What Does Boiler Cover Include in the UK?

Boiler cover typically includes the cost of repairing your boiler when it develops a fault, covering both parts and labour, plus an engineer call-out and often an annual service. It works like an insurance or service plan you pay for monthly or annually, so a breakdown does not land you with a large one-off repair bill.

What is actually included varies by plan and price. Basic boiler-only cover deals with the boiler itself, while broader plans extend to your central heating controls, radiators, pipework, plumbing and even home emergencies. Knowing exactly what each tier covers, and what it excludes, is the difference between a plan that pays for itself and one that duplicates protection you already have through your home insurance.

what boiler cover includes at each level, what is commonly left out, and how to judge whether it is worth paying for versus setting money aside for repairs yourself.

Last updated: July 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed July 2026

What does boiler cover include as standard?

Boiler cover as standard includes repairs to your gas boiler when it breaks down, with parts and labour paid for, an engineer call-out, and access to a helpline that is often available around the clock. Most plans also include an annual boiler service, though this is not universal, so it is worth confirming it is bundled rather than sold as an add-on. The core promise is simple: instead of paying a repair bill that can run into hundreds of pounds, you pay a fixed monthly or annual amount and the provider arranges and funds the fix. Any work must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, which is a legal requirement for gas appliances in the UK.

Beyond the essentials, entry-level plans usually stop at the boiler and its immediate controls. If you want your wider central heating system protected, you will generally need a higher tier. It helps to read the policy summary rather than the headline, because two plans at similar prices can cover different components.

• Boiler breakdown repairs, including parts and labour
• Engineer call-outs and diagnosis of faults
• An annual service on many (but not all) plans
• Central heating controls such as the thermostat and timer on most plans
• A 24/7 helpline to report a fault and book a visit

For a fuller breakdown of how boiler and heating plans are structured, our guide on boiler and central heating cover walks through each tier in detail.

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Does boiler cover include radiators, pipework and the water tank?

Boiler cover does not usually include radiators, pipework or the hot water tank on basic boiler-only plans, which is one of the most common misunderstandings when a claim is refused. Basic cover protects the boiler unit and its controls, so a leaking radiator or a burst pipe elsewhere in the home falls outside it. To cover these, you need a central heating plan, which extends protection to the full system: radiators, valves, the pump, the cylinder and the pipework connecting it all.

The upgrade matters for older properties, where corroded pipework and ageing radiators are more likely to fail than the boiler itself. If your home is more than a couple of decades old, or you have a heating system that has never been power-flushed, wider cover is often the better fit. Always check the policy wording for what counts as “central heating”, because some plans cover radiators for repair but not for replacement, and some exclude underfloor heating entirely.

• Basic boiler cover: boiler and controls only
• Central heating cover: adds radiators, pump, valves, pipework and cylinder
• Home emergency cover: adds plumbing, drains, electrics and sometimes locks and windows

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Does boiler cover include an annual service?

A boiler service is included on many boiler cover plans, but not all, and on some it is an optional extra that raises the price. An annual service is an inspection by a Gas Safe registered engineer who checks the boiler is operating safely and efficiently, examines the flue, tests for carbon monoxide leaks and cleans components as needed. Where it is bundled, you effectively get a safety check and a repair guarantee in one payment, which is part of why plans with a service included tend to represent better overall value than repair-only cover at a similar price.

Servicing matters beyond the cover itself. Most boiler manufacturers require an annual service to keep the warranty valid, so skipping it can void the guarantee on a newer boiler. If your boiler is under a manufacturer warranty, you may only need the service, not full breakdown cover, since repairs are already the manufacturer’s responsibility during the warranty term. Weigh a boiler cover with service included against paying a local engineer for a standalone service, which is often cheaper for a modern boiler in good condition.

Our comparison of home care heating cover plans shows which providers build the service into the monthly price rather than charging separately.

See heating and boiler cover plans →

Does boiler cover include a full replacement?

Boiler cover does not usually include a full boiler replacement, and this is where expectations most often diverge from reality. Standard plans cover repairs, not renewal, so if an engineer decides the boiler is beyond economic repair, most policies will not fit a new one. A minority of premium plans offer a replacement contribution or a new boiler if yours cannot be fixed, but these are the exception, tend to cost more, and come with strict conditions, such as the boiler being under a certain age and having been regularly serviced.

For a first-time buyer worried that a breakdown means a bill of several thousand pounds for a new boiler, the honest position is that cover protects against repair costs, not replacement of a worn-out unit. If your boiler is nearing the end of its life, a repair-only plan may repeatedly patch it rather than fund a replacement. In that situation, saving towards a new boiler can be a more practical use of the money than paying premiums for cover that will not replace it.

