Replace boiler now or in the summer?

NoddyDog

Last week we were told our 20 year old gas boiler needs replacing as it is now dangerous. The heating engineer has switched it off and it's now up to us to get a new system put it. He told us the cost will be about £3-5K.

However we have a working immersion heater, we're heading into spring and we don't mind putting on an electric heater now and again if needed. So we are wondering whether to have the work done straight away or wait a few months?

I once heard that fitting boilers is cheaper in the summer. But I have no idea if this is an urban myth or actually true. Please can someone advise?

Many thanks.

macman

More likely that you will have to wait longer in autumn/winter as RGI's have more repair work to prioritise, but not necessarily pay more. Decent RGI's will have work booked up all year round.
You are also paying about 3 times more for your heating and hot water by electricity in the meantime.
A new boiler and install might be £1.5K-£3K depending on size and what other work is required. But £5K is way over the top.

r2015

I started enquiring about quotes for new heating a few weeks before Christmas and it was a couple of months before I got one as all the heating companies were busy.


It then took about 4 weeks after I told them to go ahead and I am getting my new heating on Monday.

But £5K is way over the top.

It all depends what is getting done.

I will be paying £6000 for 8 radiators and a combi boiler, I could have got it done for £5000 if I waited another year :rotfl:

Plumber90

You may have an immersion but that is a very expensive way to heat the water.

NoddyDog

It costs about 35p per hour to use the immersion heater and we only use it once a day for an hour. So it's really not too expensive.

Seronera

If I were you I'd use the time to plan exactly what you want out of a heating system, then find a decent heating engineer and not a mere housebasher and get a few quotes and some advice.

Fail to plan and you plan to fail. I don't think the time factor makes a jot of difference to the prices you will be quoted

r2015

It costs about 35p per hour to use the immersion heater and we only use it once a day for an hour. So it's really not too expensive

My hot water heating from my always on with pilot light is using 18 kWh a day and costs 60p a day so 35p a day is just slightly more than half what I am using.

Hopefully I will use less than that with my new combi boiler.

aggypanthus

We bought a boiler last month and had it fitted for £650 incl copper pipes.
Fitter is reputable and qualified.

The person in Perthshire.. thats expensive ! !

macman

r2015 wrote: »

I started enquiring about quotes for new heating a few weeks before Christmas and it was a couple of months before I got one as all the heating companies were busy.


It then took about 4 weeks after I told them to go ahead and I am getting my new heating on Monday.


It all depends what is getting done.

I will be paying £6000 for 8 radiators and a combi boiler, I could have got it done for £5000 if I waited another year :rotfl:

OP does not require any new rads, he requires only a new boiler-hardly a valid comparison.

macman

NoddyDog wrote: »

It costs about 35p per hour to use the immersion heater and we only use it once a day for an hour. So it's really not too expensive.

You are missing the point. Assuming you use the same amount of energy to heat or hot water, be it from gas or electricity, it will cost you about 300% more by electricity than gas, since the kWh rate is 3 times more for electricity.
We are no longer in the depths of winter. The busy times for RGI's are: a) during very cold weather, when boilers fail or freeze, and b) in late autumn, when people switch on their CH for the first time since spring and find that the pump has failed.
I doubt if you will save any significant amount by waiting until high summer-when they'll be taking their holidays.

NoddyDog

Sorry Macman but I'm not missing the point. If I wait 3 months before having the installation done my total emmersion heater costs will be circa £32. Admittedly some £20 more than gas. But if It turns out I'd save £200 or more on the installation, then I am obviously better off. After a quick search on the Net it seems some boiler manafacturers run summertime promotions.