Quotes for a New Gas Combi Boiler Installation

john.h

I flushed my system myself. It was easy enough. I drained the system and fitted a magnaclean filter. I purchased a Magnecleanse system cleaner (£330)and a bottle of system cleaner £12 and connected it to the magnaclean filter. 

  It took about 4 hours to clean the full system and flush it all out with fresh water. I then added the inhibitor that came free with the Magnacleanse. 

  Next day put it on EBay, and sold it for £315 with £1 selling fees.. 
  

 

john.h

I also got a price for a boiler swap, between £400-£500. That’s for any boiler but if it was Worcester Bosch it would come with the extended warranty 

Leodogger

fezster said:

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. 

I honestly don't know, I wasn't watching him, all I noticed was that he had a pipe running from one of the rads to the outside draining it down.   Haven't a clue what he did after that except I saw him bleeding them one after the other for ages.

jefaz07

Leodogger said:

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.

I wouldn’t stop the install on that basis. 

When it comes to being done you will still have to pay for that stuff. And the manufacturers are increasing prices all the time, Baxi went up 5% fairly recently. 

Like I said earlier, the price isn’t necessarily high. Depends on what is needing done. 

I have just done a quote at £2600 for a 26 Vogue Max, Vertical Flue with Flashing, Stand-off Kit and Nest. 

A bit of pipework etc but that’s the basics. 

So not too far off your man. 

Leodogger

jefaz07 said:

Leodogger said:

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.

I wouldn’t stop the install on that basis. 

When it comes to being done you will still have to pay for that stuff. And the manufacturers are increasing prices all the time, Baxi went up 5% fairly recently. 

Like I said earlier, the price isn’t necessarily high. Depends on what is needing done. 

I have just done a quote at £2600 for a 26 Vogue Max, Vertical Flue with Flashing, Stand-off Kit and Nest. 

A bit of pipework etc but that’s the basics. 

So not too far off your man. 

I'm wondering whether to have one at all, since the Government is threatening to ban them within the next few years, I won't be able to buy yet another one then, that's if I am still alivew, I am 71 now !! LOL

jefaz07

Leodogger said:

jefaz07 said:

Leodogger said:

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.

I wouldn’t stop the install on that basis. 

When it comes to being done you will still have to pay for that stuff. And the manufacturers are increasing prices all the time, Baxi went up 5% fairly recently. 

Like I said earlier, the price isn’t necessarily high. Depends on what is needing done. 

I have just done a quote at £2600 for a 26 Vogue Max, Vertical Flue with Flashing, Stand-off Kit and Nest. 

A bit of pipework etc but that’s the basics. 

So not too far off your man. 

I'm wondering whether to have one at all, since the Government is threatening to ban them within the next few years, I won't be able to buy yet another one then, that's if I am still alivew, I am 71 now !! LOL

And still going strong I’ll bet. 

Gas won’t be getting banned anytime soon, the talk was new builds would, but that’s some years away. 

They are attempting to add a hydrogen blend to has as a trial in Gateshead. 

The blend is only 20% so works on normal domestic boilers. Again, this is just staring. Gas will see out my lifetime never mind yours. 

Get the job done and be worry free for the next 10 years. 

Leodogger

jefaz07 said:

Leodogger said:

jefaz07 said:

Leodogger said:

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.

I wouldn’t stop the install on that basis. 

When it comes to being done you will still have to pay for that stuff. And the manufacturers are increasing prices all the time, Baxi went up 5% fairly recently. 

Like I said earlier, the price isn’t necessarily high. Depends on what is needing done. 

I have just done a quote at £2600 for a 26 Vogue Max, Vertical Flue with Flashing, Stand-off Kit and Nest. 

A bit of pipework etc but that’s the basics. 

So not too far off your man. 

I'm wondering whether to have one at all, since the Government is threatening to ban them within the next few years, I won't be able to buy yet another one then, that's if I am still alivew, I am 71 now !! LOL

And still going strong I’ll bet. 

Gas won’t be getting banned anytime soon, the talk was new builds would, but that’s some years away. 

They are attempting to add a hydrogen blend to has as a trial in Gateshead. 

The blend is only 20% so works on normal domestic boilers. Again, this is just staring. Gas will see out my lifetime never mind yours. 

Get the job done and be worry free for the next 10 years. 

