Prices for Installing New Combi Boiler as a Straight Swap

blogger57

cwcw wrote: »

However, from reading various other forums and websites I get the impression that Gas Safe engineers charge around £1,000 - £1,500 to just install a new boiler, which in a straight swap situation would be a day's work at most.

How can these sort of prices be justified?

Hi cwcw.

I would think for a straight swap you would be looking at more like £600 +VAT for a combi boiler but it does depend on what a straight swap means. Regulations have changed over the last 10 years so a heating engineer would ask himself some additional questions which may add significantly to the installation time.

1. Is the power output of the two boilers the same?
Nowadays gas combi boilers of 30kW and upwards are available. If the 9 year old boiler was a much lower rating then the pipe sizing may not be correct for a bigger boiler - the pressure drop may be too great to be acceptable under current standards. It may even be that the pipe sizing was not right to start with. A professional engineer would not ignore that. A cowboy would. Changing the supply pipe from the gas meter to the boiler may be easy or a lot of work. It will depend on the length of pipe to be replaced and the ease of access.

2. Was the previous boiler a condensing type boiler?
Since 2003 pretty much all boilers installed have had to be condensing ones. These are considered to be more fuel efficient. One of the differences from older style boilers is that condensing boilers require access to a drain to allow a small amount of condensate (water) to drain away. So an engineer would be looking for the closest access to a drain. The boiler could be close to a kitchen sink waste (easy) or miles away (a nightmare which may involve moving the boiler position). You say the boiler is about 9 years ago so its hard to say for sure that it is a condensing type - if it has a plastic pipe leading from the boiler going to an internal or external drain then it probably is.

3. Are there Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs) in use and a programmer with thermostat?
Under the 2010 building regulations (part L1), a means of "controlling the temperatures independently in areas that have different heating needs (e.g. separate sleeping and living areas)" is required. In practice this means using TRVs (thermostatic radiator valves) and a thermostat. When your boiler was installed this was not a requirement so it depends on what needs to be upgraded if anything.

4. Do the radiators require a power flush?
Some boiler suppliers require this when connecting a new boiler to an old radiator system as metal sludge can build up over the years. Many engineers would also fit some form of magnetic filter to prevent sludge build up in the future. A powerflush can easily take the best part of a day depending on the number of radiators you have.

5. Are the electrics OK?
Some work, especially in a kitchen, requires a qualified electrician to certify the work if changes need to be made to bring them up to current standards.

A cowboy who is going to ignore all these factors can certainly do it more quickly by not covering the items I have mentioned. It could be that your particular installation does not need any of these things covered so it could be a days work for a straight swap. I am not trying to defend prices for particular profession but unless an engineer can see a site it is hard to quote precisely on what the job involves.

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

Hope this helps you stick with your current career path! All the best with your replacement boiler.

unclebulgaria

I'd just like to say that you cannot force any householder to upgrade any part of their central heating system when you install a new boiler.
My local building control office has repeatedly said that the minimum requirement is a 2% increase efficiency. TRV's and zone controls are the home owners choice unless its a new build.
As for £2000 for a straight swap or even £1500 I think you need to re-read those forums, that probably includes the boiler! That price isn't too far off the mark!

blogger57

unclebulgaria wrote: »

I'd just like to say that you cannot force any householder to upgrade any part of their central heating system when you install a new boiler.
My local building control office has repeatedly said that the minimum requirement is a 2% increase efficiency. TRV's and zone controls are the home owners choice unless its a new build.

I agree you cannot force a householder to upgrade to TRVs. When would you recommend that they did so though?

Cocobay71

We are having a new Valliant ecotec combi fitted, all associated parts and timers inc checking all rads trv's and mini flush for £1400. The gas safe installer is not VAT registered so this has reduced by approx £300 i think.
Depends where you live also i think, we paid six months ago before we moved £1850 for a new combi install and all other works on the system but we lived in sw london suburbs.

diywhynot

Cocobay71 wrote: »

We are having a new Valliant ecotec combi fitted, all associated parts and timers inc checking all rads trv's and mini flush for £1400. The gas safe installer is not VAT registered so this has reduced by approx £300 i think.
Depends where you live also i think, we paid six months ago before we moved £1850 for a new combi install and all other works on the system but we lived in sw london suburbs.

Which ecoTEC is being fitted? What is a mini-flush?

southcoastrgi

diywhynot wrote: »

What is a mini-flush?

I was wondering that, maybe it's a car valet

gas4you

At that price the most you will be saving through him not being VAT registered is about £70/£80.

cons

We are having a combi sorting in a couple weeks

ecotec 831+
magnafilter
9 new trv
wireless thermostat

system flushed etc 7 year warranty via vaillant

remove old g-rated back boiler and fireplace

£2300

£400 via scrappage scheme and £100 from viallant so £1900