Boiler Replacement

I would have said yes until I looked up the price of a Vaillant Combi. If all the pipework is there and a just a new flue then I would say a day's work. Plus 1/2 day for future niggles.

This is a DIY group, have you thought of fitting one yourself?

Personally I would go for heat only, they last soooo much longer, where the only moving parts are a fan and gas valve.

British Gas is a rip-off. Bill

You wont get one fitted to a reasonable standard for £1800. The boiler is £1000+. Controllers are £100+, you will have to have thermostatic valves fitted if not any already, the system will need flushing properly, there will need to be some sort of filter for it to qualify for the Warranty. That means, if rad valves needed, the parts will be around £1500, possibly more depending on the boiler. Add in the digging for a soakaway, and £2800+ seems about right.

Were BG going to fit a more respected brand?

Look on line for the price of the boiler. Add the cost of the flue, the magnetic filter*, the controller and any other parts.

Does the quote include a radiator flush - probably very necessary on an old system.

You can then possibly judge if the labour costs are reasonable.

Last year I accepted a quote of around £3.3K for a Vaillant boiler

This included: Removal and disposal of the old boiler. Removal of a loft expansion tank and associated pipework (open system changed to a closed system). Fitting the new boiler in a new location with flue going through an exterior wall instead of the old boiler using a lined old chimney. New pipework associated with the new location and fitting condensate pipe. This included extending the 22mmm gas supply by approx 2.5 m. Extending the electrics to existing controller. Power flush of the 20 year old radiator system with the supply of cleaning chemicals beforehand and inhibitor after new boiler install. Recommended magnetic filter (I already had one but not the boiler manufacturer's recommended one).

Labour was one long day for the boiler swap and location modification and one short half day for the flush (7 radiator system).

In June 2021 we had a WB Greenstar 24Ri heat only boiler replaced. Cost £2460. Included "magnaclense", a new flue and bricking up the old flue. Took less than a day. Pump and other gubbins are in an airing cupboard so only needed a basic boiler. There was a £220 just in case charge if they needed to swap from 15 to 22mm for the gas supply which wasn't in the end necessary.

Of course that should have said "an old boiler replaced with a 24Ri". It's been a long week...

Thermostatic valves are not a necessity. Maybe a good idea but not required for a boiler replacement.

A Vaillant 835 with flue is about £1,800 at the moment... Depending on what controller etc, and the cost of the soakaway, that is going to be ~2k for materials alone. So not as steep as it might seem at the outset.

Given the price of energy at the moment, you would be costing yourself more by not doing everything to your advantage to control fuel costs.

I would suggest fitting weather compensation at the same time and possibly splitting into more than one heating zone if it makes sense for the property.

A year ago I had a WB 15ri heat-only boiler installed, to replace an ancient Potterton Suprima. Magnaclean filter, some pipework for boiler feed/return, new flue, new boxing-in, condensate pipework to sink trap, new valve for the F&E tank, new flexi pipes to the towel rail. Boiler fitting and commissioning took 12 hours, a short Saturday morning for the woodwork. Total cost £1670.

Plus a flue kit, even if the existing vent is used. Price for a flush can vary according to how it's done. Not sure Jeff mentioned digging for the condensate tube.

Assuming it's a straight swap of one combi for another with no new pipework, the prices Jeff quoted seem a bit high, especially as this is "low" season for heating.

When I had my combi replaced, I asked for quotes to show parts and labour separately; also an estimate the duration. It's easy then to see what rate is charged for labour.

It's been a Building Regs. requirement for a year now:

I doubt it is a combi if it's a 33 year old Potterton. It'll probably be a big cast iron lump.

I suspect its not a retrospective though. They may be required on new builds, but not on a like for like swap of a boiler

It is indeed, reminds me of my ex-mother in law :-)

Read the links. Must be done now on a boiler change.

In my experience for anyone who comes by recommendation there isn't a low season. Granted when CH are first switched on there may be a greater demand but tradespeople also take their holidays and if they have kids mainly during school holidays.

When I had my boiler replaced I to join at the back of long queue after accepting the quote.

How did you dispose of her?

Well, I'd suggest that its the same problem of buying your groceries at the corner shop, vs the supermarket. Large organisations can buy in bulk and get a discount, a local operator cannot. Brian