Published: Tuesday 1st October, 2024

How to choose the right home and boiler cover plan

Selecting the right home and boiler cover can provide peace of mind and protect you from unexpected repair costs. Whether you’re a busy homeowner who doesn’t have the time or skills to handle DIY repairs, or simply want to ensure your heating system is always in top condition, finding the right cover can make all the difference. This guide will help you assess the market and choose a plan that suits your needs and simplifies home care, saving you the hassle of organising tradespeople for repairs. 

1. Understand what you need

Assess your household and lifestyle:

• Time and DIY skills: If you’re short on time or lack the skills to manage repairs, certain cover plans can save you the stress of handling maintenance and breakdowns yourself.
• Avoid the hassle of finding tradespeople: With the right cover plan, you won’t need to search for and coordinate with various tradespeople for every issue that arises. This is a huge time-saver, especially during emergencies.

Key questions to ask:

• Do you need protection for just the boiler, or the entire heating system and more?
• Are you looking for a plan that covers plumbing, electrical faults, or home security issues?

2. Types of home and boiler cover plans

Boiler cover

• What it covers: Typically includes repairs and breakdowns of the boiler unit itself, and may include an annual service by a Gas Safe engineer.
• Why it’s important: Gas boilers must be serviced by qualified professionals. This type of cover is ideal for anyone looking to keep their boiler in top condition without worrying about organising tradespeople for unexpected repairs.

Boiler & heating cover

• What it covers: Includes boiler repairs as well as central heating system components like radiators, pumps, valves, and pipes.
• Why it’s important: Home heating systems can be complex, and repairs often require professional skills beyond typical DIY capabilities. This type of cover ensures that you won’t have to spend time finding tradespeople to fix heating issues, keeping your home warm and comfortable without the hassle.

Plumbing & drains cover

• What it covers: Covers issues related to your plumbing system, including blocked drains, leaks, and burst pipes.
• Why it’s important: Plumbing and drains can break down frequently, and finding a reliable tradesperson can be time-consuming. This cover provides the convenience of having a dedicated service that can handle these problems quickly, without you needing to search for help every time.

Electrical cover

• What it covers: Covers electrical faults and repairs, often including wiring, sockets, and fuse boards.
• Why it’s important: Electrical repairs must be carried out by a qualified electrician, and can be expensive. With this cover, you don’t have to worry about finding and booking an electrician every time there’s an issue, saving you time and ensuring safety.

Comprehensive home cover

• What it covers: Provides a broad range of protection, often including boiler, heating, plumbing, electrics, home security, and even pest control.
• Why it’s important: If you prefer a single plan that covers multiple aspects of home maintenance and emergencies, comprehensive cover offers peace of mind and convenience. It eliminates the need to organize different tradespeople for various issues, giving you one point of contact for all your home needs.

3. Key features to compare when choosing a plan

When comparing home and boiler cover plans, consider the following features to find the best fit for your needs:

Rapid emergency response

• Look for plans that offer quick response times, ideally within 24 hours. Some providers can fix 99% of emergencies on the same day, ensuring you’re not left without heating or hot water for long.

Ease of requesting repairs

• Check if you can request repairs easily online and if the plan covers unlimited call-outs with all parts and labour included. This can save you a lot of time and hassle compared to coordinating repairs yourself.

Personalised support

• Consider providers that offer a personalised onboarding call. This helps ensure you fully understand the cover and know what to expect, providing complete transparency and peace of mind from the start.

Value for money

• Look for plans that offer competitive pricing and potential savings. Some homeowners have saved up to £300 in the first year alone when switching providers, so it’s worth comparing costs and benefits.

Nationwide coverage

• Choose a provider with a network of fully qualified and experienced engineers across the UK. This ensures you’ll have access to professional support no matter where you live.

4. Understanding boiler cover vs. boiler insurance

It’s important to distinguish between boiler cover as an insurance product and boiler cover as a service agreement. Home & boiler cover as insurance products provide financial protection against specific risks, such as boiler breakdowns or plumbing emergencies. These plans are designed to cover the costs of repairs or replacements up to a certain amount, often including excess fees, exclusions, and claim limits.

Boiler cover service agreements, on the other hand, focus on the proactive maintenance and servicing of your boiler and heating system. They typically include an annual boiler service, priority call-outs, and ongoing support to prevent breakdowns before they occur. This type of agreement is ideal for homeowners who want peace of mind knowing their heating system is being looked after, without the worry of organising tradespeople every time an issue arises.

5. Choosing the right plan for you

Consider your home and systems

• If you have a modern home with newer systems, you might only need boiler and heating cover. For older properties or those with more frequent plumbing or electrical issues, broader coverage can offer more comprehensive protection.

Evaluate your tolerance for risk

• Think about how comfortable you are dealing with unexpected breakdowns. If you’d rather not handle repairs or the associated costs, choosing a more extensive home cover plan will provide greater peace of mind and reduce the time you spend managing tradespeople.

Focus on convenience

• If you prefer not to manage multiple tradespeople or services, comprehensive home emergency cover simplifies everything by providing a single point of contact for all your home repair needs.

6. Making the most of your cover plan

Know when your boiler may need repairs or replacing

Book your annual service

• Don’t wait until there’s a problem. Schedule your annual boiler service to keep your system in good working condition and avoid potential breakdowns.

Know what’s covered

• Familiarise yourself with what’s included in your plan. This helps you make the most of your cover and ensures you’re not caught off-guard during an emergency.

Choosing the right home and boiler cover plan is about finding a solution that suits your needs and lifestyle. Whether you’re looking to avoid unexpected repair costs or want hassle-free home maintenance, our comprehensive home and boiler cover offers peace of mind

As service agreements, our plans focus on proactive maintenance and support, so you can enjoy your home without the worry of organising tradespeople for every issue.

Explore our cover options and sign up for OpenFix today