How long to install central heating

arielsmelody

We've got a three-bed house (currently planning to extend to four bedrooms) with electric night storage heating. We are planning to install gas central heating when we do the extension, but we aren't sure how much to allow for labour.

In Sarah Beeny's book she's broken the job down to a plumber for:

1. About seven days to set up a standard three bedroom house.
2. Seven days to fit the entire system.
3. Two days to fit the radiators
4. One day to fill and test the system.
5. One day to install the boiler.

So that adds up to 18 working days. Does that look like a sensible timescale? We don't really understand what she means by 'setting up' the house - can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

secretdancer

Is that 18 days for one plumber?? If so then that might be fairly accurate. It took two/three guys a week to rip out our old system and install a new one for a three bed semi.


No idea what she means by set the house up but bear in mind that the plumbers will need access under floorboards in all rooms for pipe runs so you'll need to make sure you allow free and easy access. Time spent moving furniture and carpets out of the way is time wasted if you're paying a plumber in terms of his time spent on the job. Good luck.

Canucklehead

Canucklehead's O/H here (plumbing and heating engineer)

A few details please.......

How many rads will be installed?
Will you take out your storage heaters or will it be part of the price?
How many storage heaters?

startrekker

Our new system, combi boiler in a three bed semi, 7 rads all new pipework fitted and running 2 days

arielsmelody

Canucklehead wrote:

Canucklehead's O/H here (plumbing and heating engineer)

A few details please.......

How many rads will be installed?
Will you take out your storage heaters or will it be part of the price?
How many storage heaters?

7 downstairs, 6 upstairs radiators plus a new condensing boiler - haven't decided whether to go for a combi one or not - actually that probably affects the cost because of the hot water tank.

I'd not thought of removing the storage heaters as involving any cost! My OH will probably take them off the walls himself, and since we'll have an electrician to sort out the new extension, I don't think it should be too difficult to get rid of the wiring to the old heaters. We've got 7 storage heaters in total.

OH wants to trash the house (replaster, replace ceilings etc) so it should be empty when the central heating goes in.

startrekker

4 days max........methinks 1 plumber and his mate

tanith

Defo no longer than a working week 4/5 days max.......

cazziebo

I had full central heating installed 4 years ago. 9 radiators, combi boiler and power shower - 2 days and the guys really tidied up after them.

cost £4k - and Sarah B always quotes around £2K in developments so maybe that's why! Never been able to do anything to the house since then as that used up all the budget! However, nice having a fab shower and house is lovely and cosy....

wayne

took two lads two days to jnstall ours.that was 6 rads rip the emerssion heater out and fit the boiler.my wife wanted a combi boiler and have to admit she was spot on.hot water every time you turn on the tap.