Insuring against central heating breakdowns
Insuring against central heating breakdowns
Summertime time does not cause one to worry much about heating, but as long as you are used to your hot showers with no other alternatives, you might be in for some trouble if your heating boiler malfunctions when winter arrives. A central heating system is that hidden part of the home which is rigorously used and not noticed until it stops working. All of a sudden, following an unexpected problem, it becomes an essential and prominent piece of equipment but rather expensive to repair.
Generally a tenant paying rent is not liable to repair a malfunctioning gas boiler as the landlord is responsible for maintenance and repair of his premises. However things are different if you own the house, you then need to keep aside some money for getting the heating boiler fixed in case it breaks down, unless you take out a central heating maintenance and repair plan.
If your heating boiler is over ten years old, it might be worth investing in a new model; this can cut your fuel costs down considerably, especially if you get a high-efficiency model. The type of central heating boiler that you should buy would depend upon your existing gas boiler type, the size of your family and the amount of space in your home. If you have a small home with few people and do not want to wait for hot water then a combi boiler is your best option. Unlike a storage central heating system, a combi central heating boiler warms the water directly at the mains, thus eliminating the tank section. With such a combi central heating boiler, a hot shower is instantly available; however if another hot outlet is opened, your share of warm water will quickly run out and you shower could be a cold one.
A single storage tank is used in a sealed system gas boiler usually placed in an upstairs airing cupboard enabling a large number of people to have multiple showers and taps on the go at once, without compromising hot water accessibility or water pressure. The system gas boiler is quick and easy to install, and doesn’t take up too much space. However, because of the storage tank, hot water isn’t instant and can run out if used too quickly.
An open vent central heating boiler is the norm in most older homes, and takes up the most space; two water tanks in the loft and a storage cylinder in the airing cupboard. This type of central heating boiler is similar to the sealed system in that it lets hot water to come out of more than one tap at the same time, but it also takes time to warm up and has wavering water pressure.
The fifth type is a back central heating boiler which is bulkier, but can deliver hot water to several outlets under good pressure. Back boilers are normally placed in a chimney breast, but they are not the recommended type for your house unless your home already has one. But if your house already had a back heating boiler when you bought it, you can gain a lot of savings by replacing it with the same type; if it requires replacement, it’s much more cost effective to get a new back boiler than getting a totally different heating boiler system.
Whichever boiler your home has, it can be costly to repair. A central heating boiler insurance policy can help a great deal by easing your repair costs in case your heating system fails at some point. Buy an insurance plan that includes an annual breakdown contract and emergency house calls and repairs when needed; you will save some extra money and mean you never have to shiver in your shower again.