Under the popular scheme, eligible households were given a voucher worth £400 towards replacing their old boiler with a new ‘A-Rated’ energy efficient one. A total of 125,000 vouchers were up for grabs, and by noon yesterday all had been claimed when the scheme closed.

The Energy and Climate Change Minister, Lord Hunt said, ‘The scheme’s been a great success and is already helping people cut down on their fuel bills. An ‘A-rated’ energy efficient boiler can help save around £200 a year off fuel bills and reduce emissions.’

Hunt added, ‘It has also provided a much needed boost to England’s plumbers and boiler manufacturers, helping to sustain work for the 130,000 installers and up to 25 UK-based boiler manufacturers throughout the economic recovery.’

It has left some environmental groups and heating engineers disappointed, who believe around 4 million households, are still using inefficient ‘G-Rated’ boilers. They were hoping the successful scheme would have been extended.

Peter Thom of Green Heat engineers said, ‘We’re very disappointed that the scheme has not been extended.’

There is good news for those who think they have missed out, because some of the leading energy suppliers who matched the government’s £400 discount have pledged to continue offering theirs.

nPower’s Chief Executive, Kevin Miles said, ‘There are still around four million households with G-rated boilers in the UK, which is why we are pledging to continue nPower’s boiler-scrappage scheme.’

Scottish & Southern is also maintaining its discount, and offering further savings of up to £396 on its boiler insurance. British Gas has also announced it will take £200 off a new boiler and give a year’s free HomeCare cover worth £204 from the beginning of April.

Sources:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/article7077664.ece

http://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/boiler-scrappage-scheme-hits-its-target-1929163.html

http://www.energychoices.co.uk/partner-ns~guk-energychoices/boiler-scrappage-scheme-closes-but-discounts-still-available-2903102.html

But what happens if it does? Well you will no doubt feel frustrated, maybe angry or even panic, and if you have no boiler insurance, be dreading a hefty repair bill.

So what are the chances of it happening to you? High according to statistics; they show chances of a boiler breaking down, especially within the first six years of its life to be very likely. In fact, a third of new boilers tend to breakdown during this period.

According to British Gas a boiler breakdown occurs every twenty seconds, so there is a likelihood of it happening to you. And chances are it will happen at the worst possible time, like Christmas!

The average cost of a boiler repair is around £185, a considerable expense in itself and that does not even include parts or call out costs. This is likely to be even higher during bank holidays, weekends and Christmas where you will feel it even more because of the other expenses associated with the festive period.

There are things you can do to protect yourself and minimize the cost of a dreaded Christmas boiler emergency. Our article covers the main options available.

• Get Boiler Insurance

  The sure way to avoid the misery associated with a Christmas boiler emergency is to have the protection of a boiler insurance policy. Many people do not bother with this though. This is for a number of reasons, like paying a monthly fee for cover you may not ever need.

  It is always good to have peace of mind should anything happen, and a reliable policy like HomeCare from British Gas will give you all the protection and assistance you need in an emergency, including over Christmas. Such a policy will guarantee an engineer will be with you quickly to fix the problem, without a call out charge, so you can get on with enjoying your Christmas. You also have the option to upgrade your policy to cover your central heating system and including your radiators and pipework.

• Get A Fixed Price One Off Repair

  For some of us boiler insurance is not a priority, or we just have not got round to sorting it out yet. There’s no need to panic in a boiler emergency though, because help is available and if you do a bit of homework beforehand, it should not break the bank. To keep costs down, choose a one off boiler repair service like One-Off Boiler Repair from British Gas, which offers a fixed upfront fee. That way you will know what to expect.

• Contact Your Local Gas Safe Engineer

  Living with a faulty boiler is never an option, especially during winter. Contacting your local Gas Safe Register engineer (formerly CORGI) is a good option if your boiler breaks down and you need someone round fast. This however could be the most expensive option, because you will no doubt be faced with a call out charge, plus labour and parts costs. Try to avoid this if possible, and go for boiler insurance or a one off fixed price repair instead.

These options do help should you face a Christmas boiler breakdown, but avoiding one in the first place is undoubtedly the best option. Our article on ‘How To Avoid Plumbing And Heating Emergencies This Winter’ includes measures like regular boiler servicing which will lower a breakdown risk.

To find a suitable boiler insurance policy, visit comparison websites like Uswitch.com where details including levels of cover and costs are easy to follow and arrange. To find a gas safe engineer in your area, visit Gassaferegister.co.uk.

Sources:
http://ecommerce-associates.info/WordPress/what-should-you-do-if-your-boiler-breaks-down/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/3371597/Are-you-covered-if-your-boiler-breaks-down.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/money/insurance/when-the-boiler-breaks-down-thats-a-winter-of-discontent-1041153.html

Many people choose to ignore a plumbing or central heating problem unless it becomes an emergency. So why is this? Many people simply do not know how to recognize a less serious problem, or what to do if they find one. The majority of us take our boilers, central heating and plumbing systems for granted, but this is a highly risky policy.

Simple steps can be taken to avoid the dreaded emergency call out to an engineer this winter, and indeed any time of the year. A regular health check of your home systems provides the answer.

