buying a boiler and having it fitted? good idea?

mrs_baggins

am looking at having a new boiler installed early next year-not a combi type but basically a more up to date modern one that I have. I want to use the same pipework and radiators and controls if possible as well. Once I have decided on which boiler I wanted could I just go out and buy the boiler- say £600 or so and then pay a corgi person to fit it? I know a couple of builders who I may be able to ask if they could do me a boiler at trade price but havent approached them yet. From what I have read the average boiler instalation costs of a replacement boiler is about 2k and thought that doing it this way I could save. I know that it has to be a Corgi registered person to install it and i am not trying to cut corners in the safety aspects. If anyone has done this I would welcome any comments

roddydogs

youll probably find the installer will charge you more to make up for what hes losing on the boiler, plus he might say "i wouldnt have bought that make" giving himself a ready made excuse if any snags later.

Canucklehead

Good morning: You don't need to go through a 'builder' to get a good price... http://www.energy-smart.org.uk/householder_default.aspx
My OH is a CORGI...if any problems arise with an appliance supplied by the customer eg. manufacturer's defect, delivery failure etc. the time wasted will be billed to the customer and the customer will have to deal with the manufacturer BUT if the OH supplies and fits he accepts responsibility for the problems and absorbs the costs. Arrange the CORGI first, then purchase the boiler.

HTH

Canucklehead

ormus

agree entirely, get the corgi man first then the boiler. tradesmen hate fitting items/makes they dont like. some wont even fit certain makes at any cost!

if you get a worcester or vaillant you should be ok though.

binnie

Sorry if I sound daft, but what is the difference to getting the boiler, then the corgi man, and the corgi man first, then the boiler.

if I got a corgi man, then he said yes to an appointment say for instance in a month, I go out and buy a boiler, what if he doesn;t like what I buy?
Or did you mean, get the Corgi Man to choose the boiler.

Canucklehead

Good morning: Find a CORGI to agree to fit a boiler purchased by you...the CORGI can advise eg. appropriate specification for your needs, personal experience with the boiler/maufacturer i.e. warranty period, service support, price of parts, reputation, value for money..then buy the boiler.

HTH

Canucklehead

economiser

You only need the Corgi registered fitter for the gas work. You can do all the plumbing etc. yourself.

Canucklehead

economiser wrote: »

You only need the Corgi registered fitter for the gas work. You can do all the plumbing etc. yourself.

TBO...many CORGIs (including my OH) would be reluctant to fit a boiler to new water pipework installed by a DIYer or another trade eg. upgraded to meet demands of a combi, condensate drain, venting, flushing of CH system according to manufacturer's specification etc. The OP wants to use existing pipework (the question is..will the existing CH system/updated system provided by another trade or DIYer met the demands of a pressurised system? Many CORGIs would not assume responsibility for someone else's work and would, as a matter of course, add a disclaimer to the quotation . i.e any faults arising would incur additional costs...of course you will find CORGIs who will do anything for quick cash (this attitude is generally reflected in the standard of work and non-compliance with Building Regulations or recommended ' Best Practice')

HTH

Canucklehead

economiser

Canucklehead. - I was only pointing out a fact

Upgrading to meet demands of a combi, condensate drain, venting, flushing of CH system according to manufacturer's specification etc. and using existing pipework and checking that the existing CH system/updated system meets the demands of a pressurised system is nothing to do with gas work. Any plumber or DIYer experienced with heating installations could cope with this. The Corgi tradesman would only be needed for the gas work and only to guarantee the same. Indeed not all heating engineers can afford to become Corgi registered and operate on the basis I have described. Most kitchen fitters operate on the same basis.

Canucklehead

economiser wrote: »

Canucklehead. - I was only pointing out a fact

Upgrading to meet demands of a combi, condensate drain, venting, flushing of CH system according to manufacturer's specification etc. and using existing pipework and checking that the existing CH system/updated system meets the demands of a pressurised system is nothing to do with gas work. Any plumber or DIYer experienced with heating installations could cope with this. The Corgi tradesman would only be needed for the gas work and only to guarantee the same. Indeed not all heating engineers can afford to become Corgi registered and operate on the basis I have described. Most kitchen fitters operate on the same basis.

Good evening: I did not suggest that the aforementioned had anything to do with gaswork, I was outlining a tradesperson's personal preference. i.e. ensuring a correctly installed and commissioned central heating system to the satisfaction of the client. The OP indicated that he/she wanted to reduce costs by purchasing the boiler and I outlined how this might be perceived by a CORGI. All the gas heating engineers we know are CORGI registered...any other scenario would be illegal.

HTH

Canucklehead

scheming_gypsy

i know a gas engineer who'll do a full central heating system for under a grand if you supplied the equipment. Ask around, one of your friends may know a CORGI registered engineer who'll do it a lot cheaper than the 2k you quoted.