Although today’s central heating boilers conform to strict regulations, undergo annual safety inspections and are generally built to last, it is common for parts to break down or become faulty.

Moreover, central heating systems generally are prone to the odd leak or blockage but when central heating systems experience problems the effects can be disastrous, with flooded homes and potentially unsafe gas appliances wreaking havoc. Thus, it is understandable that many customers choose to indemnify their properties against such mishaps by taking out one of the many gas, plumbing and electricity insurance policies that are available.

Indeed, it is commonly perceived that an insurance policy, which typically requires monthly instalments or an annual fee to be paid, is the cheaper and more convenient option to having to call up a private Gas Safe engineer, electrician or plumber when something goes wrong. To all those customers who have experienced cowboy private traders, the insurance policy option is an attractive one if only to ensure that trained professionals will carry out the work within an agreed time. Furthermore, whilst no policy will cover every possible central heating related hazard, there are comprehensive options that take care of most problems at no additional cost.

However, a recent article published in the Guardian’s online service suggests that British Gas HomeCare policyholders would be better off saving their money in a savings account than continuing with their policies, which are set to rise by up to 50% during the coming months. Indeed, Which? research shows that 90% of households would profit from letting their policies expire (beware of automatic renewals, though) and setting aside the premium funds in the event of problems arising.

With Christmas just around the corner it’s a good time to start thinking about boiler breakdown cover, with engineers becoming busier in the colder months it’s all the more important to have a boiler service contract on hand to ensure you and your family are covered in the event of an emergency boiler or central heating breakdown.

Boiler service contracts range in cover from just your boiler up to and including drains, plumbing, central heating pipes & radiators and also electrical care. British Gas HomeCare offer all of these via their boiler insurance product right up to British Gas HomeCare 400 which covers every aspect of  your homes utilities, what’s more until the 31st December they’re giving away 1 month free – it’s very rare for British Gas to provide discounts or vouchers on the HomeCare product so make sure you sign-up before the offer expires.

Avoiding Co2 Poisoning

Carbon dioxide, or Co2, is an often-overlooked killer. Although the air always contains an amount of Co2 that we breathe in and out every day, and is perfectly harmless in normal conditions, a build up of Co2 in the air will cause humans and animals to absorb less oxygen into their bloodstream through the walls of the lungs, instead increasing the levels of Co2 in the bloodstream in its place and slowly starve the body of oxygen, leading to brain damage and even death. Co2 is not harmful in itself, it is just the over accumulation of it will take up space for oxygen in the air – usually in air there is around 21% Co2, much less outside or in greener areas, but anything significantly more than that is dangerous. Co2 is both colourless and odourless and is classed as a ‘greenhouse gas’, and the increase of it is debated to be one of the main causes of global warming.
Babies are the most susceptible to Co2 poisoning due to their delicacy and the habit of parents to wrap up babies in many layers of clothing and blankets as they sleep, especially in areas that may have lower than usual ventilation. Co2 has been argued by many to be one of the causes of ‘SIDS’ – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Boilers and Central Heating Systems and Co2

Boilers that create Co2, such as a gas boilers, are all fitted with a special flue that directs the gas up and out of the home without it leaking into the air of the household. It is rare, but sometimes these flues can become damaged and cause Co2 to seep out into the household, and cause a higher ratio of Co2 in the air, which could be dangerous. To prevent this, it is strongly advised that you service your boiler thoroughly by a qualified CORGI trained engineer once a year, who will check for any leaks or damage to your boiler system.

Methods of Prevention

Keeping your home well-ventilated is key to preventing a build-up of Co2. Air conditioning systems in offices and homes are usually effective at only transporting the same air round an area without replenishing oxygen, so it is wise to keep windows open with a fan circulating air in small rooms containing babies, the elderly or small children if you are worried about Co2 build-up. Adults and the more active are less likely to be affected by Co2, but never keep all windows and doors closed in the home, or enter poorly ventilated areas for too long or without someone keeping an eye on you. Co2 poisoning is quick and undetectable, and can cause damage in only a breath or two, with people often slipping into unconsciousness without even realising. Sensors that detect Co2 are costly, and not essential like a carbon monoxide detector.
Appliances in the home can create extra Co2 in the atmosphere, so making sure that they are all serviced and functioning correctly is essential, and therefore not creating any extra unnecessary Co2.

So What Is British Gas Boiler Homecare?

Having a new boiler or central heating system installed undoubtedly adds value to your home and can help with saving money on energy bills; but these can prove costly despite the longevity they can bring to any system. So the British Gas Boiler Homecare Plan aims to provide a maintenance package that prioritises the improvements of these facilities as and when required, which can be useful when the guarantee or warranty of a new product expires.

For a monthly subscription, customers can opt for one of four different packages, each one marked by a different level that has a range of benefits. Level 100 (originally 1 star) provides an insurance against a broken boiler and ensures that the customer will receive an immediate repair from a qualified (CORGI) registered engineer – the cost of their labour and any parts are covered in the monthly fee.

The hassle of searching for a reliable and local engineer is replaced with a single helpline number for customers and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week which can be much more appealing to those more vulnerable customers such as elderly people who might struggle to find a reliable engineer, or for a landlord who is absent from the property when problems occur but needs to ensure that repairs and services have been exacted professionally and legally.

Levels 200, 300 and 400 (originally 2, 3 and 4 star) are variants on this package including the boiler but also giving insurance against leaking radiators or broken fuse boxes – each one worth a slightly higher monthly fee but with a larger guarantee in what the package covers.

Our friends over at the Boiler Service Centre have updated their site to include a new section dedicated to boiler breakdown cover and central heating insurance, this will be a popular section with more and more providers to choose from it’s difficult to know which to go for.

They’re currently looking for boiler servicing companies to feature so don’t delay and get in touch to make the most of their FREE beta program!

Why should I get boiler insurance?
Having boiler insurance will give you security and peace of mind, knowing that if your system breaks down, your insurance provider will send someone out to repair it. Regular maintenance checks carried out by qualified personnel on your boiler and central heating system, as part of your heating cover plan will give added protection.

Often this type of insurance is offered by your energy supplier but it’s wise to shop around to find the deal that’s best for you.

Which boiler insurance should I choose?
The price of insurance plans and what they cover can vary greatly between providers. It’s important to choose one which suits the type of heating system and boiler you have.

If your boiler is the standard gas type, such as a combi, your heating cover should include at least some if not all of the following:

• The cost of parts and labour for any repairs needed to your boiler
• Help with the cost of replacing your heating system if it is beyond repair
• Annual maintenance
• A set or unlimited amount of claims per year

There are a wide range of heating cover plans to choose from. For help in making an informed choice on what plan is right for you try one of the price comparison sites like uSwitch, one of our favourite suppliers is British Gas HomeCare which provide high levels of service and have won Which? Best Buy awards.