Well let's look at some figures. According to the boiler service company Homecall Plus, a new boiler can set you back as much as ?2500, while the average boiler repair bill is around ?220. They also point out that one in three boilers breaks down within six years of installation.

However, there is of course the chance that your boiler will never break down. And it may well work out significantly cheaper to have repairs carried out by an engineer as and when needed, rather than paying all year round for boiler-cover. It really depends upon how much you are willing to pay for peace of mind.

So if you're considering boiler insurance, how much is it likely to cost, and what should you look out for to make sure you get the right policy for you? With regard to cost, a bit of internet research shows that the average basic boiler-only policy will cost around ?6.30 per month. However, these lower-cost policies won't be fully comprehensive, so look out for the number of callouts that are covered by the policy, as well as the cost of any excess that you may be required to pay.

If you're willing to pay a little more ? typically around ?13 per month, you'll receive more comprehensive cover. This should mean that you are covered for an unlimited amount of callouts, that you will not be required to pay any excess payments, and that your boiler will be serviced annually to make sure that it is running safely and is as energy efficient as possible.

Before you fork out for any extra insurance however, you should check your own home insurance policies ? buildings and contents. It could be that any boiler breakdown is already covered by your existing insurer. If not, it's usually the case that your existing insurer will have some kind of home emergency insurance that you can add to your existing buildings or contents policy. Adding-on insurance with your existing insurer is often cheaper than obtaining a separate policy from another insurer.

Usually such home emergency products cover more than just your boiler - also your plumbing, electricity, drainage and vermin problems. And these policies can often work out cheaper than boiler-only cover - Esure offers Home Emergency insurance for ?44.99 a year, and the Co-op offer existing home insurance customers their Home Rescue Plus package for 12p for the first year rising to ?24 thereafter.

As you can see, costs can vary enormously from product to product, so if you are considering boiler or home emergency cover, do your homework first. If you have a relatively new boiler your existing warranty may cover you for up to 5 years, so check your warranty first. Then decide whether boiler-only or home emergency insurance is the insurance for you, and lastly, compare as many quotes as possible before taking out a policy.