Boiler installation: cost and companies

How much does it cost to install a boiler?

On average, a boiler can cost anywhere between £500 and £2,500. The cost of boiler installation and maintenance is usually made up if you opt for an energy-efficient boiler. So it might be worth opting for a more expensive boiler from the offset.

Overall, the price depends on lots of things including the following:

The type of boiler you want to install.
The brand of the boiler you want to install.
The size of the boiler you want to install. This depends on the size of your house.

Can I install a boiler myself?

Definitely not. Not only is it illegal, but it is also highly irresponsible if you’re not a qualified engineer or boiler technician. You could even face criminal charges if something goes wrong, such as a gas leak or an explosion.

We know that the installation costs of a boiler are hard-hitting, especially if you’ve splashed out on a better-quality boiler. But really, don’t install your new boiler yourself. Call a technician.

What types of boiler are there?

The process of finding a boiler involves a number of difficult decisions. The main one is deciding which boiler is best for you and your household.

There are three main types of boiler:

1. Combi (combination) boiler - The most popular type of boiler system in the UK, provides hot water whenever you want and works perfectly for the majority of the homes. Although they are compact, efficient, and cost-effective, they aren't great for bigger houses. This is because they can only work one thing at a time. So if there are a lot of inhabitants in your house, it might not be the best option.
2. Heat-only boiler - Also known as conventional boilers have a classic on and off switch, meaning you can switch off hot water when you’re not using it. With this boiler, you don’t waste money and energy on heating water that you’re not using right away. This boiler is great if you are in a bigger house with more people in it since multiple people can use hot water at the same time. Before getting this boiler, remember that you don’t get hot water on demand
3. ‍ System boiler - Is similar to the heat-only boiler but is much more compact. If you have a large home, multiple people can use hot water at the same time. On the other hand, system boilers can cost a bit more to install than other boiler types. Also, they aren’t quite as efficient as combi boilers, as you lose a bit of heat and energy every time you heat up the hot water tank.

How do I choose which boiler to install?

Now you know what types of boilers exist, you can make an educated decision based on your household’s needs and energy requirements.

Our suggestions:

• If you have a bigger house, you should opt for a heat-only boiler or a system boiler.
• If you are looking for a cheaper option, and don’t mind having to ration out the hot water, a combi boiler is best for you.

What type of fuel do boilers use?

Which type of fuel you will need will depend on which boiler you have. Different boilers are fuelled by different ways. These include the following:

1. Gas
2. ⚡️ Electricity
3. Oil

What size boiler should I get?

The size of the boiler that is best for you depends on how much energy you typically use in your house. Domestic boilers have an output rating of anywhere between 24kWh and 42kWh. The former is better suited for homes with 1-2 bedrooms, whereas the latter is optimal for homes with 4 bedrooms or more.

Which brands make and sell boilers?

It’s important to read reviews and ratings about boiler brands to find the most reliable and suitable boiler for you. The less reliable - and probably cheaper - the boiler brand, the more likely it is that you will have to get a repair in the first few years of your boiler plan.

Our suggestions:

• We would advise to invest in Worcester Bosch as they provide high quality, reliable boilers. They offer boilers of all fuel types and are the most popular and well-known.
• In second place, we would advise Viessmann Boilers, as they are the largest boiler company in Europe. They are typically more durable and efficient than their competitors.

Other popular boiler brands in the UK to consider and research are:

• Ideal Boilers
• Vaillant
• Baxi
• Alpha Boilers
• Potterton

How can I reduce my boiler costs?

Your heating costs are by the far the biggest energy cost in your house. This is especially true if you have a bigger home with more inhabitants. Here are a few ways to reduce your boiler costs:

1. Firstly, make sure your boiler is working in the correct settings. There’s no point in putting your boiler on the highest heating setting if it is summertime, for example. You can manually adjust your boiler settings when you notice changes in weather patterns, and this could save you a lot on your heating bill. Or, there are automatic adjustment products that you can invest in that will change the settings of your boiler automatically depending on the weather. This saves you time and money.
2. Are your radiators taking a long time to heat up? This is a huge waste of energy, and usually a sign that your water system is clogged up, or not clean enough. It’s important to clean your water system regularly because it will make your heating system much more efficient, and also good for the lifeline of your boiler. You can flush out your system to clean it.
3. Make sure your boiler is condensing. This means that any heat that would usually be lost through your heating system is instead recovered by the system. To make sure your boiler is condensing, make sure the water that is being recovered isn’t too hot. If you don’t think your boiler is condensing properly, book a service with a boiler technician and they can let you know.

FAQ

🕰 How long do I have to wait until I can make a boiler cover claim?

This depends on the provider but the average is around 30 days before you can start filing claims under your boiler cover plan.

😅 What is the limit I can claim on my boiler cover?

This will change depending on the provider so be sure to ask before you switch, many providers do in fact put limits on costs associated with claims.

💥 Do I lose my boiler cover if I change my energy provider?

Nope! Your boiler cover is completely independent of your energy provider, so switching energy providers will not impact your boiler cover.

🏘 When I move addresses does my boiler cover move with me?