Combi Boiler Instalation Question:

[Cheburator mk2]

Quick question:

Just been quoted £3500 to substitute a Potterton + Cylinder with a Worcester 37CDI by a local independent. The new boiler will live in the airing cupboard, which is about 3 metres away from where the old one used to be on the outside wall. The gas supply would come via a 22mm pipe, which is about 6mm away from the meter. The cost breakdown is as follows:

1. Remove old system - £150

2. Install new boiler - £600

3. Worcester Greenstar 37CDI - £1200

4. Termostatic valves x 5 for each radiator - £350

5. Drayton wireless roomstat - £90

6. Flue extenstion - £55

7. Power flush - £150

8. Pipe & Fittings - £300

+ VAT...

Seems rather steep unless I am hugely mistaken... Based in Blackheath, so if anyone fancies the job...

Edited by Cheburator mk2 on Wednesday 27th January 23:03

[Jonny_]

Are the thermostatic valves for the radiators? If so, any more than £20 is excessive - £70 a piece is robbery! All of 10 mins work to fit one.

Digital programmable room stats can be had for less than £30. Again, not much to fitting these.

[Road2Ruin]

All prices seem ok apart from the Valves and pipes and fittings. £750 for labour sound a lot though especially as it will probably not take more than a day, two at most but then thats what they charge to fit nowadays. Wish I was on £375 per day!

[Chris77]

Not sure if its any use but we have just been quoted £3000 for new combi, installed with all rads/pipe work supplied. house is currently back to bare plaster and floor boards, with all the old pipes and tanks removed by us. Gas is capped at meter.

We are in Blackpool area, house is average/large 3 bed semi. for the work and materials involved we are happy at that price

[Cheburator mk2]

Well, I have found the boiler for £1000 inc VAT and most places do it for £1200 inc VAT, the valves are 1/2 price including VAT, so I am sure I can get it lower. Will try and beat him to £3000 all in. I thought we were in a recession...

Thanks for the replies, if anyone can recommend a good plumber in SE London (Blackheath), please do so.

Alex

[B17NNS]

My mum has just had a similar swap. Knackered old system boiler, swapped for a nice new Bosch combi.

Came in at a fraction over £2k all in.

Thermostatic valves can be had for a tenner a piece.

Take the cylinder to a scap merchants yourself. Should get £40 or £50 for it.

His powerflush price is reasonable though.

Get a few other quotes. His price does seem a little steep.

[Gingerbread Man]

Jonny_ said:

Digital programmable room stats can be had for less than £30. Again, not much to fitting these.

Not wireless ones worth having aren't.

[CO2000]

Cheburator mk2 said:

Quick question:

Just been quoted £3500 to substitute a Potterton + Cylinder with a Worcester 37CDI by a local independent. The new boiler will live in the airing cupboard, which is about 3 metres away from where the old one used to be on the outside wall. The gas supply would come via a 22mm pipe, which is about 6mm away from the meter. The cost breakdown is as follows:

1. Remove old system - £150

2. Install new boiler - £600

3. Worcester Greenstar 37CDI - £1200

4. Termostatic valves x 5 for each radiator - £350

5. Drayton wireless roomstat - £90

6. Flue extenstion - £55

7. Power flush - £150

8. Pipe & Fittings - £300

+ VAT...

Seems rather steep unless I am hugely mistaken... Based in Blackheath, so if anyone fancies the job...

Edited by Cheburator mk2 on Wednesday 27th January 23:03

Wasn't far off that with 6 new quality double panel Rads + towel rail

by the sounds of it lately try BG & one or 2 other local outfits.

2.5-3k sounds more like it.

[x type]

paid just over £2300 and had an extra rad fitted

[Chris77]

Also just found out we qualify for boiler scrappage scheme, worth a look for you?

[Ricky_M]

£350 to fit 5 TRVs??? I personally would supply, drive to your house and fit them for £100!

Thats scandalous, a TRV and lockshield set cost no more than £15 from Plumb Centre! At most a TRV would take 5 minutes to change!

[Henry-F]

If you're getting prices for Worcester boilers and someone comes in really cheap make sure that isn't for a bare boiler without programmer fitted.

I had an oil fired one supplied the other day and was surprised when it just had a volume knob for the hot water and one for the heating !!

