It's ruddy good!
It's ruddy good!
By Rachel Simmons, Insurance & Consumer Affairs Editor
A cooker is one of the hardest-working appliances in any UK home. Whether you're cooking weeknight dinners or a Sunday roast, it's there every day — and when it breaks down, the disruption and repair costs can both catch you off guard. This guide covers what cooker insurance actually includes, what repairs typically cost across the UK, how to spot early warning signs, and how cooker insurance compares to warranties and other options.
Cooker insurance covers the cost of repairing or replacing your cooker if it stops working due to a mechanical or electrical breakdown, or is accidentally damaged. A policy typically includes parts, labour, and call-out charges — so there's no need to find your own engineer or negotiate a repair bill separately.
Cover generally applies to freestanding cookers, range cookers, and built-in ovens with a separate hob — across gas, electric, dual-fuel, and induction types. This matters because repair costs and fault patterns vary significantly by fuel type and model.
With Row.co.uk, cooker insurance covers both accidental damage and breakdown. Parts, labour, and call-out are all included, with cover available for appliances valued up to £2,000. If a repair isn't viable, a replacement may be provided subject to policy terms. Policies are flexible with no lock-in, starting from £1.49 per month.
Cooker repairs in the UK typically range from £80 to over £350, depending on the nature of the fault, the brand, and parts availability — with premium or range cookers often sitting at the higher end of that scale.
Here are typical UK engineer cost ranges for common faults:
Range cookers from brands such as Rangemaster, Falcon, Stoves, and Belling tend to sit at the top of these ranges. Parts for premium models can be more expensive to source and may require a specialist engineer, particularly for dual-fuel range cookers with multiple ovens. A single control board fault on a mid-range range cooker can comfortably exceed £300 once parts and labour are combined.
Labour costs also vary by region — engineers in London and the South East typically charge more per hour than those in the Midlands or North of England, which can push borderline repairs further up the cost scale.
The most common cooker faults in UK homes include ovens failing to reach the correct temperature, hob burners not igniting reliably, fan motors deteriorating, and electronic control boards malfunctioning — particularly in appliances that are more than three years old.
If food is taking noticeably longer to cook, or coming out unevenly browned despite the correct setting, a faulty thermostat or failing heating element is usually the cause. This is one of the more common faults in both electric and dual-fuel ovens.
Clicking that doesn't result in a flame, or a burner that only lights occasionally, is usually caused by moisture around the spark electrode, debris in the burner cap, or a worn ignition module. It's one of the most frequently reported gas hob issues across all brands.
If the oven reaches temperature but cooking is uneven, the fan motor may be wearing out. A failing motor can sometimes be heard as a low grinding or rattling noise during operation — worth noting early, as the fault tends to worsen quickly.
Modern integrated cookers and touch-control range cookers rely increasingly on electronic control boards. When these fail, you may see persistent error codes, unresponsive controls, or a complete loss of function. These faults are at the expensive end of the repair scale because the components themselves are costly.
Any fault that involves gas — a persistent smell when the hob is off, or difficulty fully extinguishing a burner — requires immediate attention from a Gas Safe registered engineer. Don't delay or attempt to diagnose this type of fault yourself.
Manufacturer warranties, extended warranties, and cooker insurance serve different purposes — and understanding the differences helps you make the right choice for your situation.
| Manufacturer Warranty | Extended Warranty | Cooker Insurance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Typically 1–2 years | Fixed term (usually 2–5 years) | Ongoing — cancel anytime |
| Breakdown cover | Manufacturing defects only | Yes (varies by policy) | Yes |
| Accidental damage | No | Rarely | Yes (with Row.co.uk) |
| Parts & labour included | Usually | Usually | Yes |
| Flexibility | None | Fixed commitment | Cancel anytime, no lock-in |
| Cost | Included with appliance | Paid upfront at purchase | From £1.49/month |
Manufacturer warranties cover defects in materials or workmanship from new — not accidental damage, not normal wear and tear. Most cooker warranties run for one or two years, after which you have no protection at all unless you've arranged something separately.
Extended warranties are usually offered by retailers at the point of sale. They vary considerably in what they include and often require a fixed upfront payment. If your circumstances change — you sell the cooker, move, or upgrade — you may find the warranty doesn't transfer cleanly.
Cooker insurance is an ongoing monthly arrangement with no fixed term. Because it covers both breakdown and accidental damage, and because you can cancel at any time, it offers more flexibility — particularly useful for renters or landlords whose situations may change.
