Boiler Warranty Guide

We have all become accustomed to being offered extended warranties when buying a new TV or washing machine. In most cases, these ‘extended warranties’ are not worth the paper they’re written on. But when it comes to boilers, things are different.

Boilers are complicated pieces of equipment which need to be installed and maintained correctly if they are to keep working safely and efficiently. And while it is inconvenient if your new TV stops working, it can be extremely uncomfortable and even dangerous if your boiler packs up during a cold spell in January.

So it’s wise to think of a boiler warranty in the same way you would a car warranty. The longer and more comprehensive it is, the easier you can sleep at night.

Let’s look at an example to see how a comprehensive warranty can provide peace of mind and save you money in the long run…

Homeowners John and Michelle are looking for a new boiler. As first-time buyers, they are on a tight budget so opt for a standard boiler with a basic 12-month warranty. They choose not to extend the warranty to save money.

Meanwhile, Richard and Olivia are also looking for a new boiler. They too are first-time buyers, but they don’t want to incur any unforeseen expenses during the first few years of being in their new home. So they opt for peace of mind and extend the warranty for five-years.

Fast-forward four years and both couples have settled nicely into their respective homes. Both now have young families and are looking forward to their first Christmas together. But disaster strikes, during a cold spell in December, both couples boilers stop working without warning.

Because John and Michelle didn’t take out an extended warranty, they’ll have to pay to fix the problem themselves. And because it’s cold and they have a new baby, they need to pay for an emergency plumber to fix the problem immediately. The result is a bill for £380, much more than the cost of extending the warranty.

Richard and Olivia, on the other hand, are not so worried. Their boiler is still covered by the extended warranty, so they simply call the manufacturer who sends out a certified plumber to diagnose and fix the problem the same day. It’s inconvenient for sure, but it doesn’t cost them anything.

So now you know the importance of a boiler warranty, it’s prudent to check what your warranty covers. Boilers are complicated devices and many things can go wrong with them. In some cases, problems are caused by poor installation while other times it can be a defective component.

Some warranties provide cover for the boiler itself and will not pay for defects caused by installation. While other warranties cover the cost of components but will not pay for the labour of replacing them. So when looking for a boiler warranty you need to read the small print carefully.

Things to look for:

• Does the warranty cover parts and labour costs?
• Are all components covered?
• Does your boiler need to be installed by a manufacturer accredited engineer to benefit from an extended warranty?
• Most manufacturers stipulate that the boiler is serviced annually. Does this servicing have to be carried out by a manufacturer accredited engineer?
• Most manufacturers stipulate the boiler is registered within 30 days of installation. Your heating engineer will do this for you, but it’s wise to check it has been done.
• If you are using existing radiators, does the manufacturer stipulate the system is flushed before installation? If so, you should check this has been done.

We’ve trawled the top boiler manufacturers’ websites to find what we believe to be the best boiler warranties available to homeowners.

Our table below lists manufacturers who currently offer a 5-10 year warranty as standard along with the qualifying combi boiler(s) in their range.

The ‘mandatory’ column sets out the conditions that must be met in order to receive the standard cover. The ‘extended’ column will list any extended cover the manufacturer may offer along with the conditions needed to qualify.

When buying your boiler you may be offered boiler insurance. This is a type of extra cover which is provided in exchange for a monthly premium. In theory boiler insurance provides peace of mind that should something go wrong a certified heating engineer will come out and fix it FREE of charge.

In reality, though this type of cover is only necessary if your boiler is out of warranty. A recent survey by consumer champions Which? shows that more than two-thirds of homeowners who took out such insurance never made a claim. And with premiums running at around £350 per year, such peace of mind comes at a high cost.

In most cases, it is more cost-effective to pay for an extended warranty than fork out for a monthly insurance premium. If your boiler is old and out of warranty, such policies make more sense. But even then you will have to weigh up the cost of repairs against the monthly premiums.

To sum up, an extended boiler warranty is an investment worth making. It can give you peace of mind at a relatively low cost. However, you need to read the small print to establish what’s covered. Ideally, you should look for a warranty that covers both parts and labour costs.

For small household boilers, coverage for the heat exchanger alone should provide adequate protection. But for larger sophisticated boilers it is wise to ensure the warranty covers all internal components. But regardless of which warranty you choose, you need to make sure your new boiler is installed by a certified Gas Safe engineer to ensure it is working efficiently and safely.