Buying a new boiler online

martin1976

Hi all. 

I have lived in my property for 22 years and the boiler was here when I moved in, so it's probably 25+ years old. It's starting to play up and I don't think it's very efficient so my plan is to have a combi conversion and move the boiler into the loft.

This will mean I gain the airing cupboard space. I won't have an unsightly boiler in the kitchen and I won't heat a tank of water to sit there and go cold every day.

I had a local guy come and price up, all in around £5700. This seems excessive to me.

I discovered a few online places that give a "fixed price". One is boiler central, the other is warmzilla. They quoted me £3300 and £3100 respectively. 

These places offer finance deals. I have cash saved so am not planning on using these services, but my thinking is that they probably make on the finance where the local guy won't be able to offer this, which is why they can do the whole thing for less?

Has anyone used these places or similar?

I have looked at the online reviews and these seem decent, but I'm not sure how trustworthy they are. With a saving of 2.5k on the job I'm thinking of going for it. I can pay by credit card for extra security and then clear it all off straight away.

Any advice or other considerations welcome.

theoretica

I got my boiler through Heatable - their customer service and organisation was excellent, the local engineer they subcontracted to actually fit the boiler was OK but no better than that...

martin1976

Just had a look on their site. That's the sort of thing I'm looking at, seems very similar.

SaverRate

Have a look at BOXT, Worcester Bosch hold shares in them. I used them and they were very good!

BUFF

martin1976 said:

Hi all. 

I have lived in my property for 22 years and the boiler was here when I moved in, so it's probably 25+ years old. It's starting to play up and I don't think it's very efficient so my plan is to have a combi conversion and move the boiler into the loft.

This will mean I gain the airing cupboard space. I won't have an unsightly boiler in the kitchen and I won't heat a tank of water to sit there and go cold every day.

I had a local guy come and price up, all in around £5700. This seems excessive to me.

I discovered a few online places that give a "fixed price". One is boiler central, the other is warmzilla. They quoted me £3300 and £3100 respectively. 

These places offer finance deals. I have cash saved so am not planning on using these services, but my thinking is that they probably make on the finance where the local guy won't be able to offer this, which is why they can do the whole thing for less?

Has anyone used these places or similar?

I have looked at the online reviews and these seem decent, but I'm not sure how trustworthy they are. With a saving of 2.5k on the job I'm thinking of going for it. I can pay by credit card for extra security and then clear it all off straight away.

Any advice or other considerations welcome.

I strongly suspect that their "fixed price" probably doesn't cover the changes that you want but more of a straight swap. 
Given the changes that you want I would want someone to visit & survey first.

martin1976

BUFF said:

martin1976 said:

Hi all. 

I have lived in my property for 22 years and the boiler was here when I moved in, so it's probably 25+ years old. It's starting to play up and I don't think it's very efficient so my plan is to have a combi conversion and move the boiler into the loft.

This will mean I gain the airing cupboard space. I won't have an unsightly boiler in the kitchen and I won't heat a tank of water to sit there and go cold every day.

I had a local guy come and price up, all in around £5700. This seems excessive to me.

I discovered a few online places that give a "fixed price". One is boiler central, the other is warmzilla. They quoted me £3300 and £3100 respectively. 

These places offer finance deals. I have cash saved so am not planning on using these services, but my thinking is that they probably make on the finance where the local guy won't be able to offer this, which is why they can do the whole thing for less?

Has anyone used these places or similar?

I have looked at the online reviews and these seem decent, but I'm not sure how trustworthy they are. With a saving of 2.5k on the job I'm thinking of going for it. I can pay by credit card for extra security and then clear it all off straight away.

Any advice or other considerations welcome.

I strongly suspect that their "fixed price" probably doesn't cover the changes that you want but more of a straight swap. 
Given the changes that you want I would want someone to visit & survey first.

It definitely does include relocation. It's on the confirmation email, and is an additional £600.

martin1976

SaverRate said:

Have a look at BOXT, Worcester Bosch hold shares in them. I used them and they were very good!

These are similar. Come out a bit more expensive with a few years less warranty.

Glad to hear they sorted you out. It's encouraging to hear the online services are ok send people used them without issues.

Thanks 👍

Bendy_House

Do they know for certain that it's being relocated to the loft? Where will the flue be going, and what is access like on the outside?

BUFF

also gas pipe move/sizing & where is the condensate going?

martin1976

Yes to all. I put on there flue on outer wall as I have gable end.

The stack pipe is in the loft so the condenser pipe is easy enough.

shiraz99

martin1976 said:

Yes to all. I put on there flue on outer wall as I have gable end.

The stack pipe is in the loft so the condenser pipe is easy enough.

Is the loft boarded and easily accessible? Are you going to need other things doing, new radiators for example. Also you may have to factor in extra for the removal of the cylinder as I doubt that would be included in the price.

Yes these places can be cheaper, particularly as they can supply the hardware at near cost but you get what you pay for so you need to make sure and get them to confirm exactly what they are going to do for the price.