Boiler warranties & guarantees
What is a boiler warranty?
All new boilers come with a warranty, or sometimes a guarantee, from the boiler manufacturer. This means that if you experience a genuine fault with the boiler during the 'warranty period', the manufacturer will repair the boiler free of charge. The warranty period will vary from 2 years to 12 years. The length of the warranty period has a big impact on your long term maintenance costs; particularly as the likelihood of faults occurring increases as the boiler gets older. We review warranties from 9 mainstream manufacturers, including Worcester and Ideal, to see who offers long term value.
What is the difference between a guarantee and a warranty?
In legal terms warranty and guarantee mean much the same thing, what is important to know is the terms and conditions of either.
The boiler guarantee is a contract between you, the homeowner, and the boiler manufacturer to attend your property and repair or replace the boiler within a reasonable period of time. The guarantee is legally binding on the manufacturer and improves your consumer rights. Worcester Bosch were the first to switch from a warranty to a guarantee, followed by Vaillant and Glow Worm. The strength of the guarantee will depend on what is left in or out of the terms and conditions.
All other boiler manufacturers offer a warranty on their products. A boiler warranty is like an insurance policy and also improves your consumer rights. The boiler manufacturer promises to come and have a look at the problem.
Top tips for securing your free extended boiler cover
- Ensure the Benchmark form is completed and on site (located in the back of the user manual)
- Ensure there is safe access to the boiler - e.g. fixed loft ladder and light if situated in the loft
- Register the boiler within 30 days of installation or check your installer has done it
- For extended warranties you may have to use an Accredited Installer.
- Have the boiler serviced annually and keep the documentation on site
- Be sure the fault is a genuine manufacturing issue by ringing the manufacturer's help line - you will be charged for a call out if not.
- To avoid additional charges, make sure you are home when the engineer attends and the Benchmark and servicing documentation is on site and completed.
Boiler warranties and guarantees by manufacturer
At the very least, a boiler will come with a 2 year warranty from the manufacturer, however most boiler manufacturers with extending their boiler cover up to 5 years. Worcester Bosch, Baxi, Vaillant, Ideal and Viessmann now offer 10 year warranties or 10 year guarantees on their premium boiler models.
A number of manufacturers offer the same model of boiler, sometimes with a different name, with differing lengths of warranty, and the price will vary accordingly. In short, you can pay extra for the same boiler for a longer period of cover from the manufacturer.
Conditions of cover
All of the manufacturers have strict conditions that must be met in order to secure their extended warranty or guarantee. The tables below set out the warranty or guarantee details for the boilers from our 9 manufacturers.
We set out the conditions that must be adhered to in order to 1) secure their standard cover period and 2) secure the extended cover period should one be provided. We have also looked at what happens in the event of a breakdown, i.e. what is covered, any charges that the manufacturer may apply and exclusions of service (such as no safe access). At the end of the nine tables we have summarised common exclusions of cover.
Baxi warranty
Baxi's mandatory conditions are standard and they give a generous 60 days either side of the installation anniversary to get the boiler serviced. However you may be asked to pay a deposit before an engineer attends which will not be refunded if it transpires to be a non-boiler related fault. Baxi provide a boiler warranty.
| Baxi Boilers | Standard Cover | Free Extended Cover | Warranty or Guarantee | Mandatory conditions of basic warranty | Conditions of extended warranty (beyond 1 year) | In the event of a breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baxi 200 | 3 | 3 | Warranty | Installer is Gas Safe Registered | Registered within 30 days by installer or homeowner | Maybe asked to pay a deposit before an engineer attends |
| Baxi 400 | 3 | 5 | Warranty | Benchmark form completed at time of installation | Serviced annually (60 days before or after anniversary of installation) | Deposit will not be refunded if engineer cannot gain access or conditions of warranty are not met |
| Baxi/Duotec | 7 | 7 | Warranty | Installed in line with installation instructions | Proof of service on site if not done via Baxi Customer Support | Repair won't be carried out if access is not safe |
| Baxi/Eco Blue + Compact | 7 | 7 | Warranty | Maintained in line with maintenance instructions | ||
| Baxi Ecoblue Advance | 10 | 10 | Warranty | |||
| Baxi Platinum | 10 | 10 | Warranty |
Ideal warranty
Standard conditions for minimum warranty apply. A stricter servicing policy than Baxi, i.e. that the boiler must be serviced every 12 months. Again a potential call out fee for non boiler related faults but also if documentation is not complete and available on site. Ideal provide a boiler warranty.
