Boiler fitting costs

[Mr Gearchange]

Alright chaps,
My boiler is borked so I need a new one. British Gas have given me a quote of £3k - it's easy enough to check the costs for the boiler on-line - but fitting is £1200 and I cannot get anyone round to give me a comparative quote as now its got cold all the heating engineers are busy.

I have no idea whether this is reasonable or not. The house is one we rent out so we need to deal with it quickly as my tennants are cold. Its a 3 bed semi if that makes any difference.

Any guidance would be great

Thanks

[Magic919]

Would be worth adding general area, as labour costs vary a lot around uk.

[Mr Gearchange]

Northamptonshire. Although I assume that BG have a flat rate irrespective of location?

[dmitsi]

That's an absolute rip off. My gas man charges me 200-300 for a boiler swap. I source boiler which generally costs 1200-1300 depending on flues, stats etc. British gas will always be expensive. To add I generally do the system flush which saves some money. I'd feel very put out paying over 2k bit I know many people do.

[BoRED S2upid]

dmitsi said:

That's an absolute rip off. My gas man charges me 200-300 for a boiler swap. I source boiler which generally costs 1200-1300 depending on flues, stats etc. British gas will always be expensive. To add I generally do the system flush which saves some money. I'd feel very put out paying over 2k bit I know many people do.

This very much this. £2k max I think I paid £2k for new boiler and a few new radiators while he was there but radiators are cheap. Keep ringing you might find someone but it's a busy time of year hence them charging more.

How nackered is it? BG will always say it's nackered and you need a new one at £3k they have shareholders to think about.

[brman]

Well, just in my own personal opinion (before BGs lawyers come after me) but BG are the last ones I would go to, although I appreciate you will be struggling to find a decent alternative this time of year.

First, I would check if the boiler really is dead. Again, my experience might not be typically but I wouldn't trust BGs opinion on that.
2nd, if it does need replacing, what actually needs to be done? Boiler? Flue? any pipework?
If that £3k is just swapping in a new boiler then I struggle to see how they can justify it. If the whole lot needs ripping out (but why?) and replacing then maybe it is ok.

And in case you wonder why I am a bit down on BG, I do work as an electrician and get rather pissed off when customers come running to me in a flap because BG have told them their electrics are dangerous and they need to spend 100s when all that is wrong is that they have plugged in a socket and see and not understood what it is telling them.......

[Mr Gearchange]

I fking love PH - knowledge in abundance.
Sadly as its the tennants place I can't just tell them to put on a jumper and stop moaning as I would do my own family.
Here is the breakdown to understand more..

Boiler - £1159 (seems there or there about from looking on line)
Electical connection - £196
Install standard flue terminal - £209.
Connection of condensor pipe to external pipe - £77.
Thermostat - £150
Magnetic System Filter - £239.
Gas pipe installation - £134.

Instllation of boiler - £1216.

Gross cost: £3384 (inc VAT)
Discounts: £421

Net Price: £2962.

How reasonable - or otherwise does that sound. I have literally no idea or frame of reference.

[Zyp]

I assume it's a straight swap, location wise?

Why the cost for gas pipe - it's already there isn't it?
Likewise the electrics?

You can check the cost of a Magnatec filter online - didn't think they were that much.
£77 for the condensate pipe? It's a bit of 15/22mm plastic...

[mikebradford]

for comparison i have had 2 near identical quotes in Bradford of £2900
This is for a semi detached 2 bed house we have a tenet in

Previously had no gas central heating

Costs includes for new Boiler (vokera vision 30c), radiators including towel rail in bathroom. And all new pipework.

So depending on the size of the house, id be going elsewhere at a £3k Quote for a boiler swap.
Although last plumber i used regularly i got rid of after he wanted me to help hang the new boiler on a boiler swap, and charged me £400 labour for the pleasure when he was there approx 90mins.

[Mr Gearchange]

Yes - straight swap into the same location.

[Happy Jim]

Just had a quote today to do exactly the same, Berkshire, £2,500 inc VAT

Jim

[jjlynn27]

I'm in your area. Depends on a boiler. If it's combi boiler, my plumber installed logic+ (7 year warranty), replacing boiler in our rental - like for like - with few new parts (flue and some other bits that I forgot the name of), total, parts, labour and new boiler = £1670 inc Vat.

[sjj84]

Sounds like a fking con to me. Quote says install of flue, connection of condenser pipe, connection of gas pipe, electrical connection all as separate items. On top of the install of boiler, what's left to install? Mounting it on the wall and a couple of pipes, for over a grand!

[dmitsi]

With all those connections being charged for, then over a grand in install charges is just as rip off. Those are what you need to do when fitting a boiler.
If you were in Sussex I'd give you names to call, shame you don't have a decent contact. British gas are a con. The only thing on that list that looks fair is the boiler price, that's assuming it's a high kW decent brand boiler. I paid that for a 30kW Worcester including all the gubbins.
I've bought two boilers in the last year for my flats and paid 1200 including flues, filters, stats, inhibitor and cleaner. Its a half day job, keep searching for an indy.

[paolow]

dmitsi said:

Its a half day job, keep searching for an indy.

Thats the problem though - all my usual indy trades have disappeared into the woodwork despite a really good relationship with them. Theres so much work around at the moment they are talking about months of backlog. Good news for them of course - but it doesnt help out with any short notice jobs that spring up!

[Rickyy]

BG are very expensive. You should be able to get a local chap to do it for between £1500-£2000, for a half decent boiler.

[dmitsi]

paolow said:

Thats the problem though - all my usual indy trades have disappeared into the woodwork despite a really good relationship with them. Theres so much work around at the moment they are talking about months of backlog. Good news for them of course - but it doesnt help out with any short notice jobs that spring up!

Yeah I hear that. I'm fortunate, I do almost all my own work and only use gas man, plasterer and sparky. I have very good relationships with them and they will find a way to fit me in. Met my gas man in the local if that's a good excuse to get down the pub!

[Andehh]

As has said above that's too much. British gas are no better then average Joe plumber. Use checkatrade or similar to find indies round to quote!

It's worth it for a £700 saving!

Edited by Andehh on Thursday 26th November 21:55

[Simpo Two]

£196 to do up three screws, bloody hell.

Try to get recommendations from neighbours or local friends, or look for small ads in the local free paper.

I have a 3-bed house and got quotes in the £1,700-£2,000 region*. You certainly don't need to pay for BGs fatcats and shareholders and TV adverts.

• That was two years ago. I then found an excellent plumber who descaled the old one for £100 and it's going well

[thebraketester]

4 years ago, we paid 3K for a cdi30 combi relocated from kitchen to airing cupboard. (herts)