
It may be worth considering if the boiler is older, has missing service records, no valid warranty or unknown repair history.
Should I service the boiler before buying boiler cover?
Yes, this can help you understand the boiler’s condition before paying for a cover plan.
What should I check before buying boiler cover?
Check the warranty, service records, existing home emergency cover, policy exclusions, excess fees, callout limits and whether annual servicing is included.
Does boiler cover include the whole heating system?
Not always. Some policies cover only the boiler. Others may include controls, radiators, pipework or wider heating system parts.
Can boiler cover exclude old boilers?
Yes. Some providers exclude older boilers or limit cover when parts are hard to source.
Does boiler cover include pre-existing faults?
Many policies exclude pre-existing faults. Therefore, read the terms before buying cover after moving house.
Do I need boiler cover if my boiler has a warranty?
Maybe not. If the warranty remains valid and servicing records are complete, separate cover may offer less value.
What documents should I ask for when buying a house?
Ask for boiler installation details, warranty paperwork, annual service records, repair invoices and gas safety records where relevant.
When should I replace a boiler instead of buying cover?
Replacement may make more sense if the boiler is old, unreliable, expensive to repair, inefficient or no longer supported with available parts.
