Best Boiler Cover

Phil&Michelle

Currently sitting in a freezing cold house because our boiler has packed up  The boiler is still under warranty until January 2021 so reported to the manufacturers Worcester Bosch who are sending an engineer out to fix it under guarantee. The problem is having reported it on Tuesday this week they can't get an engineer out until Tues next week, even though I explained we are 7 people in 1 house with an OAP and newborn baby. - How can they justify leaving a family with no heating or hot water for 7 days

I think it is safe to say that I will not be extending my warranty with them if that's the best they can do for service and call outs. Has anyone got any recommendations for boiler cover with or without a service plan with a company that is reliable or has a 24/48 call out guarantee?

Talldave

I know this isn't the answer you want, but I think money is better spent on having backup alternatives - a couple of oil radiators in the loft ready to go at a moment's notice and an immersion heater for hot water.

Find a local boiler engineer (preferably by word of mouth recommendation) to use for annual services and emergencies. 

UnclaimedEnergy

An annual boiler service from a local engineer would cost on average £85 a year. I've got an annual boiler cover with Scottish Power which is a 12m contract at £180 for the year which includes this annual service. so just over half of what you may have to pay for a service from another engineer.

On top of this, I've had to call out a boiler engineer twice in the last 6 months, meaning I have already saved money by doing 3 call-outs. Both times I was able to get someone round within 36 hours (phoned later in the day so wasn't able to do next day).  Now it turns out I need a replacement part for it, something that will be covered in the boiler cover I took out earlier this year.

Having the boiler cover this year will be saving me hundreds of £ and also removes the worry of sudden unexpected outgoings (not everyone has £10,000 in savings and the luxury of alternative heating).

At the end of the day, insurance isn't something you always need and most people will have an approach of "what a waste of money, nothing bad will happen anyway and if it does you can do x and y" - however for the sake of £15 a month and having 1 less takeaway, I'm happy to pay for insurance.

UnclaimedEnergy

Talldave said:

I know this isn't the answer you want, but I think money is better spent on having backup alternatives - a couple of oil radiators in the loft ready to go at a moment's notice and an immersion heater for hot water.

Find a local boiler engineer (preferably by word of mouth recommendation) to use for annual services and emergencies. 

"Immersion heaters have an estimated running cost of between 40p and 50p per hour, you are looking at spending around £300 a year simply on heating your water, and that is based on it being powered up for just two hours a day."

How does this compare to the cost of heating water without one? and also what is the initial cost of having one installed?

Talldave

UnclaimedEnergy said:

Talldave said:

I know this isn't the answer you want, but I think money is better spent on having backup alternatives - a couple of oil radiators in the loft ready to go at a moment's notice and an immersion heater for hot water.

Find a local boiler engineer (preferably by word of mouth recommendation) to use for annual services and emergencies. 

"Immersion heaters have an estimated running cost of between 40p and 50p per hour, you are looking at spending around £300 a year simply on heating your water, and that is based on it being powered up for just two hours a day."

How does this compare to the cost of heating water without one? and also what is the initial cost of having one installed?

An immersion is for emergencies only!! I did use the phrase "backup alternatives".

Robin9

Best boiler cover - the phone number of a local tradesman

UnclaimedEnergy

Surely the best boiler cover is being the local tradesman 

Phil&Michelle

We don't have an immersion heater or cylinder as its a combi boiler. My brother dropped off 3x 2kw heaters which we are moving around the house to warm it up. I don't think I have ever seen the meter spinner so fast lol.

dosh37

Phil&Michelle said:

We don't have an immersion heater or cylinder as its a combi boiler. My brother dropped off 3x 2kw heaters which we are moving around the house to warm it up. I don't think I have ever seen the meter spinner so fast lol.

My boiler is 35 years old. Lately it's been making a kettling noise and I'm woried about using it. I think the heat exchanger must be full of limescale.

At the moment I'm relying on a single 400W halogen heater. I'm wearing two vests, a thick woollen shirt, two jumpers and a fleece.

Maybe global warming could bring some advantages.

oldagetraveller1

Try adding 1 litre of Sentinel X200. My boiler is a comparitive youngster at 16 years old!

It was "kettling" and over about a 6 weeks period, after dosing the system with X200, it quietened down considerably. That was a couple of years ago.

I'm not sure if it removes the limescale or it's some kind of snake oil effect?

I doubt your boiler is in imminent danger but if it is scaled up that will reduce the efficiency considerably.

Phil&Michelle

So yesterday the engineer came and hey presto we have heating and hot water. Turns out the condensing pipe was blocked and the pressure gauge was faulty but all works were carried out under the warranty which runs out in January. He did find another issue with the gas supply pressure which is considered too low and unsafe, this has been passed to Southern Gas Networks for investigation but at least we are now warm again and I have a few weeks now to decide on boiler cover going forward.