THE HEAT IS ON

What are your options to keep your home nice and warm this winter? We take a look at monthly payment boiler and heating schemes...

It’s the middle of winter. Your boiler is working full blast. You expect it to work every day – keeping your home warm and your water hot.

But what if it doesn’t? Then you’ll need an expert to sort it out. You could find a local heating engineer. Or you could sign up to a boiler and heating scheme- paying a monthly fee to have a repairer on tap.

ARE THESE PLANS WORTH IT? OR WOULD YOU BE BETTER OFF PAYING WHEN THE NEED ARISES? Boiler plans come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, sold by energy suppliers, boiler manufacturers, insurance companies and many comparison websites.

Costs vary – the more you pay, the more you usually can claim for. Cover starts at around £10 a month, rising to £25 or even more although first year premiums can be lower.

Some demand to inspect your system first. Many refuse to cover older boilers while others are fine provided parts are still available.

Expect a “waiting period” (from two weeks to three months) before the plan kicks in so you can’t sign up the day you have a problem.

Whatever you pay, always read the small print. There are many exclusions, Basic plans only help if the boiler or controls fail. More expensive ones include leaky radiators, faulty pumps, immersion heaters or water tanks, replacing your boiler if it fails. A number of plans insist on an annual service – some schemes include this but these tend to be the most expensive – around £6 or £8 a month (£72 to £96 a year) more than standard cover. A few demand an annual “sludge clean” and some will refuse to help if muck in your system is the problem.

Some schemes expect you to pay a set fee for each call out. This is often around £60 to £90 – heating repair firms typically charge £50 to £70 (depending on where you live) for the first hour for home owners without plans. These schemes mainly protect you from paying for replacement parts.

ARE THESE SCHEMES VALUE FOR MONEY? OR WOULD YOU BE BETTER OFF PAYING WHEN YOU NEED TO? Which? looked at this four years ago – but costs and the verdict have not materially changed. Then it said: “Our research shows that paying for boiler cover is financially worth it for only one in 30 homes, because the likelihood of needing an expensive repair is so low. Still, knowing you’re saving money won’t keep you warm if you have to wait for a repair.”