Boiler Broke in Winter? Don't Pay £300 Call-out Fees. Why 'Home Emergency Cover' is Better
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| Boiler Broke in Winter? |
It is January. It is -2°C outside. You turn on the heating, and... nothing happens. Your boiler is dead.
You panic and call a local emergency plumber. The quote? £180 just to come out, plus £90 per hour for labor, plus parts. You are looking at a bill of £500+ just to stay warm for one night.
You think, "I'll claim on my Home Insurance!"
Bad news: Standard home insurance covers damage caused by a burst pipe (like a ruined ceiling), but it usually pays £0 to fix the broken boiler or the pipe itself. This is why you need Home Emergency Cover.
What is Home Emergency Cover?
This is a specific type of insurance (often sold as an add-on for £40-£60 a year) designed for immediate crises. It covers:
- Heating Failure: If your boiler stops working completely (Total loss of heat).
- Plumbing Issues: Burst pipes or blocked drains that cause internal flooding.
- Electrical Failure: Complete loss of power in the home.
- Security Risks: Broken windows or locks that leave your home unsafe.
The insurer sends an approved engineer usually within 4 to 24 hours to fix the problem. They pay for the call-out, labor, and parts (up to a limit, usually £500 or £1,000).
Insurance vs. Service Contracts (British Gas)
Many Brits pay £25-£35 a month for full "Boiler Cover" service contracts (like British Gas HomeCare). Is it worth it?
💰 The Price Showdown
Option A: Full Service Contract (e.g., British Gas)
- Cost: £300 - £400 per year.
- Pros: Includes annual service. Often covers older boilers.
Option B: Insurance Add-on + Pay As You Go
- Cost: £50 (Insurance) + £80 (One-off Annual Service) = £130 total.
- Pros: You save over 50%. Ideal for newer boilers (under 7-10 years old).
⚠️ Critical Warning: The "BER" Trap
Before you switch to the cheaper insurance option, check your boiler's age. This is the biggest "gotcha" in the industry.
Beyond Economical Repair (BER): If your boiler is old (usually 7+ or 10+ years) and the repair part is expensive or hard to find, the insurer will declare it "BER".
- They will NOT buy you a new boiler.
- They will simply give you a small contribution (e.g., £250) towards a new one and close the claim.
Rule of Thumb: If your boiler is over 10 years old, stick with a specialized Service Contract. If it's under 10 years, the cheap Insurance Add-on is smarter.
Don't Forget: "Service History" is Mandatory
Most insurers state: "We will not pay for boiler repairs if you cannot prove it has been serviced annually by a Gas Safe engineer."
If you haven't serviced your boiler in 2 years, your Home Emergency cover might be void. Get it serviced today (approx £80-£90) to ensure your policy is valid.
The Smart Money Move
A broken boiler is stressful enough without the financial shock of an emergency plumber bill.
Don't rely on standard home insurance. Check your boiler age, ensure it's serviced, and then add "Home Emergency" to your policy. It is the best £50 you will ever spend when the snow starts falling.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. "Home Emergency" is a regulated insurance product. Coverage limits (e.g., £500 vs £1,000) and exclusions (like sludge buildup or boilers over 15 years old) vary by provider. Always read the Policy Wording (IPID) carefully.
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