Household Boiler & Heating Cover/Insurance - where is best?

[Vaux-Man-G]

Chaps,

Im looking to take up boiler & heating insurance as I have recently moved into my new house and have no idea when it was last serviced so dont want to get hit with a mad repair bill, so trying to protect my self and get it serviced, etc.

I have looked at 2 company's:
British Gas - £150.00 Per Annum inc an annual Service; or
Home Serve - £180.84 Per Annum inc an annual Service.

I have never used any of these before and instincts are telling me to go with the cheaper one - any one had any experience of either/or?

OR can you recommend me another company?

Thanks.

[Das]

We have the Scottish Gas one, think we pay £15 a month for it. No complaints here, used it a few times and they are generally here the following day or even the same day in some cases. The cost of your cover also covers a yearly service.

[Derek Mc]

British Gas by a long way IMHO

[macdad]

Would'nt know never had boiler insurance,the yearly service bit makes me chuckle,all they do is hoover the damn thing out apart from that theres nothing to service??is there...put fifteen quid a month in the bank,if it dunt brake down your quids in.

[Vaux-Man-G]

Would'nt know never had boiler insurance,the yearly service bit makes me chuckle,all they do is hoover the damn thing out apart from that theres nothing to service??

Thats actually a very valid point! Thing is I dont know how old the boiler is, dont have the £££ for a new one so is a hoover will proling the life - I have some piece of mind.

is there...put fifteen quid a month in the bank,if it dunt brake down your quids in.

......and if it does then I will need to pay through the nose for a call out, part and labour, and potentially be without hot water and heating for unknown amount of time.....then I am snookered!!!
Cannot take that chance as I have a young child too! £15.00 down the gurgler it is hey!!

[boba]

Would'nt know never had boiler insurance,the yearly service bit makes me chuckle,all they do is hoover the damn thing out apart from that theres nothing to service??is there...put fifteen quid a month in the bank,if it dunt brake down your quids in.

Absolutely not.

A full service should include checking the flame failure device and gas valve, checking for leaks (gas and flue), checking flue contents, checking general condition of boiler and flue components as well as cleaning the combustion chamber and heat exchanger etc. Should be the better part of an hour depending on the boiler type.

The only point I'd mention regarding British gas is that they have a bit of a track record in claiming that parts are unavailable (when they are) and trying to sell an upgrade. Better (IMO) with an independent if you can get a recommendation.

A bit like the $tealers I suppose

[macdad]

A full service should include checking the flame failure device and gas valve, checking for leaks (gas and flue), checking flue contents, checking general condition of boiler and flue components as well as cleaning the combustion chamber and heat exchanger etc. Should be the better part of an hour depending on the boiler type.



Checking flame failure device and gas valve is not what i call a serviceable item ,when it goes it goes and no amount of servicing will stop that scenario..

Gas leakes ..umm how often does that happen,regarding the flue most modern boilers have a failsafe sensor fited,if flue is blocked for some unlikely reason the boiler wont fire...
ahh cleaning the combustion chamber and heat exchanger..?isnt that where the hoover comes out.....boiler servicing is Not reqiured on a yearly basis like most gas/insurance companies will have you believe...like i said put your money you spend on insurance in the bank and get your hoover out each autumn and you'll be quids in...by the way i own a Heatline 30 btu boiler which i have had installed for last 5 years,i just give it a clean every year...and guess what..never a break down as yet,,i rest my case.

As far as British Gas are concerned,your sentence says it all.

[boba]

Hi Macdad,

First off I don't want to put you down, however:

You maybe can't service a flame failure detector or a gas valve BUT they are checked in a service (just like you can't fix a brake disk but you would check it). If either fail you can end up with unignited gas seeping or pouring out.

Gas leaks - well have you heard of any recent gas explosions? Usually 1 or more a year which demolishes the whole building.

Flue - nothing to do with blocking by the odd bird's nest or whatever, more to do with corrosion or gasket failure or physical damage etc. Result can be carbon monoxide entering the house. Don'r believe it? Usually several deaths per year from this. And remember that unless you have access to the right kit you can't check whether a CO detector is working.

A failsafe sensor eh? Right! - Just like a breakdownproof Vectra.

You're entitled to your opinions of course, but I'd hate someone reading this to go away with the assumption that a gas boiler will never do them harm even if it is never serviced.

And no - I'm not a boiler service guy.

[The Gas Man]

[RhayaderSax]

My mother-in-law has had both British Gas & Home Serve. Both have tried to flog upgrades & wriggled out of things saying "this, that & t'other isn't covered."

Save your money & put it in a rainy day savings account. Find a reputable gas engineer to service your boiler - word of mouth is the best way.

M-I-L now uses an engineer we found that does a great job for about £50. Even better, he recommended an electrician that doesn't cost the earth.