October is often the month when the heating quietly returns to daily life. One morning, you are reaching for a jumper. By the next, the thermostat is on and the boiler is working through its first proper shift since spring.
That makes it a useful time to check your boiler, pipes and home insurance – before a small fault becomes a very cold problem.
There is one important point to understand first: a standard home insurance policy will not usually cover the mechanical breakdown of your boiler simply because it has stopped working. A boiler is an appliance, and wear and tear or internal mechanical failure is generally excluded.
But that does not mean every heating or water-related problem falls outside your cover. A burst pipe, for example, may be dealt with differently from a broken boiler. The policy wording, cause of the damage and cover you have selected will all matter.
Book a service
An annual boiler service by a Gas Safe registered engineer is one of the most sensible checks to arrange before winter.
A service is more than a quick look at whether the radiators feel warm. The engineer should inspect the boiler and flue, check combustion and controls, and look for issues such as corrosion, leaks or unsafe operation.
You can use the Gas Safe Register to check that an engineer is registered and qualified for the type of gas work required. It is worth checking the engineer’s ID card when they arrive, too.
For owner-occupiers, an annual service is not generally a legal requirement. However, it is strongly recommended for safety and may be required by a manufacturer’s warranty or by the terms of a separate boiler or home emergency agreement.
Landlords have different legal responsibilities, including arranging an annual gas safety check for appliances in rented properties. This article is focused on homeowners, but the key message is the same: gas appliances should be checked by someone properly qualified to work on them.
Watch for carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas produced when fuel-burning appliances do not burn fuel properly. You cannot rely on your senses to detect it.
A faulty boiler is one possible source, which is why an audible carbon monoxide alarm is a sensible addition to any home with a gas boiler, gas fire, solid-fuel stove or another fuel-burning appliance.
Place alarms according to the manufacturer’s instructions and test them regularly. The alarm should be loud enough to be heard throughout the home, including when you are asleep.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or you suspect a gas or carbon monoxide problem, open doors and windows if it is safe to do so, leave the property and avoid using the appliance again until it has been checked. If you suspect a gas leak or carbon monoxide escape, call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999.
An alarm is not a replacement for servicing. It is an extra layer of protection – rather like a smoke alarm, but for a risk you cannot see.
Why boiler breakdown is different
It is easy to think of home insurance as cover for anything that goes wrong inside the house. In reality, different parts of a policy deal with different risks.
Buildings cover
Buildings insurance generally covers the permanent structure of your home. This can include walls, floors, ceilings, fixed bathrooms and fitted kitchens, subject to the policy wording.
If a pipe bursts and damages plaster, flooring or fitted units, the resulting damage may be covered under buildings insurance if escape of water is an insured event. The source of the leak may also be repaired, depending on the policy and circumstances.
However, there can be exclusions, conditions and an excess. For instance, poor maintenance, gradual damage or leaving a property unoccupied without following the policy conditions can affect a claim.
Contents cover
Contents insurance is designed for your belongings – such as furniture, clothing, televisions and other household items.
If water from a burst pipe damages a sofa or laptop, contents cover may respond to the damaged belongings, provided escape of water is included and the policy conditions have been met.
It is worth reviewing your sums insured from time to time. Replacement prices change, and it is surprisingly easy to underestimate the cost of replacing everything in a home – especially if a washing machine decides to turn the kitchen into a paddling pool.
Home emergency cover
Home emergency cover is different again. It is usually intended to provide practical assistance when an urgent problem affects your home.
Depending on the agreement, it may include a 24/7 callout for:
- Boiler failure
- Plumbing problems
- Blocked or damaged drainage
- Electrical emergencies
- Lost keys or a broken lock
The exact limits vary. There may be a maximum callout cost, a limit on the number of claims, restrictions on older boilers, or exclusions for previous faults and lack of maintenance.
Home emergency cover is not the same as buildings or contents insurance. It may arrange an engineer to make the situation safe or carry out an eligible repair, while buildings and contents cover deal with physical damage caused by an insured event.
So, a broken boiler and a burst pipe are not automatically treated in the same way. The first may be mechanical breakdown, while the second may be escape of water. Check your policy schedule and wording before you need to make a claim. Our guide to checking the small print explains why those details matter.
Prepare the pipes
Cold weather can put extra pressure on plumbing, particularly where pipes run through lofts, garages, outbuildings or external walls.
A few simple steps may reduce the risk of freezing:
- Insulate exposed pipes with suitable pipe lagging.
- Check that loft insulation has not been moved away from vulnerable pipes.
- Keep the home heated to a low background temperature when you are away during a cold spell.
- Leave cupboard doors open under sinks if this allows warm air to reach the pipework.
- Know where your stopcock is and check that it turns.
The stopcock is often under the kitchen sink or close to where the water supply enters the property. Finding it during a leak is considerably easier than searching for it while water is running across the floor.
The Met Office advice on frozen and burst pipes also recommends taking action quickly if a pipe freezes or bursts.
If a pipe bursts, turn off the water at the stopcock. Switch off the boiler and immersion heater if appropriate, and do not touch electrical fittings if water has reached them. Move belongings away from the affected area, take photographs and contact the relevant emergency service, plumber or insurer.
Do not use a naked flame or blowtorch to thaw a frozen pipe. A gentle heat source, such as a hot water bottle, is safer – although a professional should be called if you are unsure.
Run through the checklist
Before the cold sets in, it is worth checking:
- Boiler service – Is your annual service due? Book a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Carbon monoxide alarm – Is there an audible alarm where it is needed, and does it work?
- Pipe lagging – Are exposed pipes in the loft, garage or outbuildings insulated?
- Stopcock – Can you find it and turn it off?
- Radiators – Do they heat evenly, or do they have cold patches that may need attention?
- Thermostat – Does it respond when you adjust the temperature?
- Escape of water – Is this included in your buildings or contents policy?
- Accidental damage – Is it included, and does it cover the items or areas you are most concerned about?
- Excess – How much would you need to pay towards a claim?
- Home emergency cover – Does your policy include it, or would you need to arrange it separately?
Bleeding a radiator can help if it is cold at the top and warm at the bottom, but do not assume every heating fault is something to fix yourself. If the boiler is losing pressure, making unusual noises or displaying a fault code, ask a qualified engineer for advice.
Check before you need it
The best time to review insurance is before the boiler stops working – not while you are wearing two jumpers and considering whether a hairdryer can heat the sitting room.
Read your policy schedule and wording carefully. Check whether you have buildings, contents, accidental damage and escape of water cover. Then look separately at whether home emergency cover is included and what it actually provides.
You can find more guidance on getting the balance between the right protection and the right price in The right cover. If your circumstances or home have changed, it may also be a good time to review your wider home insurance options.
A little preparation in October can make winter more comfortable – and may help you respond more quickly if a boiler or pipework problem appears when the temperature drops.
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