Quotes for a New Gas Combi Boiler Installation

Leodogger

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Leodogger said:

Well actually this plumber just did all that preparatory work today after moving a radiator as we were having a few problems with the heating system, so he did a power flush, put in rust inhibitor and then said that the flue was not strapped in the loft and came to do it today, so all that preparatory work has already been done.    He said our flue was not up to spec and that the previous gas service engineer should have picked it up as it would fail an inspection, which is why he offered to do it.

The plumber did what he was asked; moved a rad, carried out a P/F (I bet the rad had a fair bit of sludge in it?), added inhibitor (it was lack of this wot allowed the sludge to occur) and fully secured the flue in the loft.

That's all 'fair enough' - he did the job required.

Could I ask how long all this took, and how much he charged?

Now he's been asked to quote for a new boiler. It's a shame he bothered to secure the existing flue, and that's gonna have to all come out again and a new one installed in its place.

The P/F was presumably needed, and sludge in a modern combi boiler is bad news - it blocks the secondary exchanger - so that would also need doing anyway.

The quote is probably a little on the high side, but not hugely. As pointed out by someone else, he should really flush the system out on completion anyway to clear away any chemicals or particles from the swap. This also means that the inhibitor he put in will be lost - hey-ho! However, it isn't the most straight-forward of swaps since you have a vertical flue which presumably goes through the roof? What is access like up there?

So, the quote isn't criminal (not like British Gas for example...), but if he suggests the P/F has been done and no further flushing is required, or the system water is fine and the inhibitor in it will do the job, then the quote is looking a bit high again.

Has he fitted a magnetic filter?

Anyhoo, I'd strongly suggest you forget you buying the boiler but instead just obtain two more quotes for complete installs of 30kW Vaillants or Veismanns (or W-B if you wish - they are ok). Then you'll know where you stand with your current plumber.

He spent a day doing it all and came back for a couple of hours to fit the flue straps but as he offered to do that for nothing he only charged £30 for the straps and £550 to remove an old radiator and cap it off and install a 2 mtr length double radiator which he piped across the loft and down the inside of the lounge.   As I say, he also flushed the system and put in a rust inhibitor.   As far as I know he didn't fit a magnetic filter.   The flue does go through the roof.    As you say the flush and inhibitor would be wasted now if we had a new boiler fitted, so we won't bother now for a couple of years, provided the boiler doesn't break down.

neilmcl

fezster said:

neilmcl said:

Leodogger said:

chrisw said:

Run through the questions on Boxt and see what quote that gives which will give you another idea of likely cost. You dont have to enter any personal details.

https://www.boxt.co.uk/

Just went on there but that price includes installation by THEM.    I would want the boiler supplied separately and installed by who I select.  As long as a qualified plumber installs it and it is new out of the box, there should be no problem with the guarantee, otherwise how do plumbers merchants sell boilers to the public.   By the way, we are pensioners and don't have oodles of savings so have to watch the pennies LOL!

Only if the installer registers it, there's no guarantee of them doing that on a boiler the customer supplied.

Presumably the installer will commission the boiler - otherwise it would be illegal to use. The warranty is dependent on the boiler being commissioned by a competent person (usually Gas Safe Registered).

The warranty is dependant in the installer registering it.

bris

No respectable gas safe engineer would ever recommend using an old flue with a new boiler let alone one from a different make all together.

As for the inhibitor get a grip it's 15 quid for gods sake, you want to put of a 2700  job for 15 quid?

Leodogger

bris said:

No respectable gas safe engineer would ever recommend using an old flue with a new boiler let alone one from a different make all together.

As for the inhibitor get a grip it's 15 quid for gods sake, you want to put of a 2700  job for 15 quid?

I didn't say he recommended using an old flue !

fezster

neilmcl said:

fezster said:

neilmcl said:

Leodogger said:

chrisw said:

Run through the questions on Boxt and see what quote that gives which will give you another idea of likely cost. You dont have to enter any personal details.

https://www.boxt.co.uk/

Just went on there but that price includes installation by THEM.    I would want the boiler supplied separately and installed by who I select.  As long as a qualified plumber installs it and it is new out of the box, there should be no problem with the guarantee, otherwise how do plumbers merchants sell boilers to the public.   By the way, we are pensioners and don't have oodles of savings so have to watch the pennies LOL!

