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A decent boiler is a necessity in the UK. Buying a cheap boiler is often a false economy, and costs can quickly mount up if a boiler fails in the middle of winter. To avoid such a fate, we always recommend investing in a good-quality boiler that won’t let you down when you need it most.
In this article, we’ll go through everything you need to know before you buy a new gas boiler. As well as the gas boiler cost, there are a few basics you’ll want to know about which will help you choose the best possible boiler for your property.
We’ll explain what to consider before making a purchase, what’s involved in the installation, and more. The price you pay is not cut and dried as if you were ordering an installation from a catalogue. Therefore we first need to talk about boiler types before we can estimate a range of costs.
The Different Types of New Gas Boilers in the UK
- A combi combination boiler (mid-range price £800 – £1,100) is the most compact because it does not have a storage tank and heats water on demand. Installation is quick. Perfect for a shower or washing up!
- A conventional boiler (mid-range £1,000 – £2,500) has a cylinder or tank where it stores hot water for immediate use, or to keep the radiators purring all day and night long.
- A system boiler (mid-range £900 – £1,500) is a bit of both. It has heating components incorporated inside but it doesn’t need a tank in the loft.
If you have online gas, choose the one of the three that suits you best. Bear in mind though that replacing with a similar type usually makes installation faster and cheaper. If you don’t have gas then you may need to investigate an oil-fired central heating system.
What’s the Best New Gas Boiler Size to Go For and What Will it Cost?
A gas safe engineer is always the best person to ask for advice because they are fully trained and registered. Expect them to ask questions about your property and how your family will be using the boiler. Typical questions to consider include:
- How much water do you use every day? Clearly a family home needs more than a tiny apartment. Your kids will appreciate a conventional boiler that keeps the place warm and the bathwater piping hot.
- How much space do you have? If you have a loft for the storage tank, then the conventional boiler won’t need much more room downstairs than a combi or system one. If you live in the middle of an apartment block then perhaps you should go for a smaller unit.
- Where Do You Want to Put the Heating Unit? You’ll have less disruption and an easier installation if you put the new boiler where the old one was. Gas fitters charge by the hour for labour and that should mean a saving for you. A new gas boiler can go in any room with sufficient ventilation and a suitable flue.
Choose and Find a Competent Installer for Your New Gas Boiler
Once you have decided on the type of boiler you want, your next requirement is a gas safe engineer who knows what they are about. Here’s a link to the official Gas Safe Register. Enter your details and choose the product type ‘boiler’ to find an engineer near you.
How to Get Started and What Happens Next
It stands to reason that things are hectic during winter when the boiler industry faces peak demand. So you’re unlikely to encounter special offers and discounts when it’s freezing cold outside.
If you’re shopping for a new boiler in the height of summer though, you may be able to arrange a small discount. It could well pay to plan ahead, so make sure you remember to ask. As an added bonus there will be less inconvenience from cold water while the engineer is installing the new boiler if you choose to plan your installation during the warmer months.
The Day Has Arrived: Your New Boiler Is Waiting in the Van
The gas safe installer begins with a pre-work inspection. They’ll ask you to walk them through the house, showing them how many boilers and bathrooms you have, where your boiler and flue are positioned, and what the water pressure’s like.
If you are changing like for like, or the pipes are otherwise in position the job should not take longer than a day, although the house may not be fully warm yet when you tuck up in bed.
However, if it’s a two-day job you may like to consider overnighting with friends, or taking a room in a local B&B. Always insist the installer gives you a run through of the boiler controls, and hands over the paperwork especially the handbook and guarantee.
How Much Does a New Gas Boiler Cost to Install?
When you consider the benefits of a new gas boiler, and all the work that’s involved, you may be pleasantly surprised to know the cost of a new boiler installation varies between £1,000 and £2,500 (excluding the cost of the boiler itself).
There’s quite a range of prices, because the cost of your new gas boiler installation will largely depend on the type of boiler you opt for, and whether or not you are going to need a complete system change. But you get what you pay for – we can’t emphasise that enough! In the case of the gas industry the Gas Safe Register is your promise of a decent job.
Completing the Circle with the Right Gas Safe Paperwork
The Gas Safe registered company must inform your local council every time they install a new appliance. They must also give you, as owner a completed benchmark certificate and building regulations certificate.
Be sure to keep these documents in a safe place with the boiler handbook and guarantee. Check your home insurance policy carefully as it may require formal notification too.
We have been at pains to explain what you are entitled to expect from the new boiler and gas safe installer. Most companies guarantee their services. Always follow up if you think they have done a bad job, although this is unlikely, if you choose a gas installer on the official Gas Safe Register.