A boiler insurance plan can help a great amount by easing your repair costs
A boiler insurance plan can help a great amount by easing your repair costs
Keeping our homes warm from May to September is not a problem but unless you have the habit of taking cold showers and boiling the kettle after you bathe, you could be left without help or hope of recovery if your central heating boiler breaks down. It is only when the boiler breaks down that you become acutely aware of its importance in your home. And then you realise how important, not to mention expensive, it really is.
Generally a tenant paying rent is not liable to repair a malfunctioning central heating boiler as the landlord is responsible for maintenance and repair of his premises. But if you’re a homeowner, you may want to think about putting a little aside to cover the costs should anything go wrong.
New high-efficiency boilers can reduce your fuel bills dramatically so if your gas boiler is over ten years old it may be time to think about investing in a newer model. The type of heating boiler that you should buy depends on your family size and the available space at your home, the existing central heating system also affects your choice. If you have a compact family and need hot water at short notice, a combi gas boiler is a better choice. Combi boilers eliminate the need for water tanks as it heats the water as it draws it through the plumbing system. With such a combi central heating system, a hot shower is instantly available; however if another hot outlet is opened, your share of warm water will quickly run out and you shower could be a cold one.
Another type of central heating system is the sealed system heating boiler which has a hot water storage tank and is usually used for large families, as it allows several showers and hot water taps to work at the same time. Such a sealed system is convenient to install and also saves on space. However, because of the storage tank, hot water isn’t instant and can run out if used too quickly.
An open vent central heating system is the norm in most older homes, and takes up the most space; two water tanks in the loft and a storage cylinder in the airing cupboard. This gas boiler too doesn’t give hot water instantly like the sealed system though once again it allows several taps and shower to work at the same time, water pressure is also not to good here.
Finally, a back central heating boiler can allow multiple outlets of hot water at the same time, without loss of pressure; but they can take up a lot of space. Traditionally back boilers are stored in a chimney breast, but unless you already have one, it’s probably not worth switching to one. But if your house already had a back boiler when you bought it, you can gain a lot of savings by replacing it with the same type; if it requires replacement, it’s much more cost effective to get a new back boiler than getting a totally different central heating boiler system.
It is costly to get the any of these types of central heating boiler repaired. You can get some peace of mind if you take central heating insurance because if any thing goes wrong with your heating system your costs will be covered by the insurance supplier or utility company. Buy a good gas boiler maintenance policy which not only covers the labour, repair costs and also provides annual inspections with no call out charge.