Relocating boiler from 1st floor bathroom to the loft ?

SuseOrm

I’m wondering if this is likely to be astronomically expensive if anybody has any experience of it ?  I’ve seen on Google quotes of 500 quid which seems unlikely.  

The boiler is currently based in the bathroom in a cupboard but I need the extra space out of there for my dream bathroom.  The ideal solution because I’m planning to get the loft boarded anyway would be to get it up there Plan B would be downstairs in the utility room I’m trying to weigh out which would be the least hassle. The boiler is less than two years old so it seems madness to replace it all together.  

Bendy_House

Get quotes for both! Bear in mind, tho', that some plumbers 'might' be more reluctant to do the loft job just 'cos it's more hassle - and a lot more exercise...

If the loft location is pretty much directly above its current position, it should be too hard. Complexities are, tho' - how to exit the flue (is there a brick gable wall so might not even need scaffolding, or is the only way through the actual roof - a lot more work), where does the condensate drain to?, and whether the whole gas supply pipe might need upgrading because of its extra length. 

Pleased you are having the loft floored - that would be a requirement. Also, good lighting and enough space to work in.

Bottom line - I'd expect the loft location to be significantly more, but you won't know until you ask. Then it's your call whether it's worth it.

grumbler

SuseOrm said:

I’m wondering if this is likely to be astronomically expensive if anybody has any experience of it ?  I’ve seen on Google quotes of 500 quid which seems unlikely. 

Even installing a new boiler to the existing place can cost more.

SuseOrm

Well it sounds like a bloody nightmare all round I think I might have to rethink this 

Bendy_House

You'll only know if you ask

GDB2222

Boilers create quite a bit of warmth when running. I’d want that in the main part of the house, rather than the loft.  

Arfa__

Had a boiler moved from downstairs kitchen to the loft of our old mid-terrace ex-council house several years ago. We were putting a conservatory on the back which clashed with the boiler flue and after some debate we chose to move the boiler up into the loft. It was a great plan, great to free up space in the kitchen (which was already tiny) and enabled us to fit a nice big conservatory that covered most of the width of the house.

This was around 2012 mind, but we paid £1100 for the job. So, compare that as you will, given recent inflation etc.

This entailed running pipes top to bottom for gas, cold/hot water and central heating, getting a roofer in to fit the flue through the roof tiles, filling in the old walls, the boiler move and re-commissioning etc. We already had an electric supply in the loft so that helped.

Note, most gas engineers won't touch the job (or later attend to any maintenance or breakdowns) unless there is suitable flooring and lighting in the loft. More recent building regs also insist on a fitted loft ladder. One engineer reckoned this ladder should also have a handrail, but I'm not 100% sure how critical that is.

Our engineer ran the condensate pipe into the guttering, but I was since told that's a big no-no. And it can cause hassle if you get a roof covered in snow and it freezes - the boiler will cut out if it can't drain (this happened a couple of times!) I also had various differences of opinion since as to whether it's ok for the flue to exit the roof horizontally or if it must be vertical. We had the former, but one engineer later insisted it should be vertical when I later had a quote for a replacement. I'm no expert, so not sure if he was just inflating the quote or just being more rigorous...

Note also, we once had the limescale filter thing break and had gushing water coming down from the loft into the stairwell below. :-(  Not horrific, thankfully we were home and could run for the stopcock promptly and so no more serious than messed-up decor. I'm told this is rare, but I guess be aware, sometimes you can get water leaks from a boiler...

Overall, yes, there is some hassle. But in hindsight, given the limitations of our old house and the extra space the move enabled, I think it was the right choice.

Cheerio90

We had a boiler relocated last year. It was in the roof space of our downstairs toilet, really inaccessible and it was moved to above the toilet, so approximately 1 1/2 metres down and across. 

This included new pipes and various work to outside as well as cost £1,300 

Bendy_House

Good point, Arfa - it'll obviously increase the risk of water damage - it has more ceilings to come through! You can pretty much guarantee that a boiler will leak to some extent over its life.

You can buy trays for just this job - they fit under the boiler, and catch the spillage. Drained off via a hose or pipe, which could share the condensate pipe, I guess.

Most boilers are well insulated too, but there's still bound to be some loss as GDB pointed out. It could be built in to a purpose-made cupboard, which would help, and also make it even less likely for frost damage.

SuseOrm

I must admit I’ve gone off the whole idea I think I’m gonna wait until I build my extension to get myself a bit more space downstairs by which point will probably need a new Boiler anyway but thank you to those that commented it was good to be able to think it through logically with some advice

DRP

We had our boiler moved into the loft during our loft conversion last year. Itemised cost was 600 or thereabouts to move it. 

Quite likely it was cheaper as it was done by the loft co during the rest of the work.