What Is Boiler Cover?
Boiler cover is a policy that pays for repairs to your boiler and central heating system when they break down unexpectedly, covering engineer call-out fees, parts, and labour that standard home insurance does not include.
Standard home insurance covers damage from insured perils like fire, theft, and escape of water. It does not cover mechanical breakdowns of your boiler or heating system.
This guide explains what boiler cover includes, what it excludes, how it differs from home emergency cover, whether you need it if your boiler is new, and what to look for when choosing a policy.
Standard home insurance does not cover a boiler breaking down, which is the gap boiler cover fills. If your boiler is still under manufacturer warranty you are largely covered already, though the warranty rarely extends to radiators, pipework or pumps. When comparing, look past the monthly price to the repair limits, the excess and the boiler age cut-off.
Compare home insurance quotes that include boiler and central heating protection.
What does boiler cover include?
Most boiler cover policies include fault diagnosis, engineer call-out fees, replacement parts, and labour for repairs to your boiler and central heating system.
| What is covered | Basic boiler-only | Full central heating |
| Boiler repairs | Yes | Yes |
| Controls and thermostat | Yes | Yes |
| Radiators and valves | No | Yes |
| Pipework and pumps | No | Yes |
| Hot water cylinder | No | Yes (on most policies) |
| Annual boiler service | Sometimes | Often included |
| Boiler replacement (if beyond repair) | Rarely | Sometimes (up to a limit) |
24/7 helpline
Most policies include a helpline to report breakdowns at any time, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. An engineer is then dispatched to diagnose and repair the fault.
Annual boiler service
Some policies include an annual safety check carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This is valuable because annual servicing is often a condition of both the policy and your boiler’s manufacturer warranty.
Boiler replacement
If your boiler cannot be repaired, some policies contribute towards or fully cover the cost of a replacement, usually up to a limit of £1,000 to £2,000. Basic policies rarely include replacement cover.
What is not covered?
Boiler cover has exclusions that are important to understand before you rely on it, and the most common ones catch people out at claim time.
Pre-existing faults
Faults that existed before the policy started are excluded. If your boiler already has a known problem, taking out cover will not fix it.
Lack of annual servicing
Many policies require your boiler to have been serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The HSE gas safety guidance explains why annual servicing matters for both safety and insurance purposes.
Boiler age limits
Some providers exclude boilers above a certain age (commonly 10 to 15 years) or impose higher excesses for older systems. Check whether your boiler’s age affects your eligibility or cost.
Sludge and limescale
Damage caused by sludge build-up, limescale, or lack of a magnetic filter may be excluded. Some policies require a filter to be fitted as a condition of cover.
Wear and tear
Gradual deterioration and components wearing out from normal use are typically excluded. Boiler cover is for unexpected breakdowns, not the natural ageing of parts.
Poor installation
If the boiler was not installed correctly or was fitted by an unqualified engineer, the insurer may refuse claims related to installation faults.
How is boiler cover different from home emergency cover?
Boiler cover focuses specifically on your boiler and central heating system. Home emergency cover is broader, also covering plumbing emergencies, electrical failures, drainage problems, and sometimes locksmith services.
| Feature | Boiler cover | Home emergency cover |
| Boiler breakdown | Yes (primary focus) | Yes (included) |
| Central heating system | Yes (on most policies) | Sometimes (varies) |
| Plumbing emergencies | No | Yes |
| Electrical failures | No | Yes |
| Blocked drains | No | Yes |
| Annual boiler service | Often included | Rarely included |
| Boiler replacement | Sometimes (up to a limit) | Rarely (repair only) |
When boiler cover is better
If your main concern is boiler reliability, dedicated boiler cover usually provides deeper protection, including annual servicing, higher repair limits, and replacement cover that home emergency policies rarely match.
When home emergency is better
If you want broader protection across multiple systems (plumbing, electrics, drainage), home emergency cover may be more suitable. Check what your buildings insurance already includes before buying either.
Do you need boiler cover if your boiler is new?
New boilers come with a manufacturer’s warranty, typically lasting five to ten years, that covers manufacturing defects, parts, and labour, so separate boiler cover may not be necessary during the warranty period.
Warranty conditions
Most manufacturer warranties require annual servicing by a Gas Safe registered engineer. If you miss a service, the warranty may be voided, leaving you without protection.
What the warranty does not cover
The warranty covers the boiler itself but not radiators, pipework, pumps, or valves. If you want the full central heating system protected, you would need boiler cover even with a warranty in place.
When to add cover
Consider adding boiler cover as the warranty nears its end. Once it expires, you have no protection against breakdowns unless you have boiler cover or home emergency cover.
What should you look for when choosing boiler cover?
The cheapest policy is not necessarily the best value. Comparing what is actually covered and excluded matters more than the headline price.
Repair and replacement limits
Some policies cap how much they pay per repair or per year. Make sure the limit is realistic for your boiler type, as parts and labour for older or less common models can be expensive.
Boiler age eligibility
If your boiler is older than 10 to 15 years, confirm it is eligible for cover. Some providers refuse older boilers or charge considerably more.
Excess
Check the excess on each claim, as a lower excess means less out-of-pocket cost but typically a higher premium. Common excess levels are £0 to £60.
Response time
Ask what the typical response time is for breakdowns, as demand for engineers peaks during winter and response times can stretch. A guaranteed response time provides more certainty.
Landlord cover
If you rent out a property, your landlord insurance may include or offer boiler cover as an add-on. Check your existing policy before buying a separate one.
FCA pricing rules
Under FCA pricing rules (from January 2022), renewing customers cannot be charged more than equivalent new customers. Comparing annually is still worth doing because cover limits and exclusions vary between providers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some policies include a contribution towards or full cover for a replacement boiler if yours cannot be repaired, usually up to a limit of £1,000 to £2,000. Others only cover repairs, so check the policy wording before buying.
Some providers require a recent service or an initial inspection before cover starts. Others accept you without a prior service but may require one within a set period, so be upfront with the provider.
Yes, by law only Gas Safe registered engineers can work on gas appliances in the UK. Your boiler must be serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer to maintain both your manufacturer’s warranty and your boiler cover.
Standard buildings and contents insurance does not cover boiler breakdowns because mechanical failure is not an insured peril. However, if a faulty boiler causes water damage to your property, the resulting damage may be covered under escape of water cover.
Boiler cover typically costs £5 to £17 per month in the UK, depending on the level of cover, your boiler’s age, and whether an annual service is included. Full central heating cover is usually more expensive than basic boiler-only policies.
Boiler cover is normally the landlord’s responsibility because the boiler is part of the property’s fixtures. If you rent, check with your landlord whether they have cover in place before arranging your own.
A boiler warranty comes from the manufacturer and covers defects in a new boiler for a fixed period (typically five to ten years). Boiler cover is a separate policy you buy that covers breakdowns after the warranty expires or provides broader central heating system protection.