How much to change from back boiler to combi approx?

jackkelly

Hi all, we are looking to move into a new 4 bed terraced house in new few wks it has a back boiler which is working fine, now didn't realise at first you are limited to the fire fronts you can have. I don't like any of them they don't fit with decor of room i plan to do.
So here is my dilema do we take it out put in combi boiler, it can't go in kitchen as that was done 12mths ago with integrated appliances etc and really don't want to mess around with it. So is airing cupboard or loft a goer. Or do we live with it take out fireplace and get a large size radiator cover made to put over the ugly fire.
Also we want to move position of rads in living room from away from leather sofa's that are going in, then put down solid oak flooring so once room is done can't change my room.
Cost of all this work will factor into final decision as have a budget to be stuck, to. We are in Essex can get all materials at cost as friend runs plumbers merchants.
Cheers for reading

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

The answer is down a bit !


















friend runs plumbers merchants.

YOUR FRIEND MIGHT KNOW A PLUMBER WHO CAN ADVISE YOU

jackkelly

Hi,
Did you not think I had thought of that
As this is a money saving site I thought I would ask for other peoples opinions, as to whether it was worth the hassle or not.
My friends husband who runs a plumbers merchant is about 80 miles away from where we are living so I doubt any plumbers they know will travel that far? hence why I stated we are in essex.
cheers

kittedup

I'd be wary of sticking a combi on a system where a back boiler has happily been ticking away.

In simple terms you are going to be pushing much more pressure through old pipe work than it has been used to and it can cause all sorts of problems.

Have you thought of a conventional boiler?

If you have to have a combi then make sure the system is well flushed out.

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Yeah agree with kittedup

The problem is resiting any boiler is costly, also the gas pipe will need to re-routed and probably increased in size.

You also have to consider the age of the radiators, they could drop like flies, after the boiler exchange.

I personally dig BBU out, because of the dated fire fronts,

I reckon you would be talking around £1500 (supply & fit) BUT that depends on the make of the boiler etc,

I would get a couple of local CORGI guys out, get some advice and options.

Many, not all will throw their rattle out of the pram if your supplying the boiler and materials.:eek:

jackkelly

Hi thanks for replies, as we are new to this think best to get some experts into price job up.
Cheers

EliteHeat

It will almost certainly cost considerably more than £1,500.

It is very unlikely that your radiators will 'drop like flies', it is even more unlikely that your exisitng copper pipe work will be unable to cope with the additional pressure.

But hey, what do I know? I just do this for a living :rotfl:

economiser

I changed from a back boiler to a combi about 5 years ago - biggest mistake of my life. Back boiler was 38 years old and had only failed once - a replacement thermostat was a 30 minute DIY job. New combi has failed expensively twice. Flue fan once and expansion vessel once. Also servicing is expensive. Gas consumption down about 5% so it hasn't paid off.

EliteHeat

economiser wrote: »

I changed from a back boiler to a combi about 5 years ago - biggest mistake of my life. Back boiler was 38 years old and had only failed once - a replacement thermostat was a 30 minute DIY job. New combi has failed expensively twice. Flue fan once and expansion vessel once. Also servicing is expensive. Gas consumption down about 5% so it hasn't paid off.

I bet the installer didn't recommend that you had a combi installed though.

FABTEC

Hello,im about to move in my new house and it has a back boiler and have been told i should probably change the full system for a combi set up! can anyone give me a ruff cost of this work? Also the other half isnt keen on the gas fire fronts so really wanted to do away with the fire all together and maybe just fit an electric plasma fire!! any ideas.cheers:cool: