Boiler & Central Heating Cover

Yes — that is the main thing it adds over a boiler-only plan. It typically covers repair or replacement of faulty radiators and valves, plus the pipework, pumps and controls that run the system. Check the wording for any age or "fair wear and tear" conditions.

Boiler & central heating cover stops at your wet heating system. Comprehensive cover usually adds general plumbing, drains and home-emergency extras such as electrics or pest control. If you want those, see our comprehensive cover guide.

It depends on the provider. Some plans are FCA-regulated insurance with Financial Ombudsman and FSCS protection; others are service or maintenance plans, which are not regulated in the same way. We label each provider, but always confirm on the provider's own site.

It extends a boiler-only plan to the rest of your wet heating system, so the parts that move and store heated water are protected rather than excluded. Most plans cover repairs to radiators and valves, central heating pipework, the circulating pump, motorised valves and the heating controls, plus the hot water cylinder if you have one. Always read the policy or plan document, as the exact list and any limits vary by provider.

Yes — these are the core components a central heating plan adds over boiler-only cover. Faulty radiators and radiator valves, leaks or blockages in the central heating pipework, and a failed circulating pump or motorised valve are normally included. Bear in mind that damage caused by sludge or by skipping the recommended annual service can fall outside the wording, so it is worth keeping your system maintained.

It often is if your system is older, you have a separate hot water cylinder, or you live in a hard-water area where radiators and valves are more likely to fail. Boiler-only cover leaves any radiator, pump or pipework fault to you, which can mean a one-off bill for a part that fails without warning. If your radiators are newer and you only want the boiler itself protected, boiler-only may be enough — you can weigh both on our comparison table.

A sudden leak from covered pipework, a radiator or a valve is usually included as a repair, though gradual seepage and damage from existing corrosion are often excluded. A power flush to clear sludge is generally treated as maintenance rather than a repair, so it is rarely covered as standard — some providers offer it as a paid add-on. Gas Safe registered engineers carry out any work involving the boiler, and you should always check the specific exclusions before assuming a flush is included.

If you have a conventional heat-only or system boiler with a separate vented or unvented cylinder, most boiler and central heating plans cover the cylinder and its associated controls. Combi boilers heat water on demand and have no cylinder, so this part of the cover simply does not apply to them. Unvented cylinders need an annual check by a qualified engineer, and skipping it can affect a claim, so keep your service records up to date.