Costs & cover
Boiler maintenance plans: monthly cost vs pay-per-service
A monthly plan can spread servicing costs or help cover eligible breakdowns. Those are different benefits. Compare the full yearly bill and the small print, not just the monthly headline.
This is an independent comparison of market plans, not a monthly subscription offer from SW Plumbing & Heating London. Our pay-per-service option is £110 fixed price; repairs are quoted separately.
How much does a monthly plan cost?
There is no single market price: service-only plans and breakdown cover are not like-for-like. Providers may vary quotes by your boiler, postcode, cover level and excess. Check the price after any introductory discount and at renewal.
The amounts below are illustrative budgeting examples, not market averages, provider quotes or our prices. They exclude excesses and any separately charged service.
| Monthly example | 12 payments | Extra per year* |
|---|---|---|
| £10 | £120 | £10 |
| £20 | £240 | £130 |
| £30 | £360 | £250 |
*Compared with our annual service alone; cover benefits differ.
Our £110 annual service works out at about £9.17 a month if you set the money aside yourself. That is a budgeting equivalent, not a monthly payment plan. The service is paid per visit.
A higher yearly total is not automatically poor value: repair cover may pay for eligible parts and labour. Equally, paying monthly does not automatically include breakdown repairs. Add any excess per claim and compare the actual benefits.
What is included — and what is not?
Service-only plan
Usually spreads the cost of scheduled maintenance. Check whether an annual service is included, who carries it out and when it can be booked. Do not assume parts, labour or emergency call-outs are covered.
Boiler breakdown cover
May cover eligible boiler repairs, parts and labour. Some options include an annual service; others do not. Check the excess, waiting period, claim limits and boiler eligibility before paying.
Wider home cover
Some tiers extend to radiators, heating controls, plumbing, drains or electrics. Each has its own limits. A boiler-only policy is not cover for every problem in your home.
Read these terms before joining
- Existing faults and the initial waiting period: a new plan may not cover a breakdown you already have.
- Excesses, repair limits and exclusions such as sludge, scale, power flushing or unavailable parts.
- Boiler age restrictions and what happens if repair is uneconomical. Replacement is not guaranteed.
- Minimum term, cancellation charges, automatic renewal and any increased renewal price.
- Whether a landlord gas safety check and CP12 are included. A service and a legal safety check are not interchangeable.
When does pay-per-service make sense?
If you mainly want annual maintenance and can budget separately for an unexpected repair, paying per service may suit you. Check any manufacturer warranty before buying overlapping cover, and compare the yearly total of a service-only subscription with a standalone service.
Repair cover may suit someone who values predictable spending and accepts the policy’s excesses and limits. Neither option guarantees a breakdown-free boiler, and we cannot predict which will cost less for your particular home.
Our local service option
SW Plumbing & Heating London provides annual servicing across our South West London areas. The £110 fixed service includes a CP12 certificate for landlords. It is not an insurance policy or unlimited repair cover; any repair is quoted separately.
See what a service checks and what you can safely do between visits →
Questions about boiler plans
Is boiler maintenance the same as boiler cover?
Not necessarily. Maintenance focuses on servicing; cover may help pay for eligible breakdown repairs. Read the policy or contract to see whether it includes one, both, or neither in the tier you are considering.
Does a monthly plan include an annual service?
Only if the terms say so. Check whether it is included in the advertised monthly price, whether there is a separate charge and how you arrange the appointment.
Can I join a plan when my boiler has already broken down?
Do not assume the existing fault will be covered. Providers may exclude pre-existing problems or apply a waiting period. Ask the provider before joining; for an existing fault, we can quote diagnostics and repair separately.
Do you sell a monthly boiler maintenance plan?
This page compares market plans. Our option shown here is a pay-per-visit annual service, not a monthly subscription. Contact us to book servicing or discuss a repair.