As for the rest of the prices obviously the guys are doing it for a living and you'll probably have a couple of blokes on site each day. I was quite shocked when getting prices for fitting the boiler and rads, even from a mate. We ended up using our regular and trusted builder who brought in someone on a day rate for a couple of days and ended up saving quite a lot of money. As with all things though sometimes it's worth paying a little more if it gives piece of mind and you know you'll end up with a quality job.

If I was advising on careers choices plumbing wouldn't be a bad bet. Might start advertising the Porsches in plumber's monthly


Henry

[Ferg]

Henry-F said:

If you're getting prices for Worcester boilers and someone comes in really cheap make sure that isn't for a bare boiler without programmer fitted.

I'd never quote for a boiler with a programmer fitted on it. It's a very expensive way of doing things.

[Henry-F]

Ferg said:

Henry-F said:

If you're getting prices for Worcester boilers and someone comes in really cheap make sure that isn't for a bare boiler without programmer fitted.

I'd never quote for a boiler with a programmer fitted on it. It's a very expensive way of doing things.

It never occured to me that anyone would do anything but quote with one on, (to be honest I didn't realise you could buy one without a programmer on). Our other Worcester boiler came with one as standard.

As with all things in life, you live and learn. Why would anyone ever buy a boiler without a timer / programer ? Not many people just leave the boiler on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week do they ?

Henry

[eldar]

Henry-F said:

Ferg said:

Henry-F said:

If you're getting prices for Worcester boilers and someone comes in really cheap make sure that isn't for a bare boiler without programmer fitted.

I'd never quote for a boiler with a programmer fitted on it. It's a very expensive way of doing things.

It never occured to me that anyone would do anything but quote with one on, (to be honest I didn't realise you could buy one without a programmer on). Our other Worcester boiler came with one as standard.

As with all things in life, you live and learn. Why would anyone ever buy a boiler without a timer / programer ? Not many people just leave the boiler on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week do they ?

Henry

It think it means a boiler with a programmer built in, or a separate, remote programmer?

[Ferg]

Henry-F said:

As with all things in life, you live and learn. Why would anyone ever buy a boiler without a timer / programer ? Not many people just leave the boiler on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week do they ?

Henry

The boiler programmer is less versatile and more expensive than the alternatives. Bear in mind that the programmer on a non-combination boiler central heating system doesn't actually switch the boiler directly, so having it on the boiler is really an odd place for it.

[ASW81]

this price sounds about right to me if maybe a little expensive for the TRV's but tradesmen like and need to make profit on both labour and materials that is why there are trade accounts

Edited by ASW81 on Sunday 31st January 20:00

[spikeyhead]

ASW81 said:

this price sounds about right to me if maybe a little expensive for the TRV's but tradesmen like and need to make profit on both labour amd materials that is why there are trade accounts

Why does a tradesman need to make a profit on the parts he's fitting?

[eldar]

spikeyhead said:

ASW81 said:

this price sounds about right to me if maybe a little expensive for the TRV's but tradesmen like and need to make profit on both labour amd materials that is why there are trade accounts

Why does a tradesman need to make a profit on the parts he's fitting?

Same reason as anyone else. Thats why you get more than one quote, regardless of tradesman or professions. (which sounds appallingly class-ridden)

[Henry-F]

Ferg said:

Henry-F said:

As with all things in life, you live and learn. Why would anyone ever buy a boiler without a timer / programer ? Not many people just leave the boiler on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week do they ?

Henry

The boiler programmer is less versatile and more expensive than the alternatives. Bear in mind that the programmer on a non-combination boiler central heating system doesn't actually switch the boiler directly, so having it on the boiler is really an odd place for it.

But our oil boiler is a combination boiler. So what other alternatives are there and why would that be better than being able to switch the C/H on and off at set times and the water at different times. The hot water actually heats from a thermal store inside the boiler so for smaller amounts the boiler doesn't actually have to be on.

I was just very surprised when it turned up as it did.

Henry

Oh, and the profit on parts issue. Bear in mind the fitter is taking the risk on an item failing. The faulty part's supplier is unlikely to cover the chap's wages to come out and replace the problem part but the person commissioning the work will expect all the components to be covered. The boiler will be covered by Worcester who have a good network of repair people so that's not particularly a problem. Something like the rad valve will be down to the person fitting it. We pay a profit on all parts fitted to our cars on services for that very reason.

Also there is the collection, ordering, paperwork and so on. It all adds up.

Henry