Only if the installer registers it, there's no guarantee of them doing that on a boiler the customer supplied.

Presumably the installer will commission the boiler - otherwise it would be illegal to use. The warranty is dependent on the boiler being commissioned by a competent person (usually Gas Safe Registered).

The warranty is dependant in the installer registering it.

It may differ between manufacturers.

I had some last minute problems with my GSR (he did a runner after the system had some problems). However, as the boiler had been commissioned (and the benchmark page filled out), that is all that was required from Vaillant to honour the warranty.

Leodogger

neilmcl said:

fezster said:

neilmcl said:

Leodogger said:

chrisw said:

Run through the questions on Boxt and see what quote that gives which will give you another idea of likely cost. You dont have to enter any personal details.

https://www.boxt.co.uk/

Just went on there but that price includes installation by THEM.    I would want the boiler supplied separately and installed by who I select.  As long as a qualified plumber installs it and it is new out of the box, there should be no problem with the guarantee, otherwise how do plumbers merchants sell boilers to the public.   By the way, we are pensioners and don't have oodles of savings so have to watch the pennies LOL!

Only if the installer registers it, there's no guarantee of them doing that on a boiler the customer supplied.

Presumably the installer will commission the boiler - otherwise it would be illegal to use. The warranty is dependent on the boiler being commissioned by a competent person (usually Gas Safe Registered).

The warranty is dependant in the installer registering it.

Well when I get the quote I will ask.   My sister bought her own boiler and her plumber never mentioned not registering it for the warranty she said and she is very fussy.   Perhaps I will get her plumber.   No probs.

fezster

Leodogger said:

As far as I know he didn't fit a magnetic filter.   The flue does go through the roof.    As you say the flush and inhibitor would be wasted now if we had a new boiler fitted, so we won't bother now for a couple of years, provided the boiler doesn't break down.

It doesn't sound like he did a proper powerflush (using a powerflush machine and spending at least half a day going around each radiator ensuring it is sludge free).

In which case, all you've really lost is the cost of a 1L bottle of inhibitor (about £15).

Leodogger

fezster said:

Leodogger said:

As far as I know he didn't fit a magnetic filter.   The flue does go through the roof.    As you say the flush and inhibitor would be wasted now if we had a new boiler fitted, so we won't bother now for a couple of years, provided the boiler doesn't break down.

It doesn't sound like he did a proper powerflush (using a powerflush machine and spending at least half a day going around each radiator ensuring it is sludge free).

In which case, all you've really lost is the cost of a 1L bottle of inhibitor (about £15).

As far as I am aware he did everything he was supposed to do.   He spent hours draining down the system and then once refilled going around checking every rad and bleeding them for at least an hour and a half.    He arrived at 9.00.a.m. and didn't leave until 7.30.p.m.

Jeepers_Creepers

Leodogger said:

Jeepers_Creepers said:

Leo, place a pan or bucket under the cold kitchen (or garden) tap and turn it on FULL. Let it run for 10 seconds. Measure the number of litres produced, and 'times' that by 6.

That will give you 'litres-per-minute'. Report back with your results, please.

Why should I do that ?

Lol! Sorry - I didn't explain! It's to measure your cold supply flow rate - that way we'll have a good idea how well a combi will work, especially a larger one.

fezster

Leodogger said:

fezster said:

Leodogger said:

As far as I know he didn't fit a magnetic filter.   The flue does go through the roof.    As you say the flush and inhibitor would be wasted now if we had a new boiler fitted, so we won't bother now for a couple of years, provided the boiler doesn't break down.

It doesn't sound like he did a proper powerflush (using a powerflush machine and spending at least half a day going around each radiator ensuring it is sludge free).

In which case, all you've really lost is the cost of a 1L bottle of inhibitor (about £15).

As far as I am aware he did everything he was supposed to do.   He spent hours draining down the system and then once refilled going around checking every rad and bleeding them for at least an hour and a half.    He arrived at 9.00.a.m. and didn't leave until 7.30.p.m.

Draining down and refilling (+bleeding) is not a powerflush, though.

Did he have a machine hooked up with a giant magnet on it pumping water around and clearing the sludge build up? He may have gone around the radiators with a rubber mallet to try and dislodge the build up, also.