What is excluded from boiler cover?

Boiler cover commonly excludes older boilers above an age limit, pre-existing faults, and parts that are no longer manufactured, alongside a per-claim excess and sometimes an annual cap on the number or cost of repairs. Providers set age limits partly because older boilers fail more often and spare parts become harder to source. If your boiler is above the plan’s age threshold at the point of a claim, cover can be refused even if you have paid premiums for years, so read the age clause carefully.

Other frequent exclusions catch people out at claim time. Faults that existed before the policy started are not covered, which is why many plans apply a waiting period of around 14 to 30 days before you can claim. Damage from sludge, limescale or a system that has never been treated may be excluded as poor maintenance rather than breakdown. Cosmetic damage, gradual wear and consequential losses (such as spoiled food or water damage to flooring) are typically outside the cover too.

• Boilers over the plan’s age limit (often 7 to 15 years)
• Pre-existing or previously reported faults
• A waiting period, commonly 14 to 30 days, before the first claim
• Sludge, limescale and damage from lack of maintenance
• Obsolete parts that can no longer be sourced
• A per-claim excess or an annual repair cap on some plans

Compare home energy deals and cover →

Home insurance with boiler cover included: how the two overlap

Home insurance does not automatically cover boiler breakdown, but many buildings and contents policies offer home emergency cover as an optional add-on that includes the boiler. Standard home insurance covers sudden, one-off damage, such as a burst pipe causing a flood, but not the gradual failure of the boiler itself through wear and tear. Home emergency add-ons bridge that gap: they typically fund an emergency call-out and temporary repair to restore heating or hot water, often for an extra amount on your annual premium.

The overlap matters because paying for standalone boiler cover on top of a home emergency add-on can mean you are covered twice for the same risk. Before buying separate boiler cover, check your existing home insurance schedule for any heating or home emergency section. If you already have it, a dedicated plan may only be worth adding for the annual service and higher repair limits. Our home insurance checklist covers how to spot cover you already hold, and the home insurance providers comparison shows which policies bundle home emergency as standard.

Is it worth having a service agreement for a boiler?

Whether a service agreement or boiler cover is worth it depends on the age and condition of your boiler and how comfortable you are meeting a large repair bill yourself. As a rough rule, a modern boiler under manufacturer warranty rarely needs full breakdown cover, because repairs are already the manufacturer’s responsibility. An older boiler, out of warranty and prone to faults, is where a plan can pay for itself if a single major repair would cost more than a year of premiums.

Weigh the annual premium against the alternative of self-insuring: setting aside the monthly amount into a savings pot and paying for repairs and an annual service as they arise. A single fault repair on a common boiler is often less than a year of premiums, so households with an emergency fund and a reliable boiler frequently find pay-as-you-go cheaper over time. Cover buys certainty and convenience: a fixed cost, a vetted engineer arranged for you, and no unexpected bill. The trade-off is that you pay every year whether or not the boiler fails.

• Newer boiler under warranty: a service-only plan is often enough
• Older, out-of-warranty boiler: full cover can be worthwhile
• Strong emergency fund and a reliable boiler: paying as you go often costs less
• Want a fixed cost and an engineer arranged for you: cover buys certainty

If you rent rather than own, the calculation is different again, because your landlord is legally responsible for the boiler. Our guide on whether tenants need boiler cover explains where that responsibility sits.

How much does boiler cover cost, and how do I judge value?

Boiler cover in the UK typically costs from around £7 to £14 a month for basic boiler-only plans, rising to roughly £20 to £40 a month for wider heating, plumbing and home-emergency packages (Free Price Compare research, July 2026). The price you pay reflects the number of components covered, whether an annual service is included, the excess per claim, and the age of your boiler. Cheaper plans often carry a call-out excess or exclude older boilers, so the lowest monthly figure is not always the best value once the terms are factored in.

To judge value, compare the total annual cost of a plan (premium plus any excess you would realistically pay) against the likely cost of repairs and a standalone service. Also be cautious with energy tariffs that advertise “free” boiler cover: cover is only free if the tariff’s unit rates and standing charge remain competitive against the cheapest energy-only deals. A useful test is to add the estimated annual energy cost of a bundled tariff to the value of the cover, then compare that against a cheap energy-only tariff plus a standalone cover plan.

Because energy prices move with the Ofgem price cap, which is reviewed every three months for typical dual-fuel direct debit customers, it pays to check the tariff and the cover value together at each renewal rather than assuming a bundle stays competitive. If you are looking to trim bills before the colder months, our tips on cutting energy bills before winter pair well with reviewing your cover.

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Information correct as of 27 July 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).