What Should You Do If Your Boiler Breaks Down?
Boiler breakdown is unfortunately one of the more worrisome facts of life that a homeowner has to face.
Statistics show that within their first six years of operational life, one third of all new boilers will breakdown. So whether you have a new boiler, or one that is getting on in years, there is a very good chance you'll have trouble with it.
And you can bet that your boiler will breakdown at the worst possible moment: Saturday, or Sunday, in deep winter.
And once it breaks down, you're faced with two questions: how much will boiler repair cost and who's going to pay?
So, you should consider boiler breakdown cover, which will give you peace of mind.
But first, let us consider the costs without boiler breakdown cover, when the bill will have to be met by the homeowner. Boiler repair is an expensive business. And if you call an emergency plumber to make repairs, if can be prohibitively expensive. The problem is that not repairing it is not an option, because the health of the occupants of the home could be in question.
A boiler is the integral part of the central heating system and quite a complicated piece of machinery.
If the breakdown does not warrant a complete boiler replacement, then individual components can be replaced, but they don't come cheap.
Also, as when your car breaks down, the cost of the parts is only a small part of what you'll have to pay to complete the repair. A boiler water pump, which pumps the water throughout the system, will cost between £200 and £300 to buy, and around £250 for the plumber to fit. So, for a component that is vulnerable to wear, the total cost of repair will at least cost you £500. In fact, for most component repairs on a boiler, you are looking at a charge of £200 before you even think about the cost of the piece of kit your replacing.
A boiler heat exchanger, which effectively allows the boiler to reach the required temperature in the most energy-efficient way possible, is probably the most expensive component you will have to fit, weighing in at a whopping £300 to £500. Add the labour charge on that, and you're reaching quite a price.
A new boiler itself can cost anything from £350 from small capacity versions, to nearer £3,000 for large units. And for a plumber to fit the boiler, the cost ranges from £800 to £1,500.
One of the best ways to avoid crippling repair costs is to set-up boiler breakdown cover.
With a scheme such as that offered by British Gas, HomeCareŽ Cover, you can elect to cover the cost of servicing and repairing your boiler in return for a relatively small monthly charge. In fact, with the British Gas HomeCareŽ plan, you can increase your cover to include your whole central heating system, or all your pipe work, or basically all your home electrics: complete cover and peace of mind. So virtually whatever disaster might befall your home in terms of heating and appliances, British Gas can offer you a monthly insurance plan which will avoid those sudden and unexpected bills.
So what should you do if your boiler breaks down: hopefully, get out your boiler break down cover plan and give them a call. It will save you a lot of money in the long run.
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