Boiler servicing contract reviews: Features explained

It's best to have your boiler serviced every year.

What is boiler cover?

Boiler cover ensures that if your boiler breaks down, the contract provider will send an engineer to try to fix it. If you sign up for a boiler servicing contract you'll pay a monthly fee for this peace of mind.

Most providers aim to fix a boiler within 24 hours of a call.

Is a boiler contract worth it?

Most of the Which? members in our survey who have boiler cover said that peace of mind was the main reason for taking out the contract.

Others gave value for money as a reason, which may be surprising given that we’ve found it would be cheaper for most people to call out an independent heating engineer on an ad hoc basis.

So, based purely on cost, you could be better off using Which? Local to track down a reliable local engineer, but if you prefer to have the peace of mind that a contract can offer, take a look at our reviews of boiler servicing contracts.

Types of boiler breakdown cover

Many boiler servicing contracts offer an array of extra options, such as repairs for central heating, plumbing and drains – even your electrical wiring. In general, the more cover you have, the more expensive your monthly fees.

Choosing the right policy for you will depend on your circumstances. If your boiler heats both your water and your house, you may want to include central heating with your cover, which will include protection for your radiators.

Domestic & General, Heateam and Worcester are the only firms in our review that provide boiler breakdown cover in Northern Ireland.

Annual boiler service

If you decide to get a boiler servicing contract, choose one that includes an annual service or maintenance inspection – this helps to keep your boiler safe and running efficiently.

All the boiler maintenance policies we feature include this as standard or as an option. We recommend your boiler receives an annual service, whether you take boiler breakdown cover or not.

Regular checks help ensure your boiler is working safely and may even help prolong its life. Many providers will also only cover you if you have an annual service.

To find out what to expect from an annual service see our expert video guide on getting a good boiler service.

Exclusions on boiler servicing contracts

While boiler breakdown cover may provide you with peace of mind, you should also bear in mind that not everything will be covered by a boiler servicing contract.

A typical example is where sludge build-up occurs in your boiler.This is not covered by any of the companies we feature and would require a full system flush, which can cost more than £400. Check your policy for the following exclusions:

boiler age - If you have an older boiler you may find not all boiler breakdown providers will accept you as a new customer.
boiler life - Existing customers should also be wary. Some providers won’t renew the cover of your boiler if it reaches a certain age. While you might be able to switch to another provider, the older your boiler the more likely you’ll need cover.
call-outs - If your boiler breaks down twice in a year, some policies won’t cover you more than this. Choose a policy that has unlimited call-outs and preferably doesn’t limit the amount that the provider will cover.

In this review

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