Are Monthly Boiler Contracts Worth it?
Should You Take On A Boiler Maintenance Contract?
Keeping warm through a British winter is not that simple, what with rocketing energy costs and worries about how to find the money to repair the boiler should it break down.
It’s therefore hardly surprising that all of the major energy companies and many other financial institutions are offering boiler care policies, where you pay a set amount each month and they guarantee to fix your boiler should it break down.
Although these sorts of monthly boiler contracts definitely help spread the cost, they are not the best option in all circumstances.
Renting Property And Maintaining Your Boiler
If you do not own your own property, it is not your responsibility to maintain and repair the boiler. Those sort of expenses are down to your landlord, and this is the case whether you are in social housing or rent privately.
Landlords should also perform an annual gas safety check on your boiler if you are in rented property with a gas fired heating system.
Boiler Insurance Cover
There is no point in paying for a boiler contract if you are already covered on your home insurance policy. Some policies offer a “home emergency” package as standard on their policies, and this covers boiler breakdown along with other emergencies such as roof damage or burst pipes.
If your insurer offers this sort of cover as an optional extra, it is important to weigh up the additional cost on your policy against the cost of taking out boiler cover.
The average cost for boiler cover is around £150 per year, so if your home insurer is offering a better deal, it may be worth taking that out instead.
Play the Odds
Some homeowners choose to take a calculated risk when it comes to boiler insurance. A recent survey found that the average cost for repairing a broken boiler was around £315.
If you have a fairly modern boiler which is serviced regularly and has not broken down in the past, you may decide to save the £12 per month for boiler cover and take your chances against it going wrong.
Paying £50 for an annual check and service of your boiler will keep it running efficiently and pick up any potential problems before they cause a break down.
Shop Around For Boiler Maintenance Contracts
If you would prefer the security of having a repair monthly boiler contracts on your boiler, then it is important to shop around for the best deal rather than just going with the first price you come across.
All policies vary slightly in terms of what they offer. Some have larger excesses, some commit to fixing your boiler in a shorter time than others.
Some will include an annual service as part of the package, and others will charge an additional sum for it. Some cashback sites such as Quidco or Topcashback will pay up to £80 when you take out a boiler maintenance contract, so factor this into your decision too.
Remember also to shop around when it comes to renewing your insurance every year, as this could save you money too.
Boilers are many and varied. There are so many options and models on the market, choosing the right boiler can be quite an overwhelming task indeed. Buying a new boiler can be a considerable investment. When you are spending in the region of a thousand pounds on a new one, and more to have it installed, it’s important that you do your homework and get the very best boiler for your needs.
Often the best course of action is to get in a heating engineer to make recommendations, but if you’re trying to decide for yourself, here’s a guide to what to look for.
