New Combo Boiler -who/what/where ?

[Turn7]

BG quick quote comes up this....




Dont mind using them, but guess this is top end money ?

2 Bed Maisonette, 4 rads total.

Would also like a Rad added to the system in the Kitchen.

Dont want a cheapy Kevin or Gaz type job, based in Tring, Herts.

[princeperch]

Assuming it's a like for like replacement then it's about 100pc more than a local gas Safe engineer would charge you.

[Turn7]

princeperch said:

Assuming it's a like for like replacement then it's about 100pc more than a local gas Safe engineer would charge you.

Yeah, I know, but Im wary of "tradesmen" and want some sort of backup.....

Just trying to get a feel for the market.

[princeperch]

Being wary of tradesmen is not a reason to get tucked up!

[anonymous-user]

Don’t BG outsource this anyway?

[Turn7]

princeperch said:

Being wary of tradesmen is not a reason to get tucked up!

Of Course...I had a tame plumber, but he moved away.

Just feels like a pretty murky marketplace to me.

Hence BG being able to rinse it......

[Little Lofty]

Call into your local plumbing merchant, they will know the good fitters.

[guillemot]

We had a new boiler installed in our old house some three years ago and when we first got quotes to see what needed to be done BG were the cheapest we could find, unexpectedly.

We looked at other factors, too, but at the time the cost was a substantial part of it (other companies were nearly twice what BG quoted) so we went with them. They were also the only ones able to offer a quote rather than an estimate.

The guys that came in were brilliant and did a really tidy job. Might be just my experience but we were pleasantly surprised given some of the bad press they get.

[Sheepshanks]

If you have a make of boiler in mind then look at the manufacturers website for a local installer.

If you want backup then Worcester Bosch seem to be well regarded for support, but every installer seems to have a different favourite.

[anonymous-user]

guillemot said:

We had a new boiler installed in our old house some three years ago and when we first got quotes to see what needed to be done BG were the cheapest we could find, unexpectedly.

We looked at other factors, too, but at the time the cost was a substantial part of it (other companies were nearly twice what BG quoted) so we went with them. They were also the only ones able to offer a quote rather than an estimate.

The guys that came in were brilliant and did a really tidy job. Might be just my experience but we were pleasantly surprised given some of the bad press they get.

I think you were lucky.

Depending where you live, you’ll either get a BG engineer or a contracted supplier and some will be much better than others.

[dhutch]

Little Lofty said:

Call into your local plumbing merchant, they will know the good fitters.

This. You can also use the 'gas safe register' as an address book of contacts.

[eybic]

Worth running a quote through Boxt who are part owned by Bosch (so good prices on Worcester Bosch installs), they were a grand cheaper than BG for me with a better boiler, 10 year guarantee and decent finance options.

[valiant]

eybic said:

Worth running a quote through Boxt who are part owned by Bosch (so good prices on Worcester Bosch installs), they were a grand cheaper than BG for me with a better boiler, 10 year guarantee and decent finance options.

How did you find Boxt?

We’ll be needing a new boiler in the nearish future and they seem to be cheaper than BG and tend to throw in freebies like a NEST thingy. Website seems pretty slick in its quoting and you can pick your slot for a convenient time. I guess they use local installers so results may vary but how did you find them overall?

[eybic]

valiant said:

How did you find Boxt?

We’ll be needing a new boiler in the nearish future and they seem to be cheaper than BG and tend to throw in freebies like a NEST thingy. Website seems pretty slick in its quoting and you can pick your slot for a convenient time. I guess they use local installers so results may vary but how did you find them overall?

Our move has been delayed due to Land Registry errors so I haven;t used them yet. I found them when searching online for boiler replacement prices, they only have positive reviews online (make of that what you will) but it seems they put quite a few people's noses out of joint by doing things so cheaply. The fixed price was the big appeal for me, I am 99.9% certain that I will be using them to swap the system boiler to a combi.

[Turn7]

Will check Boxt out ,thanks .

Have a Worcester approved guy coming to quite tonight .

Also looking at Viessmann .

[Turn7]

So, first guy turned when he said would, tokk his boots off and listened to my. requests....

Second guy did the same, but was a little "I know what Im doing son".....

Now have three quotes...


Brit gas £2785 unseen

1st bloke 2522 - including the extra rad I spoke about for the kitchen.

2nd bloke 3565, no extra rad and lots of twaddle in the quote.

Both IndIes quoting for Worcester Bosch and will give 7 year warranty as approved fitters.

Im going to ring 1st bloke and suggest, as xmas is close, a bit of cash wouldnt go amiss....

If I can get it for £2200 I'll be happy.

[Zirconia]

Think Worcester need their boilers fitted by authorised Worcester plumber to get long parts and labour? Mine has 10 years parts and labour on call out but must be fitted with a mag filter, and serviced every year by Worcester proved plumber. I mate reckons he saw a 15 years warranty on one Worcester he was looking at?

[Turn7]

Yeah, both Indies are WB approved. Standard Warranty is 7 years, with another 3 years with magnaclean.

Hopefuly will be out of here in five ish, but alreadyhave a magna clean and reluctant to spend anoth £130 for something we already have.

[PositronicRay]

Turn7 said:

So, first guy turned when he said would, tokk his boots off and listened to my. requests....

Second guy did the same, but was a little "I know what Im doing son".....

Now have three quotes...


Brit gas £2785 unseen

1st bloke 2522 - including the extra rad I spoke about for the kitchen.

2nd bloke 3565, no extra rad and lots of twaddle in the quote.

Both IndIes quoting for Worcester Bosch and will give 7 year warranty as approved fitters.

Im going to ring 1st bloke and suggest, as xmas is close, a bit of cash wouldnt go amiss....

If I can get it for £2200 I'll be happy.

If someone comes in with what I consider a fair quote I tend not to haggle. Everyone needs to earn a living, and I don't want them cutting corners.


ETA, be wary of a heating engineer who can fit you in before Christmas.

Edited by PositronicRay on Saturday 14th December 11:51

[Mr Pointy]

Turn7 said:

Im going to ring 1st bloke and suggest, as xmas is close, a bit of cash wouldnt go amiss....

If I can get it for £2200 I'll be happy.

If he's doing it off the books for cash how are you going to get him to honour any warranty or remedial work? After all, there's no record of the work being done.

PositronicRay said:

If someone comes in with what I consider a fair quote I tend not to haggle. Everyone needs to earn a living, and I don't want them cutting corners.

ETA, be wary of a heating engineer who can fit you in before Christmas.

Yep. In general with trades the good ones aren't available & the available ones aren't good.