Simple, consistent maintenance habits reduce the likelihood of breakdowns and can meaningfully extend a cooker's working life — which matters given the cost of repair or replacement.
Spilled food that bakes onto oven surfaces can damage heating elements and linings over time. Wiping the interior with a damp cloth once the oven is fully cool (never when hot) is the most effective single habit. Avoid abrasive scourers on enamel surfaces, which can cause long-term marking.
Run a finger along the oven door seal every few months. A deteriorating or cracked seal allows heat to escape, forces the oven to work harder, and can lead to uneven cooking temperatures — a fault often mistakenly attributed to the thermostat. Seals are a relatively low-cost replacement part if caught early.
Food debris in the burner cap is the most common cause of ignition problems on gas hobs. Remove burner caps periodically, soak in warm soapy water, and ensure they're fully dry before replacing — moisture is a frequent ignition culprit.
Pyrolytic cleaning (available on many modern ovens) uses temperatures of around 480°C to incinerate residue. It's effective, but the extreme heat places significant stress on oven seals, the inner lining, and hinges. Using it more than once a month accelerates wear on these components.
Grease vapour and steam can cause corrosion on internal components over time. Running a cooker hood or keeping a window open during heavy cooking reduces the moisture load on the oven interior and on any exposed electronics.
To be eligible for cooker insurance with Row.co.uk, your appliance must be under 6 years old and in full working order at the start of the policy — this applies to freestanding cookers, built-in ovens, and range cookers.
Cover is available across all major fuel types — gas, electric, dual-fuel, and induction — and across all leading brands. Row.co.uk also covers appliances in rental properties, making it a practical option for landlords who want predictable costs rather than ad-hoc repair bills between tenancies.
The 6-year eligibility threshold reflects the increased likelihood of compound faults developing in older appliances, where repair costs can begin to approach replacement cost. If your cooker is approaching that age, it's worth factoring in its overall condition and repair history when deciding whether repair, cover, or replacement is the most sensible route.
If you have more than one appliance to cover, Row.co.uk offers a multi-item discount of up to 20%, with 5% off when you add a second appliance — useful for landlords or households with several appliances they want to protect.
Row.co.uk has insured over 200,000 items since 2009. The entire claims process is handled online — there's no need to phone anyone to get started.
To make a claim, log in to the customer service centre at row.co.uk. From there, the UK-based team will arrange an engineer from the national repair network across the UK. Parts, labour, and call-out are all included in your policy — you don't need to source an engineer independently or negotiate a price for the work.
If your cooker cannot be economically repaired, a replacement may be provided subject to policy terms. Row.co.uk is rated 4.72 out of 5 on reviews.io and has won at the Insurance Choice Awards, based on more than 15 years of insuring UK households.
Row.co.uk covers cooker breakdown and accidental damage — parts, labour, and call-out all included. Cover available for appliances under 6 years old, valued up to £2,000. Cancel anytime, no lock-in.
Get a Quote TodayRow.co.uk covers freestanding cookers, range cookers, and built-in ovens — including gas, electric, dual-fuel, and induction models. Cover is available for appliances valued up to £2,000, which includes most mid-range and premium range cookers on the UK market.
Yes, provided the appliance is under 6 years old and in good working order at the start of the policy. If your cooker is approaching the 6-year mark, it's worth taking out cover sooner rather than later, as appliances become ineligible once they reach that age threshold.
Yes — Row.co.uk policies cover both accidental damage and mechanical or electrical breakdown. This includes incidents such as cracking the hob glass or damaging a control panel, as well as faults that develop through normal use.
To make a claim, log in to the customer service centre at row.co.uk. The UK-based team will arrange an engineer from the national repair network. There's no need to find your own engineer or pay for call-out separately — that's all included.
Row.co.uk covers appliances in rental properties, so landlords can insure cookers across their portfolio. Given that repair costs for a single fault can reach £150–£350 or more, monthly cover can help landlords budget more predictably for appliance maintenance without absorbing unexpected bills.
Yes. Range cookers — including brands such as Rangemaster, Stoves, Belling, and Falcon — are covered provided the appliance is under 6 years old and valued within the £2,000 cover limit. Given that range cooker repairs frequently cost more than standard cooker repairs, cover is particularly relevant for these models.
If a repair is not viable, a replacement may be provided subject to policy terms. Row.co.uk aims to source brand-matched replacements where possible. Full details are set out in the policy documentation provided at the time of purchase.