Boiler Cover

A boiler breaking down in January is one of the most disruptive domestic emergencies a household can face. Boiler cover, also called home emergency cover or heating cover, provides access to an engineer, covers parts and labour, and in most cases includes your annual boiler service. Done right, it’s peace of mind at a manageable monthly cost.

Ofgem’s Q2 2025 price cap stands at £1,849 a year. Standing charges alone add up to around £338 across both fuels before you use a single unit.

But boiler cover varies enormously in what it covers, how quickly an engineer arrives, and what it actually costs once you factor in excesses and renewal premiums. Switcheroo helps you compare boiler cover plans from leading UK providers to find the right policy for your home and budget.

What Does Boiler Cover Include?

Levels of Boiler Cover

• Boiler Only, annual service + breakdown repair for boiler and flue. Entry level.
• Boiler and Controls, above plus thermostat, programmer, and zone valves.
• Boiler and Central Heating, above plus radiators, pipework, and heating system.
• Full Home Emergency, above plus plumbing, drainage.

Who Offers Boiler Cover in the UK?

• British Gas HomeCare, the market leader. Four plan levels. 2m+ customers. 24/7 nationwide engineer network. Also available as an add on to your British Gas energy tariff. See our British Gas review.
• Homeserve, wide range of heating and plumbing cover. Strong engineer network.
• 247 Home Rescue, popular challenger. Competitive pricing, strong reviews.
• Domestic & General, appliance focused but offers boiler cover.
• Your energy supplier, OVO, Octopus, and others offer boiler cover add ons.
• Home insurers, some offer boiler cover as.

Is Boiler Cover Worth It?

The maths depend on your boiler’s age and condition. A typical boiler repair costs £150–£500 for parts and labour. A full replacement costs £1,500–£3,000 installed. An annual service alone is £80–£120. If your boiler is over 10 years old or has had previous issues, cover can pay for itself on one call out. For newer boilers still under manufacturer warranty, cover extends protection beyond the standard guarantee.

What to Compare When Choosing Boiler Cover

• Annual service included? This alone can justify much of the annual cost.
• No  call out excess? Excess free plans save money when problems occur.
• Age and type restrictions? Some providers won’t cover boilers over 15 years old.
• Response time guarantee? Emergency response vs. standard appointment matters in winter.
• Engineer employment model? Directly employed engineers are generally more consistent.
• Renewal pricing? Some providers hike premiums.

If your boiler is over ten years old, cover is probably worth it. A single call out charge without cover often costs more than a year’s premium.

• Read the exclusions list carefully, particularly around sludge damage, pre existing conditions, and certain boiler brands
• Check the number of callouts included per year and whether parts and labour are both covered without a cap
• Look at the excess on callouts: a low monthly premium with a high excess per visit may be poor value
• Check whether an annual service is included, as this is often one of the most valuable parts of the cover
• Confirm your boiler’s age and model: some providers won’t cover boilers over 10 or 15 years old

What to Check Before Taking Out Boiler Cover

Boiler cover and home emergency insurance serve different purposes, though they’re often confused. Boiler cover specifically covers the boiler and central heating system, the boiler unit, controls, and sometimes radiators and pipework. Home emergency insurance covers a broader range of unexpected failures: burst pipes, blocked drains, lost keys, electrical failures, and roof damage, as well as the heating system. Some policies bundle both together; others are sold separately. If your primary concern is the boiler, standalone boiler cover is usually cheaper per year than a full home emergency policy. If you want wider protection, a combined policy can offer better overall value. British Gas HomeCare is the most widely known bundled product, though specialist providers like Homeserve, Corgi HomePlan, and 247 Home Rescue also compete strongly.

Boiler Cover vs Home Emergency Insurance

Reading the small print on boiler cover is genuinely important, because exclusions can make a policy far less useful than it appears. Most policies exclude boilers over a certain age, typically 15 years, unless you pay a higher premium or accept a higher excess. Pre existing faults and known issues at the time of taking out cover are almost universally excluded. Sludge or limescale damage, which is common in older systems without a magnetic filter, may also be excluded unless you’ve had a recent service. External pipework beyond a certain distance from the property boundary is often not covered. Some policies exclude specific boiler brands or certain models. Always read the list of exclusions before signing up, and check whether an annual service is included, maintaining your service record is often a condition of continued cover.

Boiler Cover vs Home Emergency Insurance

Boiler cover specifically covers your boiler and sometimes central heating components, whilst home emergency insurance covers a broader range of household emergencies: burst pipes, electrical failures, roof leaks, and blocked drains. Home emergency cover doesn’t focus on boilers; it’s your first call resource for urgent repairs. Having both is sensible: boiler cover ensures your heating is maintained annually and covered for breakdown (critical in winter), whilst home emergency insurance covers the unexpected crises that boiler cover misses. Boiler cover costs £10–£25/month depending on tier; home emergency insurance costs £5–£15/month. Together, they cost less than a single callout from a non insurance engineer (typically £60–£150 for diagnostics alone). The question isn’t boiler cover vs home emergency insurance, ideally, you have both. Boiler cover is especially worth it if your boiler is 6–12 years old (approaching failure risk but not obsolete). For brand new boilers under 3 years old with manufacturer’s warranty, boiler cover is less critical, though the annual service benefit remains valuable. Evaluate your home age and boiler condition to decide; having some protection is almost always cheaper than reactive emergency repair.