Annual Boiler Service/Emergency Cover

vikkimcd

Hi. We had a new boiler installed in 2023. My house insurance policy has the extra home emergency cover should anything break, but does not include annual service. Is it better to pay as a one off for an annual check, or to take out another pay monthly jobby with i.e. British Gas, which I guess includes an annual service?

ic

I just employ a local heating engineer for annual services.  Hopefully you've had your boiler serviced already to ensure your warranty cover stands (most new boilers come with a five to ten year warranty).  If so, why would you pay insurance on something you have covered by a manufacturer's warranty?

TELLIT01

I certainly wouldn't bother with a contract with British Gas or others on a new system.  Do make sure you have the boiler services strictly in accordance with the boiler manufacturers requirements.  If they say annually they really mean every 12 months, unlike BG who claimed that an 'annual service' just meant at some point in the calendar year.  That could mean January of one year and December of the next, or December of one year and January of the next.

Albermarle

Also be aware this time of year is one of the busiest for heating engineers ( as people turn their heating on for the first time and it does not work) and therefore booking a service can be more difficult.

vikkimcd

Thanks all. We have a warranty, I believe it is 10 years. Sorry, obviously this is new to me so apologies for the stupid questions - I don't understand what the difference in these thing is i.e. what they cover. The warranty just covers parts that need replacing I'm guessing, whereas it still needs an annual service?

Albermarle

vikkimcd said:

Thanks all. We have a warranty, I believe it is 10 years. Sorry, obviously this is new to me so apologies for the stupid questions - I don't understand what the difference in these thing is i.e. what they cover. The warranty just covers parts that need replacing I'm guessing, whereas it still needs an annual service?

The warranty will cover parts and labour, if something goes wrong.

The service is to try and prevent problems occurring, and to check safety issues like broken seals and to check the flue gas output. Occasionally a part might need replacing as a routine item. 

Just like a car service.

If you do not have it serviced annually the warranty is invalidated.

vikkimcd

Right, thanks. Are there any better places to go for annual service, big companies? I'm just wondering if any of them have better reputations or deals. I have started looking, but there are rather a lot

giraffe69

Agree with a poster above that a local reliable person is best. Ask neighbours who they use.

CliveOfIndia

vikkimcd said:

Right, thanks. Are there any better places to go for annual service, big companies? I'm just wondering if any of them have better reputations or deals. I have started looking, but there are rather a lot

As a general rule of thumb, you're better off going with a local independent plumber/heating engineer if you have one.  They tend to be a bit cheaper than the big companies, but more importantly they live or die by their local reputation - if they're no good, word quickly gets around and they'll soon find themselves out of business.  The flip side is that good tradesmen are usually extremely busy, so you may need to book it well in advance.

You can check that they're properly registered by looking on the Gas Safe Register website (if it's gas) or OFTEC (if it's oil).

giraffe69 said:

Agree with a poster above that a local reliable person is best. Ask neighbours who they use.

This.  ask neighbours, or ask on your local community Facebook group if you have one.  Don't just look for people that are advertising, rather ask for tradesmen that people have used and can recommend.

Albermarle

CliveOfIndia said:

vikkimcd said:

Right, thanks. Are there any better places to go for annual service, big companies? I'm just wondering if any of them have better reputations or deals. I have started looking, but there are rather a lot

As a general rule of thumb, you're better off going with a local independent plumber/heating engineer if you have one.  They tend to be a bit cheaper than the big companies, but more importantly they live or die by their local reputation - if they're no good, word quickly gets around and they'll soon find themselves out of business.  The flip side is that good tradesmen are usually extremely busy, so you may need to book it well in advance.

You can check that they're properly registered by looking on the Gas Safe Register website (if it's gas) or OFTEC (if it's oil).

giraffe69 said:

Agree with a poster above that a local reliable person is best. Ask neighbours who they use.

This.  ask neighbours, or ask on your local community Facebook group if you have one.  Don't just look for people that are advertising, rather ask for tradesmen that people have used and can recommend.

Plus keep your eyes open for heating/plumbing vans in the street, working at a neighbours.
You will be looking at a cost between £70 and £100 ( + VAT) depending on where you live.

ic

vikkimcd said:

Thanks all. We have a warranty, I believe it is 10 years. Sorry, obviously this is new to me so apologies for the stupid questions - I don't understand what the difference in these thing is i.e. what they cover. The warranty just covers parts that need replacing I'm guessing, whereas it still needs an annual service?

You must have an annual service for the warranty to remain valid - missing one will likely invalidate the warranty*.  Given your boiler was installed in 2023, did you actually have a service a year later in 2024?  Just like a car, there's a page in your boiler book dedicated for the services to be recorded by the engineer.

* My own Baxi failed twice within the second year, Baxi came out and fixed it replacing parts - and never actually requested to see proof of the service.  I expect as a boiler gets older and later in the years of the warranty, they'd want to see that proof before completing expensive repairs.