| Ideal Boilers | Standard Cover | Free Extended Cover | Warranty or Guarantee | Mandatory conditions of basic warranty | Conditions of extended warranty (beyond 1 year) | In the event of a breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal Independent | 5 | 5 | Warranty | Installed and commissioned within 12 months of manufacture | Registered within 30 days by installer or homeowner | Reserve the right to charge a call out fee where no benchmark sheet is present, no fault found, cannot gain access, conditions not met |
| Ideal / Logic+ Combi | 7 | 7 | Warranty | Installer is Gas Safe Registered | Serviced at the end of every 12 month period | |
| Ideal/Vogue | 10 | 10 | Warranty | Benchmark form completed at time of installation | Maintained in line with maintenance instructions | Repair won't be carried out if access is not safe |
| Warranty | Installed in line with installation instructions |
Vaillant guarantee
Standard conditions for minimum warranty apply. The boiler must be fitted by a Vaillant Advanced Installer in order to secure the extended warranty. Same charging policy but only for non-boiler related faults. Vaillant offer a Guarantee over a Warranty but it does not extend to other Vaillant products fitted at the same time as the boiler.
| Vaillant Boilers | Standard Cover | Free Extended Cover | Warranty or Guarantee | Mandatory conditions of basic warranty | Conditions of extended guarantee | In the event of a breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaillant EcoFITpure |
2 | 7-10 | Guarantee | Benchmark form completed at time of installation | Fitted by Vaillant Advance Installer | A refundable deposit may be required |
| Vaillant EcoTEC pro |
2 | 5-10 | Guarantee | Registered within 30 days by installer or homeowner (on a discretionary basis may accept late registrations) | Charges will apply for installation, non boiler and external system faults, which may also invalidate the guarantee | |
| Vaillant EcoTEC plus |
5 | 7-10 | Guarantee | Serviced annually at least 15 months after installation and within 15 months of its last service - details must be recorded in the benchmark book | ||
| Vaillant EcoTEC Green iQ |
5 | 7-10 | Guarantee |
Worcester Bosch guarantee
Standard conditions for minimum warranty apply. The boiler must be fitted by a Worcester Accredited Installer in order to secure the extended warranty. Same charging policy for non-boiler related faults and standard conditions not being met, including documentation not on site. Worcester offer a Guarantee over a Warranty. Worcester will extend the terms of the Guarantee to other qualifying products if fitted at the same time as the new boiler, such as the WAVE, Comfort controls and Greenstar Filter.
| Worcester Boilers | Standard Cover | Free Extended Cover | Warranty or Guarantee | Mandatory conditions of basic warranty | Conditions of extended guarantee | In the event of a breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester Bosch / Greenstar Professional | 5 | 7 | Guarantee | Correctly installed and commissioned in accordance with installation instructions | Annual service | Maybe asked to pay a deposit before an engineer attends |
| Worcester Greenstar Compact | 7 | 9 | Guarantee | Registered within 30 days of installation | Installed by a Worcester Accredited Installer | Deposit will not be refunded if engineer cannot gain access or conditions of warranty are not met |
| Worcester Greenstar Classic | 7 | 10 | Guarantee | Must be used for domestic or light commercial purposes | Repair won't be carried out if access is not safe | |
| Baxi/Eco Blue + Compact | 7 | 10 | Guarantee | |||
| Worcester Greenstar Compact | 7 | 10 | Guarantee | |||
| Worcester Greenstar Classic | 7 | 10 | Guarantee |
Main boilers warranty
Main's mandatory conditions are standard and they give a generous 60 days either side of the installation anniversary to get the boiler serviced. However you may be asked to pay a deposit before an engineer attends which will not be refunded if it transpires to be a non-boiler related fault. Main provide a warranty.
