Nobody budgets for the boiler breaking down. It just happens, usually on a Sunday in January, and the bill lands at the worst possible time. A care plan spreads the cost of looking after your boiler into a monthly payment, with your annual service included and help on hand when something goes wrong. Ours start from £11 a month, or £14 for landlords, and you deal directly with our own engineers in Bristol and Bath, not a call centre. You can see what each level covers on our boiler care plans page. Here’s how to tell whether one’s right for you, and what to check on any cover you’re comparing.
What a care plan actually is
Think of it as a service plan with breakdown help built in. You pay monthly, and in return you get your boiler serviced every year and someone to call when it stops working.
It’s not quite the same as insurance. Insurance pays out for things that go wrong. A care plan is built around keeping the boiler maintained so it goes wrong less, with repairs covered depending on the level you choose.
What our plans include
Every plan includes your annual boiler service and direct local support, so you’re talking to the people who’ll actually turn up.
There’s no call-out charge on any plan. On the entry-level plan you pay for labour if a repair is needed. The higher-level plans cover parts and labour too.
Radiators, valves and pipework are covered as well, not just the boiler. That matters, because a lot of heating faults aren’t in the boiler at all.
Who a care plan suits
They’re a good fit if you’d rather have a fixed monthly cost than a surprise bill. Families with young children or older relatives at home, where a cold house isn’t an option, often like the peace of mind.
They also suit landlords. A tenant ringing to say the heating’s off is a lot less stressful when you know who to call and roughly what it’ll cost.
If your boiler is brand new and still under the manufacturer’s guarantee, you might only need the entry-level plan to cover the annual service and labour. The guarantee covers the boiler itself, as long as it’s serviced every year.
What to check on any boiler cover
Whether it’s our plan or someone else’s, read the small print before signing up. These are the things that catch people out.
Age limits
Some providers won’t cover boilers past a certain age, or will only cover labour on older ones. Check before you rely on it.
Pre-existing faults
Most cover won’t pay for a fault that was already there when you joined. Many providers do an inspection or a service first and exclude anything they find.
Waiting periods
Plenty of policies don’t let you claim in the first few weeks. Joining the day your boiler breaks down won’t usually help.
Claim limits and excesses
Look for a cap on how much they’ll pay per claim or per year, and whether there’s an excess to pay each time.
Who does the work
With some big national providers, you’re one of thousands of customers and you take whoever’s free. With a local firm, it’s more likely the same engineers who serviced your boiler will come out.
What’s actually covered
Is it just the boiler, or the radiators, pipework and controls too? What about the hot water cylinder? Frozen condensate pipes are often excluded, and they’re one of the most common winter callouts.
Care plans or putting money aside?
Some people prefer to put the same amount into a savings pot and pay for repairs as they come. That can work if your boiler’s young and you’re disciplined about saving.
The trouble is, boilers don’t wait until the pot is full. A big repair in year one can cost more than several years of a care plan. And you’d still need to book and pay for your service every year anyway.
Care plans in Bristol and Bath
Because we’re a local business, our plans cover homes across Bristol, Bath and the surrounding areas we already work in. If you’re a landlord with several properties around the area, you can put each one on a plan and deal with the same team for all of them.
Frequently asked questions
Does a care plan replace my boiler guarantee?
No, they work alongside each other. The manufacturer’s guarantee covers faults with the boiler itself, provided it’s serviced every year. A care plan makes sure that service happens and covers the things a guarantee won’t, like labour on the entry plan, radiators, valves and pipework.
Can I get a care plan if my boiler is old?
It depends on the condition of the boiler. If you’re not sure, give us a ring and we’ll talk it through. If yours is very old and unreliable, we’ll be honest about whether a care plan or a replacement makes more sense. Our guide on when to replace your boiler might help.
Is the annual service included?
Yes. Every plan includes your annual boiler service, which keeps your boiler safe, running efficiently and your manufacturer’s guarantee valid. See how often should a boiler be serviced for what the service involves.
Want to know which plan suits you?
Ring us on 01275 400 687 or drop us a message and we’ll talk you through the options.