A warm home throughout the freezing months of November through to March is something that we in the UK pretty much take for granted now. Readily available fuel, cavity wall insulation, uPVC double-glazing, underlay and thick carpets all contribute to us feeling comfortable and snug in our domiciles (perhaps even a little too comfortable to want to brave the cold on the way to work in the morning some days).

A good, fuel-efficient boiler is an essential part of that equation, providing the hot water that circulates around our pipes and fills our radiators: regular and dependable, we simply programme it to turn on and off when required then tend to forget about it. Very occasionally, though, they can break down, particularly toward the end of their life cycle.

When that breakdown does occur, it tends to be on the days when we need it and notice its absence the most, right in the dead of winter. If you don’t have decent boiler insurance in place then chances are that you could fall victim to the heating engineer’s seasonally adjusted costing structures: the price goes up when they are in most demand, which is always in the winter when you need the hot water most.

There’s the callout fee to take care of for simply turning up, followed by the charge for the man hours spent diagnosing then fixing the problem, not to mention the additional costs of any replacement parts that might need to be fitted. Typically, that can add up to hundreds of pounds, which is always a shock and a real pain to boot; then there’s the nagging doubt over whether or not the engineer is actually any good at their job.

For only a few quid, you can get boiler cover with a reputable insurer, giving you peace of mind that you’re not going to be caught out in the cold in the dead of winter, at the mercy of an engineer’s sky-high charges. Sure, it’s a grudge purchase but wouldn’t you rather that than a freezing shower at 6:30am on a weekday in January?