Combi boiler & Relocation cost

[Ham_and_Jam]

We’re buying a new bungalow and doing a full refurbishment.

As part of that we will be purchasing a new gas combi boiler and moving it into the loft from the kitchen.

I ran a quote on Boxt to get an idea of costs and was surprised at the cost of moving the boiler. £2500 for replacing the boiler if in the same spot and an additional £1800 if you want to move it.

For info its a bungalow and the repositioning will be directly above where it is now, so a couple of metres above.

Is this cost normal? Or just peculiar to Boxt. I was expecting about £500.

[Mr Squarekins]

We moved our combi, about 20ft when converting a bungalow 5 years ago. £350, took about 2 hours.

I think the past 5 years prices have become a case of make it up and see if the customer swallows it.

Get a few quotes?

[littleredrooster]

We did exactly the same 4 years ago - bungalow - system boiler removed from cupboard - Viessman combi installed in loft with all associated plumbing alterations.

Cheapest quote was £3000 to include 10 year warranty from Heatable. Would have been cheaper with a more 'basic' boiler.

[Ham_and_Jam]

So my guesstimate of about £500 was not too far off then. £1800 seems a pisstake, considering the £2500 was an inclusive of fitting price already.

Surprised as Boxt seem fairly reasonable on the straight swap price.

[Huzzah]

Ham_and_Jam said:

So my guesstimate of about £500 was not too far off then. £1800 seems a pisstake, considering the £2500 was an inclusive of fitting price already.

Surprised as Boxt seem fairly reasonable on the straight swap price.

I suppose because it's all done online the installer hasn't had the chance to access the job. Worst possible scenario and all that.

[Sheepshanks]

Huzzah said:

Ham_and_Jam said:

So my guesstimate of about £500 was not too far off then. £1800 seems a pisstake, considering the £2500 was an inclusive of fitting price already.

Surprised as Boxt seem fairly reasonable on the straight swap price.

I suppose because it's all done online the installer hasn't had the chance to access the job. Worst possible scenario and all that.

I'm guessing here, but my impression is Boxt want their contractors to be in and out in a day. So they're pricing moving as a two day job and pitching it at the level they could get for another boiler install, minus the massivley discounted price they pay for the boiler.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Sheepshanks said:

I'm guessing here, but my impression is Boxt want their contractors to be in and out in a day. So they're pricing moving as a two day job and pitching it at the level they could get for another boiler install, minus the massivley discounted price they pay for the boiler.

Probably, however the online form was quite comprehensive regarding location, access for flue, scaffolding requirements etc.

I’ll get a quote from a couple of local firms.

[Sheepshanks]

Will it need scaffolding? If so, that’ll bump it up.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Sheepshanks said:

Will it need scaffolding? If so, that ll bump it up.

I don t think so. It s a bungalow. The only reason if it does would be for the flue. So at worst a very small portable scaffold. 10 mins to put up.

[vaud]

Ask around locally for an approved installer. If the local estate agent also has rentals they might have a recommendation. Also join the local town/village facebook group, they can be a guide.

[Sheepshanks]

If you know the boiler you want, then the manufacturers' website will usually have a list of installers.

[gmaz]

Ham_and_Jam said:

We re buying a new bungalow and doing a full refurbishment.

If you are doing full refurbishment, have you considered adding solar, battery, heat pump?

Otherwise note that a boiler in the loft must have access for an engineer, so a loft latter, lighting and boarded out to the boiler location.

[Ham_and_Jam]

gmaz said:

If you are doing full refurbishment, have you considered adding solar, battery, heat pump?

Otherwise note that a boiler in the loft must have access for an engineer, so a loft latter, lighting and boarded out to the boiler location.

Solar / battery - yes, heat pump - no.

We have friends who have the same style bungalow in the village with solar / battery / gas combi. Their combined energy bills after export are negligible, so probably the route we will take.

Loft will be fully boarded as soon as we start the renovation.

[JimPD]

Just had our boiler replaced & relocated.

System boiler in kitchen replaced by Combi in bathroom airing cupboard.

BOXT quote was £800 more for relocating versus replacing in same spot

And nearly £3.5k less than British Gas quoted! Which, bizarrely, was £50 cheaper for relocation.

Edited by JimPD on Sunday 7th December 22:55

[vaud]

Don’t use online sites for things that aren’t like for like swaps. Anything non standard will have them add contingency to the quote.

Go local and let them see the challenge and advise..

[JimPD]

Vaud,

British Gas sent a guy to inspect everything and provide quotes. Boxt was quoted online and nearly £3500 cheaper overall.

I agree an indépendant might be cheaper still but BOXT's 'next working day' approach is tempting when you have no heating in November.

Happy with their service. Good job done in one day.

[Crumpet]

I had a couple of quotes last year from ‘locals’. I just couldn’t work out how a £2000 boiler was coming in at £5000 fitted with no relocation. And yet the same guys are fitting £800 boilers for £2000 all-in on other houses.

Is it £1200 to fit a boiler or £3000? I can only assume that there’s an £1800 tax applied when they think you can pay it.

(Got the spanners out and fixed the old one myself in the end.)

[AlexGSi2000]

Another vote for local.

I had similar works done around two years ago - I toyed with the idea of going with a National firm, however after them seemingly making a big song and dance about things I used a recommended local heating engineer who made light work of it for less than half our cheapest "national" quote.
Things were done properly, he went out of his way regarding the condensate drain and came up with a solution that was far better than just sticking a pipe through the open shortest path.

(We went for a Main combi - no complaints after two years)