How is Boxt so much cheaper?

travis-powers

Ibrahim5 said:

Boiler installation is a massive rip off. The parts will cost about £1K. It will probably be done in a day. They used to be happy earning £1k a day but they obviously want much more now. Boxt gives them lucrative work day after day. They would love to charge £1k a day replacing tap washers but they couldn't get away with that.

Can’t agree more with you!
Recently had mine changed I supplied the boiler and it was a like for like exchange still charged me £900 for less than a days work, I’m happy to pay for experience and I know registration is expensive but it’s taking the pee somewhat!

GDB2222

benson1980 said:

ashe said:

Alnat1 said:

Combi boilers are now thought of as the old way, not modern. In a future where air source heat pumps will warm our houses, a tank is needed to heat water. These will be heated by electricity (possibly solar) as gas is phased out. 

If this is your forever house, it could be a mistake to remove a tank and re-route all the plumbing if this needs to be reversed in 15 years or so time.

I'll happily have a combi boiler for those 15 years rather than going back to having a tank. Realistically they won't be able to force the entire nation to install these within 15 years unless they're going to pay for it - the cost of these systems with current grants is very expensive and you also need new radiators fitting and pipework doing - who's footing the bill? Probably need to sort the fact that most elec is generated with gas as well and therefore much more expensive. 

Then you also need a 2x1 m space external to the property and away from boundaries. Not many people will clamour for that in their back garden! 

Also need a larger tank and people will need to understand that water won't be "hot" like it is today, and that rads will hear ambient temps rather than "heating up" quickly - coming back from holiday early? Best get your jumper on. 

After living with a tank in our old house, they can prize my combi out of my cold dead hands, hated the things. 

Older gravity fed systems/tanks- yes. Modern unvented cylinder with system boiler- I agree with Alnat. Tank allows for other heating options. People love combis and seem to be the first, and only, option people explore when updating but now we’ve upgraded our cylinder and retained our boiler the whole setup is much quieter, we can run two showers at once, we have more future proofing options…..

And, if the boiler falls, you switch on the immersion heater. So, you’ll still have hot water.

CRISPIANNE3

We have a service agreement with BG to service our Valiant combo boiler. It is 21 years old still very liable. However the BG engineer who came to service it a few weeks ago said the main parts were no longer available. However doing some research this was not the case. I think they just want me to get a new combo from them.

Eldi_Dos

K_S said:

I should have done this much earlier but have finally got around to replacing our 20+ year old boiler with a modern combi, and installing the new boiler in the airing cupboard that now houses the hot water tank.

I got an all-in quote from Boxt for under 4k and a choice of installation dates all through summer.

I got two local heating firms to visit and give an all-in quote (exact same boiler model) they both quoted between 5-5.5k with earliest available dates in November.

I called Boxt and ran through the quote again in detail to confirm that they wouldn't surprise me with any extra charges and to confirm that the quote included siting the boiler in a new place (it was part of the questionnaire and added a few hundred pounds to it). So still below 4k.

I confess to knowing little to nothing about boilers and heating systems. What I don't understand is, what's the catch? Surely there must be some reason for such a large difference in cost for the same boiler and the same work?

Did you ever go ahead with this and if you did could you share your experience?

FrankRizzo

ashe said:

Alnat1 said:

Combi boilers are now thought of as the old way, not modern. In a future where air source heat pumps will warm our houses, a tank is needed to heat water. These will be heated by electricity (possibly solar) as gas is phased out. 

If this is your forever house, it could be a mistake to remove a tank and re-route all the plumbing if this needs to be reversed in 15 years or so time.

I'll happily have a combi boiler for those 15 years rather than going back to having a tank. Realistically they won't be able to force the entire nation to install these within 15 years unless they're going to pay for it - the cost of these systems with current grants is very expensive and you also need new radiators fitting and pipework doing - who's footing the bill? Probably need to sort the fact that most elec is generated with gas as well and therefore much more expensive. 

Then you also need a 2x1 m space external to the property and away from boundaries. Not many people will clamour for that in their back garden! 

Also need a larger tank and people will need to understand that water won't be "hot" like it is today, and that rads will hear ambient temps rather than "heating up" quickly - coming back from holiday early? Best get your jumper on. 

After living with a tank in our old house, they can prize my combi out of my cold dead hands, hated the things. 

Sorry if silly question but why do you need new radiators fitted?

I have 20 year old traditional boiler with tank - why do the new heat pump systems require a bigger tank? If thats the case I don't think ill be able to fit it where the existing tank is.

Also see the external space required - is it possible to mount it on a gable end as my gable end is not really in view of the neighbours, etc and therefore won't be unsightly.

macman

Heat pumps output hot water at a lower temp than conventional CH, so you need oversized rads in most properties.

daveyjp

CRISPIANNE3 said:

We have a service agreement with BG to service our Valiant combo boiler. It is 21 years old still very liable. However the BG engineer who came to service it a few weeks ago said the main parts were no longer available. However doing some research this was not the case. I think they just want me to get a new combo from them.

Standard approach when you incentivise enginners to sell new boilers.

You can also probably save a decent amount by cancelling the BG agreement and seeing if you can add home emergency cover to your home insurance.

ashe

FrankRizzo said:

ashe said:

Alnat1 said:

Combi boilers are now thought of as the old way, not modern. In a future where air source heat pumps will warm our houses, a tank is needed to heat water. These will be heated by electricity (possibly solar) as gas is phased out. 

If this is your forever house, it could be a mistake to remove a tank and re-route all the plumbing if this needs to be reversed in 15 years or so time.

I'll happily have a combi boiler for those 15 years rather than going back to having a tank. Realistically they won't be able to force the entire nation to install these within 15 years unless they're going to pay for it - the cost of these systems with current grants is very expensive and you also need new radiators fitting and pipework doing - who's footing the bill? Probably need to sort the fact that most elec is generated with gas as well and therefore much more expensive. 

Then you also need a 2x1 m space external to the property and away from boundaries. Not many people will clamour for that in their back garden! 

Also need a larger tank and people will need to understand that water won't be "hot" like it is today, and that rads will hear ambient temps rather than "heating up" quickly - coming back from holiday early? Best get your jumper on. 

After living with a tank in our old house, they can prize my combi out of my cold dead hands, hated the things. 

Sorry if silly question but why do you need new radiators fitted?

I have 20 year old traditional boiler with tank - why do the new heat pump systems require a bigger tank? If thats the case I don't think ill be able to fit it where the existing tank is.

Also see the external space required - is it possible to mount it on a gable end as my gable end is not really in view of the neighbours, etc and therefore won't be unsightly.

Lower water temp and takes longer to heat. It's not like now where your rads are sizzling hot if you have them set that way. Lower temp water so needs more surface area to radiate the heat. 

bris

4k is still£2.1k profit. Some companies are more expensive. They pay the installers £400, that was the last I heard it may be a little more now.

BG rely on the big brand reputation and the fact they can offer low monthly payments for the rip off prices.

Boxt aren't a bad company you wont have any problems with them.