Do I Need to Purchase Central Heating Cover?
When a central heating system breaks down, the repair bills can be expensive. Is it worthwhile taking out an insurance policy to cover these costs?
Every year, millions of homes in the UK experience problems with their central heating systems. This can range from simple repair jobs to serious emergencies. With emergency call out fees costing in the region of £200 plus the repair bill on top of that, the total costs incurred can work out prohibitive.
One way of avoiding these high fees, should you experience problems with your central heating system, is to take out a boiler insurance policy. For a reasonably small monthly premium, you can have peace of mind and not have to worry about expensive charges should the need for repairs or emergency call outs occur.
However, before you rush out to buy central heating cover, there are a few things to think about.
It is wise to have your system checked regularly to prevent problems and avoid expensive repair bills. This should always be carried out by a professional.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur if gas appliances become faulty. This gas is colourless, odourless and potentially lethal.
You can purchase a carbon monoxide detector, which works similarly to a smoke alarm and will alert you of any danger. These cost as little as £25 – a small price to pay for the difference between life and death.
Central heating cover which includes a safety inspection will ensure your boiler and controls are both safe and functioning correctly. Again, a small price to pay.
Firstly, you need to check that central heating repairs are your responsibility. If you own your own home then yes, it is up to you to manage and upkeep the central heating system and all costs involved.
If you live in social housing then the responsibility lies with your local council or housing association, who will send round a qualified engineer to deal with any problems at no cost to you and arrange a regular boiler service. In this case, there is no need for you to have central heating cover.
Private tenants have no need for this insurance either. If you rent your home privately from a landlord, it is his responsibility to ensure the central heating system is kept in good working condition and his job to arrange any repairs needed, usually at his expense. He is also required by law to arrange for a yearly boiler inspection to be carried out. When renting a new home always ask to see any documentation relating to this.
If you are a homeowner and have only just purchased a new boiler or recently installed a new central heating system, there may be a warranty on these covering you for any breakdowns or repairs. In addition, some home insurance policies will cover your central heating system so always check to see if this is the case.
Before you go ahead and purchase central heating cover, you need to weigh up the likelihood of a breakdown occurring and the costs this will incur against the total cost of the premiums you will have to pay out each month for insurance. Only you can decide if this is worthwhile, depending on your circumstances.
