A boiler breakdown in January is one of those situations where being disorganised costs money and time on top of the inconvenience. Engineers need information you don't have. Insurers ask for a policy number you can't find. You're on hold at 9pm trying to remember whether you have boiler cover.
Here's what to do, and what to have ready so you're not starting from scratch in the dark.
Immediately when the boiler breaks
- Check the pressure gauge. Most boilers should read between 1 and 2 bar when cold. If it's below 0.5 or in the red zone, the boiler may have shut itself off rather than broken. Repressurising can be done without an engineer — check your boiler's manual or look it up by make and model.
- Check the pilot light. On older boilers, a pilot light going out is a common and fixable cause. Most can be relit following the instructions on the boiler casing.
- Check the thermostat. It sounds obvious but a thermostat set too low or accidentally switched off will stop the boiler firing.
- Check the electrics. The boiler needs power. Check it hasn't tripped the fuse board.
If none of these fix it, you need an engineer.
Do you have boiler cover?
Before calling a random engineer, check whether you have:
- A boiler cover policy. BritishGas HomeServe, Corgi HomeHeat and others offer standalone boiler cover. If you have one, call the cover provider first — it's likely included at no extra cost.
- Home insurance with boiler cover. Some home insurance policies include emergency boiler repair. Check your policy documents for "emergency home cover" or "home emergency".
- Warranty. New boilers (typically under 10 years old) often have manufacturer warranties. Find the make and model, then call the manufacturer's service line.
Using your cover rather than an ad-hoc engineer is almost always cheaper. The problem is knowing whether you have it and being able to find the policy number.
What engineers will ask you
When you call an engineer or boiler cover provider, they will ask:
- Make and model of the boiler
- What it's doing (or not doing) — error codes on the display are especially useful
- When it was last serviced
- Your address and access details
The make and model is printed on the boiler casing. The last service date should be in your service record — if you have one. Many people don't.
Temporary heating options
If the engineer can't come until tomorrow, particularly with children or elderly people in the house:
- Electric fan heaters or oil-filled radiators provide room-by-room heating
- Hot water bottles are underrated for overnight warmth
- If the boiler feeds your hot water as well as your radiators, an immersion heater switch in the airing cupboard can provide hot water independently — many people don't know this exists in their property
Roost's Home vault has a dedicated section for your boiler — make, model, service date, cover provider, and an "If the boiler breaks" guide pre-populated with the steps above. Share with your household so either person can act when it happens. Free to start.
What to store now, before it breaks
- Boiler make, model, and serial number (on the casing)
- Last service date and engineer's name or company
- Boiler cover or home emergency insurance: provider, policy number, callout number
- Whether the manufacturer warranty is still active
- Location of the manual (or a note to find it online by make and model)
You won't need any of this most of the time. When you do need it, you'll really need it.