New Boiler Installation

Tino2385

I'm just looking for a bit of advice in regards to boiler quotes, so far i've had one quote done and cancelled my British Gas appointment simply because I'm aware of how much they will quote me.

I had a guy round yesterday who went over everything with us we were initially looking at replacing the boiler, some radiators and possible getting rid of the tanks in the loft and going for a combi.

Firstly he advised not to get a combi and stick with what we already have which is a heat only boiler, with the cylinder and tanks in the loft and emersion heater downstairs. He advised that as a detached 3 bed property it was better for us in regards to running, (and would obviously work out cheaper in regards to the work)

He checked out the cylinder and tank and advised that they were very new and didn't need replacing (now we know why there are signs of previous leaking on the roof).

Anyway he quoted us below:

New condensing boiler and installation - £1800 + VAT
Radiator and installation £250 +VAT per room... we only need 2.
Thermostat and portable display - £250 + VAT
If we needed a full flush it would be £500 + VAT (hopefully with the new radiators he advised they will just do a water flush anyway )

So in an ideal world it will be £3060 in total for a new installation and 2 new radiators.

To me this seems like a decent quote but any advice is appreciated. :beer:

imho

I would have kept the British Gas appointment as you get paperwork on where the radiators will go and what size boiler and you don't have to have BG do the work.
I would look for another quote to compare with the guy you had out. Don't tell the new guy what you have already been quoted.

Pincher

It's the kind of quote an engineer can live on.

When I see quotes cut to the bone, I worry more.


I had a ceiling collapse once, from loft leak,
so I would take this opportunity to put in a tray beneath them.

https://www.newpig.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10655&catalogId=10201&langId=-11&partNumber=p_PAKE232&cm_cat=PPZ1



https://www.newpig.com/pig/UK/fibreglass-chemical-tray-pak743?cm_cat=keyword_search


A simple tray with a battery water alarm could save a lot of grief.
Ideally, you want an overflow pipe that drips at the eaves so you know it's leaking.

Tino2385

Thanks for the info guys.

I did have another quote, and the engineer advised the previous engineer was talking BS in regards to keeping the heat only boiler and the water tanks and that the previous engineer was rather lazy and didn't want the hassle of the extra work.

He agreed with us that the house is not that big but as its detached it just looks bigger than it is from the outside and that a combi would be better and it would mean that we could remove the cylinder and tank which I'm not really comfortable with having above our main bedroom anyway.

Anyway he quoted between 3-3.5k will all new radiators (8) installation of the new boiler,repositioning , and removal of the tanks.

I'm planning on getting one more quote to see if i get a different answer... but it's not the cost we're so concerned about now because obviously cheaper isn't always better, but which system we should be going for!

CashStrapped

The combi option is usually seen as the easy option for the engineer, this is because all the engineer has to do is rip out everything (that can be scrapped for money) and install a nice new small boiler.

Furthermore, depending on how many bathrooms and the dynamic pressure of the mains water to the house, a combi may not be suitable.

If you are the kind of family that likes baths (often take much longer to fill with a combi) or there is often more than one person using an outlet at the same time. You may end up disappointed with a combi set-up.

The combi properties I have lived in have all had major issues with pressure from the taps, heating water consistantly, wasting water waiting for it to cycle up to heat the water. For a good combi set-up they must be well installed and in an appropriate property with appropriate water pressure.

Combis are ideally (and originally intended) to be installed in small flats or houses with little space. It is due to the ease of installation that they have crept into larger properties where they are usually unsuitable.

Your existing set-up, as long as the tank is well insulated, should be perfectly fine. You benifit from an A rated boiler, while keeping the positive aspects of a more traditional set-up.