Does Home Insurance Cover Boiler?

Yes, home insurance does cover boiler repairs, if you purchase the home emergency add-on.

Home insurance with boiler cover combines your standard buildings protection with emergency heating repairs, giving you one policy that handles both property damage and boiler breakdowns. This type of cover means when your heating packs up, you get 24/7 access to qualified engineers without the panic of finding emergency plumbers or facing hefty call-out fees.

If your boiler breaks down at the worst possible moment, having the right cover can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a proper nightmare. Let’s review what you should know. 

What does home insurance with boiler cover include?

Home insurance with boiler cover protects you when your heating system decides to pack up. Here’s what most policies include:

Emergency response costs

• Call out charges for qualified engineers
• Labour costs for diagnosis and repairs
• Spare parts needed to get your boiler working again
• 24/7 emergency helpline access

Additional services

Some home insurance providers include annual boiler service as part of their home emergency cover add-on. This keeps your heating system in good working order and can help prevent boiler breakdown in the first place.

You can typically pay either upfront annually or through monthly direct debit, making it easier to budget for your protection.

Do you need boiler cover?

No, you’re not legally required to have this cover, but think about how you’d cope if your heating system suddenly stopped working. No hot water, no heating, and potentially hefty repair bills. Consider these factors:

Your boiler’s age and condition

• How old is your boiler? Older boilers (10+ years old) are more likely to break down
• What’s its track record for reliability?
• Is it still under manufacturer warranty?

Your financial situation

• Could you afford emergency repairs costing £100-500 without notice?
• Do you have reliable access to qualified engineers?
• Would an unexpected repair bill cause financial stress?

Boiler breakdown at the worst moment isn’t just expensive, it’s stressful. Having cover for your boiler means you can get a qualified technician out on 24-hour callout rather than scrambling to find someone available.

Important note: If you’re renting, you don’t need boiler cover. Your landlord’s responsible for keeping the heating system safe and working properly.

What’s actually covered?

Coverage varies between providers, so always check your policy documents to understand exactly what you’re getting.

Types of boiler protected

Boiler cover through home insurance typically protects:

• Gas boilers
• Combi boiler systems
• Condensing boilers
• System boilers
• Some policies cover oil-powered boilers

Common breakdown scenarios

You’ll typically be covered for situations like your hot water supply cutting out completely, pilot light problems where it won’t light or stay lit, and low or high boiler pressure issues. Coverage also includes when your boiler breaks down and won’t switch on at all, error codes appearing on your display, and central heating system problems where your radiators aren’t warming up properly.

What’s Not Covered?

Not all cover is created equal. Here’s some common exclusions:

Time limits on repairs

Some policies only cover labour costs for a set number of hours. If your repair takes longer, you might pay extra.

Callout restrictions

Many policies limit how many times you can call out an engineer yearly, often 2-3 callouts maximum. There might also be claim limits (like £1,000 per repair).

Maintenance requirements

Your boiler usually needs regular servicing to qualify for cover. No proof of annual boiler service? Your claim could be refused.

Keep all servicing documents. Proper maintenance isn’t just good practice, it’s often a requirement for valid cover.

Age restrictions

Boilers over 15 years old are typically excluded from most policies. If yours is 12+ years old, expect limited options and higher premiums. Older boilers are less reliable and spare parts can be difficult to source.

Pay close attention to terms if you’ve got an older system, providers might not guarantee they can actually fix it, even if they accept the risk.

What’s the difference between home insurance and standalone boiler cover? 

When your boiler breaks down, you’ve got two main options for protection: adding boiler cover to your existing home insurance or taking out dedicated boiler insurance. Here’s how they compare:

Feature	Home insurance add-on	Standalone boiler cover
One provider, one renewal	✅	❌
Often cheaper when bundled	✅	❌
Covers other emergencies too	✅	❌
Simpler claims process	✅	❌
Comprehensive heating system coverage	❌	✅
Annual boiler service usually included	❌	✅
Better protection for older boilers	❌	✅

How do I know what kind of boiler cover is right for me?

The age of your boiler is the biggest factor in choosing the right protection:

Under 5 years old	5-10 years old	Over 10 years old
Manufacturer warranty might be enough	Home insurance with boiler cover offers good value for basic protection	Standalone boiler insurance may provide better coverage for older boilers
Home insurance add-on works for extra security	Perfect age for home emergency cover	Consider saving for replacement if it’s approaching 15+ years old

Match your cover to your budget

• Want value and simplicity? → Home emergency cover through home insurance
• Need comprehensive protection? → Standalone boiler cover with annual boiler service
• Comfortable with risk and have savings? → Self-insure by setting aside £20-30 monthly

The key: match your boiler’s age and your budget to the right level of protection.

How does Lemonade handle boiler cover? 

At Lemonade, we offer home emergency cover as an add-on to our Buildings insurance. We partner with Homeserve to provide:

• 24/7 emergency helpline access
• Gas Safe registered engineers for boiler breakdown
• Coverage up to £1,000 per claim for emergency repairs
• Protection for broken boiler alongside other home emergencies

No complicated boiler cover policies to decode, just reliable backup when your heating system lets you down.

The bottom line 

Boiler breakdown isn’t just inconvenient, it’s potentially expensive and stressful. Home insurance with boiler cover offers a sensible middle ground between comprehensive boiler insurance and going without protection.

Don’t wait until your heating system fails to think about protection. Whether you choose home emergency cover through your home insurance, standalone boiler insurance, or self-insurance, have a plan before the next cold snap hits.

Ready to protect your home and heating system? Explore Lemonade’s Buildings insurance with home emergency cover, simple protection that’s there when you need it most.

FAQs about Lemonade’s home emergency cover