Boilers sit in an awkward middle ground
If boilers had feelings, they would feel misunderstood.
They are fixed parts of the house, expensive to replace, and absolutely vital, yet standard home insurance does not treat them with much sympathy.
How insurers usually categorise boilers
Most insurers treat boilers as part of the buildings, not contents.
That matters because buildings insurance focuses on sudden damage, not mechanical failure.
What buildings insurance may cover
Boilers are usually insured for damage caused by insured events.
Fire, flood, escape of water and impact can all trigger cover if the boiler is damaged as a result.
What is normally excluded
This is where expectations and policy wording part company.
- Breakdowns caused by wear or age
- Failed pumps, valves or circuit boards
- Gradual corrosion or sludge build-up
- Manufacturer defects or poor installation
Heating systems beyond the boiler itself
Radiators, pipework and controls follow similar rules.
If a pipe bursts and damages the system, buildings insurance may respond. If the system simply stops working, it usually does not.
Escape of water claims and heating damage
Escape of water is one of the most common routes to a heating-related claim.
Damage caused by leaking pipes is often covered, but the cost of repairing the failed pipe itself may not be.
Trace and access limits
Policies often pay to locate a hidden leak.
They do not always pay to replace the faulty part once it has been found.
Why servicing history matters
Insurers rarely ask for service records at the point of sale.
They may ask after a claim, especially if failure looks gradual rather than sudden.
Home emergency cover and boiler breakdown
This is where many people expect buildings insurance to step in.
In reality, boiler breakdown is usually handled by separate home emergency cover or a standalone boiler policy.
What home emergency cover typically includes
Emergency cover is about speed, not long-term repair.
- Temporary fixes to restore heat or hot water
- Call-out and labour costs up to a set limit
- Restricted parts allowances
Limits and call-out caps
These policies often have tight financial limits.
A repair may be capped well below the cost of replacing a modern boiler.
Older boilers and insurance decisions
Age changes how insurers view risk.
Very old boilers may still be insured as part of the building, but expectations around repair costs tend to be conservative.
Replacement versus repair
Insurance aims to reinstate, not upgrade.
If a boiler is damaged by an insured event, insurers usually look at repair first and replacement only if repair is not viable.
New heating systems and disclosure
Major upgrades should be disclosed.
Underfloor heating, heat pumps and hybrid systems can change both rebuild costs and claims handling.
Claims where heating causes wider damage
Insurers are often more comfortable paying for damage caused by heating systems than the systems themselves.
Ceilings, floors and decorations damaged by leaks are commonly covered even when the boiler repair is not.
Why boiler cover feels fragmented
Home insurance is designed for damage, not maintenance.
Boilers live closer to the maintenance end of the scale, which is why cover is split across buildings insurance, emergency add-ons and specialist breakdown policies.