• Check Your Radiators & Pipework

  Regularly checking your radiators and pipework will help you avoid emergency breakdowns. Problem signs to look out for on your radiators are cold patches or a strange noise when they are switched on. These can indicate a blockage, or even a broken radiator; both can easily be fixed. A blockage is usually caused by debris or a build-up of sludge. A chemical cleaning system like Power Flushing will unblock it, and prevent it from happening again. It will even clean and descale your pipework. It should only be done by a trained engineer. Many people are able to replace broken radiators themselves, however if you are unsure then get the help of a professional.

• Get Your Boiler Serviced Every Year

  Experts recommend that your boiler has a regular service each year, and to avoid a winter emergency it is better to do this towards the end of summer. Always get a Gas Safe (formerly CORGI) registered engineer to do it, that way you can be certain of safety and quality. The engineer will make sure that any faults are repaired, and that your boiler is working efficiently.

You can find out more about how to service and maintain your plumbing and central heating systems, from your local engineer or your energy supplier.

Aside from the expense, a boiler breakdown is highly inconvenient because nobody likes to be without their heating and hot water for any length of time. For peace of mind therefore, does a boiler insurance policy provide the answer?

Boiler insurance is indeed worth having if you are looking for security should anything happen, and it costs less in the long-run than forking out for a hefty emergency repair bill. There are many factors to bear in mind while considering boiler insurance, like what is included; and with so many policy types and providers to choose from, it helps to do some reading up first.

The best place to start is to determine whether you need to insure your boiler at all. Its age will help you decide, because if it is less than a year old then it is more than likely to be covered by a manufacturers guarantee. It should be noted that boiler manufacturers do not insure radiators and pipework, so it is worth taking out a separate central heating insurance policy that does.

• Types Of Boiler Insurance

  There are numerous boiler insurance providers on the market which is great for consumer choice. This can however end up confusing many consumers, because there are so many policies that are structured and priced differently.

  Most people wrongly assume that given that it is their boiler, cover is only available through their energy providers like British Gas and nPower and end up arranging their cover with them. There are however many well known insurance companies like Direct Line and Endsleigh who also have comprehensive policies worth considering.

  Standard policies that cover your boiler and controls can cost from as little as £7 a month and this can rise to anything over £25 depending on the extra levels of cover you choose. For instance, more expensive policies tend to include plumbing and home electrics.

• How To Find The Best Policy

  To help find the most appropriate policy, a comparison website like USwitch.com provides a simple and fast way. Here you can compare multiple boiler insurance policies from various providers in one place, and to make life easier all the policy features and prices are broken down clearly to help you make an informed decision.

  It pays to read and understand any terms and conditions that may apply to each policy, so you are aware of any cover limitations.

• What To Expect From Your Policy

  Boiler insurance policies will vary depending on which supplier you go with. There are however some standard features that should come with all of them. For instance, customers should always receive a decent level of customer service, access to a 24 hour helpline and free emergency call-outs.

  You should also expect your boiler to be protected in the event of an emergency breakdown, but many suppliers apply exclusions here, like a parts cost limit. Bear in mind that there can be differing variations of the term emergency, so what you may consider as one may not be deemed so by your insurer. Always therefore, check your policy terms and conditions.

  Boiler insurance policies generally cover your boiler pumps, any electrical faults or leaks, but some boiler insurance policies also include an annual boiler service.

You can find further information on boiler insurance and how much it will cost from numerous websites like moneysavingexpert.com, or try visiting supplier websites directly.

* Source – Uswitch.com

The boiler is no doubt the most vital appliance in your home, as without it you will have no heating or hot water. A boiler breakdown is therefore highly inconvenient and expensive, especially if you do not have a boiler breakdown cover. So for peace of mind, it pays to have it serviced annually.

Most boiler manufacturers also recommend that their boilers be serviced each year, and in some cases the warranty of the boiler depends on the annual service being carried out. However, given the current economic climate, some people are choosing not to service their boilers in order to save money.

This is completely the wrong thing to do, because in the long-term they are risking even greater expense in the event of a boiler breakdown, or having to get a new boiler installed.

When Should My Boiler Be Serviced?

Although many people mistakenly decide that the early winter months are the best time to book a boiler service, this is no doubt the wrong time, as demand for boiler engineers is higher.

The summer months or early autumn are the best times to arrange a boiler service. Demand is generally lower during this period, and crucially you can rest assured that your boiler will be working perfectly during the coming cold winter months.

What Is Involved In A Boiler Service?

Typically a regular boiler service will tackle any problems that you may have noticed or reported, and include the replacement of any worn parts. Your boiler engineer will carry out an external and internal boiler ‘health-check’ to ensure that there is no visible damage to your boiler.

The engineer will also ensure that the boiler is operating effectively, so you can be sure of optimum efficiency levels which mean savings on energy bills. A correctly working boiler is also kinder to the environment.

To Conclude

Even though your boiler should be serviced annually, if you notice a problem in the way it is running, you should contact a boiler engineer immediately. Never hold off and wait until its next service is due, as this may result in an even bigger problem with added expense.

Always ensure that your boiler remains efficient and safe, and therefore keep it serviced regularly.

To find out more about boiler services, or who can carry them out, a first point fo contact could be your energy supplier.