Overlook central heating boiler maintenance policies at your own peril
Overlook central heating boiler maintenance policies at your own peril
These days anything from laptops to pets can be covered with insurance plans. Of course, some things are more important to get covered than others and, with the likes of motor insurance, you may be legally required to do so. Lenders will also require borrowers to take out building insurance if they have a mortgage to cover the cost of replacement and rebuilding. Policyholders are requireded by the lender to protect themselves from losses that could ruin their lives by these types of protection cover.
The next step down would be things like central heating insurance, which can be found with companies such as British Gas and Hometeam (npower). These insurances are not as widely used as they should be – for while they are not as necessary as insuring the very structure of a house, the central heating system of a home is most definitely a necessity and repairing it can cost a lot. A broken down heating system is highly troublesome, particularly in cold weather, and waiting for someone to come and fix it can be utter misery. A damaged or badly maintained gas central heating system can leak carbon monoxide gas which can be deadly.
A wide choice of plans exist in the market for both boiler servicing and central heating repair. Generally service plans start with contracts which includes safety checks and annual servicing fulfilling the householders minimum requirements. Maintenance and spare parts coverage are not included in these policies and servicing plans. You can upgrade to a more comprehensive plan that includes spare parts and repairs by paying a small amount on a monthly basis, however remember you don’t need to pay anything if your heating boiler is still in the warranty period. Particularly if a central heating boiler is getting close to the end of its working life, this extra money is well spent. At this point, customers will have to decide if they just need their gas boiler covered, or if they also want to have the rest of the central heating system covered such as the radiators, heating controls and so on.
Watch out for small print before you choose a new policy as there may be limits or exemptions written into the contract. Some suppliers will limit the number of call outs per year or specify a maximum cost of inclusive repairs for a given period. Ensure that you have all your heating needs insured at a reasonable premium, just as you would choose a life insurance or car insurance package.