| Main Boilers | Standard Cover | Free Extended Cover | Warranty or Guarantee | Mandatory conditions of basic 1 year warranty | Conditions of extended warranty (beyond 1 year) | In the event of a breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Eco Elite | 5 | 5 | Warranty | Installer is Gas Safe Registered | Registered within 30 days by installer or homeowner | Maybe asked to pay a deposit before an engineer attends |
| Benchmark form completed at time of installation | Serviced annually (60 days before or after anniversary of installation) | Deposit will not be refunded if engineer cannot gain access or conditions of warranty are not met | ||||
| Warranty | Installed in line with installation instructions | Proof of service on site if not done via Baxi Customer Support | Repair won't be carried out if access is not safe | |||
| Warranty | Maintained in line with maintenance instructions |
Viessmann warranty
Standard conditions for minimum warranty apply. The boiler must be fitted by a Viessmann trained ins in order to secure the extended warranty. Same charging policy for non-boiler related faults. Viessmann provide a warranty.
| Viessman Boilers | Standard Cover | Free Extended Cover | Warranty or Guarantee | Mandatory conditions of basic warranty | Conditions of extended warranty | In the event of a breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viessmann Vitodens 050 |
3 | 3 | Warranty | Installer is Gas Safe Registered | Annual service and within one year of the installation date | May be charged a call out fee if fault not on the boiler |
| Viessmann Vitodens 100 |
5 | 10 | Warranty | Benchmark form completed at time of installation | Installed by a Viessmann Trained Installer | |
| Viessmann Vitodens 200 |
3 | 5 | Warranty | Registered within 30 days by installer or homeowner |
Glow Worm guarantee
Standard conditions for minimum warranty apply. The boiler must be fitted by a Club Energy Installer in order to secure the extended warranty. Same charging policy but only for non-boiler related faults. Glow Worm offer a Guarantee over a Warranty.
| Glow Worm Boilers | Standard Cover | Free Extended Cover | Warranty or Guarantee | Mandatory conditions of basic warranty | Conditions of extended warranty (beyond 1 year) | In the event of a breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glow Worm Easicom |
3 | 4 | Guarantee | Benchmark form completed at time of installation | When fitted by a Club Energy installer | A refundable deposit may be required |
| Glow Worm Energy |
2 | 2 | Guarantee | Registered within 30 days by installer or homeowner (on a discretionary basis may accept late registrations) | Registered with Club Energy | Charges will apply for installation, non boiler and external system faults, which may also invalidate the guarantee |
| Glow Worm Ultimate 3 |
5 | 5 | Guarantee | Serviced annually at least 15 months after installation and within 15 months of its last service - details must be recorded in the benchmark book | ||
| Glow Worm Essential |
3 | 3 | Guarantee |
Ferroli warranty
Standard conditions for minimum warranty apply. By far the most lengthy set of terms and conditions and very specific about exclusions. Same charging policy but only for non-boiler related faults. Ferroli offer a warranty.
| Ferroli Boilers | Standard Cover | Free Extended Cover | Warranty or Guarantee | Mandatory conditions of basic warranty | Conditions of extended warranty (beyond 1 year) | In the event of a breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferroli / Modena | 5 | 5 | Warranty | Installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer | Annual service every 12 months and record left on site | Repaired on site, occasionally to repair at Ferroli offices - customer to bare the charge of transportation |
| Warranty | Proof of purchase if no benchmark form available | A pre authorised deposit refundable on the basis that the engineer can gain access, there is a genuine manufacturering fault and the correct documentation is present | ||||
| Warranty | Registered with Ferroli within 30 days of installation |
Potterton warranty
Potterton's mandatory conditions are standard and like Baxi they give a generous 60 days either side of the installation anniversary to get the boiler serviced. However you may be asked to pay a deposit before an engineer attends which will not be refunded if it transpires to be a non-boiler related fault. Potterton offer a warranty.
| Potterton Boilers | Standard Cover | Free Extended Cover | Warranty or Guarantee | Mandatory conditions of basic warranty | Conditions of extended warranty (beyond 1 year) | In the event of a breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potterton Gold |
2 | 2 | Warranty | Installer is gas safe registered | Registered within 30 days by installer or homeowner | Deposit will not be refunded if engineer cannot gain access or conditions of warranty are not met |
| Potterton Titanium |
7 | 7 | Warranty | Installed in line with installation instructions | Serviced annually (60 days before or after anniversary of installation) | |
| Potterton Promax |
2 | 2 | Warranty | Benchmark form completed at time of installation | Proof of service on site if not done via Baxi customer support | Repair won't be carried out if access is not safe |
| Warranty | Maintained in line with maintenance instructions |
|
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