Probably will get it done next year, can't afford it this year, we have had so much expense (had to get a new roof!!).

southcoastrgi

WB really aren't as good as they try to make themselves out to be, installers fit them because everyone has heard of them so they are an easy sell, Intergas/Atag/Viessman I bet you haven't heard of any of them but they are all far better boilers than WB.

No you can't use your existing flue 

Leodogger

jefaz07 said:

Leodogger said:

jefaz07 said:

Leodogger said:

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.

I wouldn’t stop the install on that basis. 

When it comes to being done you will still have to pay for that stuff. And the manufacturers are increasing prices all the time, Baxi went up 5% fairly recently. 

Like I said earlier, the price isn’t necessarily high. Depends on what is needing done. 

I have just done a quote at £2600 for a 26 Vogue Max, Vertical Flue with Flashing, Stand-off Kit and Nest. 

A bit of pipework etc but that’s the basics. 

So not too far off your man. 

I'm wondering whether to have one at all, since the Government is threatening to ban them within the next few years, I won't be able to buy yet another one then, that's if I am still alivew, I am 71 now !! LOL

And still going strong I’ll bet. 

Gas won’t be getting banned anytime soon, the talk was new builds would, but that’s some years away. 

They are attempting to add a hydrogen blend to has as a trial in Gateshead. 

The blend is only 20% so works on normal domestic boilers. Again, this is just staring. Gas will see out my lifetime never mind yours. 

Get the job done and be worry free for the next 10 years. 

I am now having doubts that the plumber we had was as good as he made out.   Last night the heating was on full blast, rads too hot to touch and when we inspected the readings on the boiler, the water temp and rad temp had been turned up to full, despite me telling him that the previous owners had left instructions not to wang the heating up to full (they even put markings on the dial to stay between) because it would cause the pressure to increase too high on the bar readin.   So the water pressure on the "bar setting" which we read in our boiler guidance, should be between 1.0 and 1.5, was in the red which is supposed to be dangerous, or so we were told by a previous engineer.    My husband attempted to relieve the pressure on the tap and the boiler started banging so we had to turn the heating off altogether.    We have now turned the water temps on the Central Heating down to where it was previously and left the water temperature almost as high as the plumber put it and the bar reading has dropped back down to 1.0

What I want to know is, did the plumber really know what he was doing ??? 

Jeepers_Creepers

Leodogger said:

I am now having doubts that the plumber we had was as good as he made out.   Last night the heating was on full blast, rads too hot to touch and when we inspected the readings on the boiler, the water temp and rad temp had been turned up to full, despite me telling him that the previous owners had left instructions not to wang the heating up to full (they even put markings on the dial to stay between) because it would cause the pressure to increase too high on the bar readin.   So the water pressure on the "bar setting" which we read in our boiler guidance, should be between 1.0 and 1.5, was in the red which is supposed to be dangerous, or so we were told by a previous engineer.    My husband attempted to relieve the pressure on the tap and the boiler started banging so we had to turn the heating off altogether.    We have now turned the water temps on the Central Heating down to where it was previously and left the water temperature almost as high as the plumber put it and the bar reading has dropped back down to 1.0

What I want to know is, did the plumber really know what he was doing ??? 

I don't know why he turned these controls up to max, unless it was as part of checking the system. Perhaps he just forgot to turn them back down?

This shouldn't be 'dangerous' - there might well be times you'll want these at max, such as in a very cold winter - and this shouldn't become dangerous, or else the boiler instructions would warn against this...

The fact your system pressure increased when doing this suggests a different issue, like the expansion vessel isn't doing its job as well as it should. But, again, not 'dangerous' (or shouldn't be). The answer is to turn the controls back down... You've done this. Cool.

When the pressure gauge goes into the 'red', it means 'it's too high, man', but not actually 'danger'. It only becomes a problem if it approaches 3 bar, whereupon this opens a safety valve. What did yours get to?

(The previous owner advised against turning it up too high for this reason. That doesn't make him more qualified than your plumber, just that he found out what happens when you do turn it up too high - that's all...)

Anyhoo, I think you are essentially back to your starting point - a semi-dodgy boiler that'll likely keep chugging along, but which will need replacing in the not too distant future. So, do your research and get at least two new GasSafes out to quote.

Consider Viessmann as well as other makes.