Reasonable price for new boiler?

[Alanmelon]

I've been looking at some quotes for a new boiler. Had British Gas in today to give me a price for the following;

- New combi boiler installation
- Flushing of existing system
- New radiator valves
- New gas piping to new install site
- To remove and make good an existing back boiler and existing system (tanks/cylinder etc)
- Some additional flue work based on the new siting
- New Scale reducer device and "Magnetic Filter"

The price given was £4300, but with the reassurance that the figure would cover all works, with a year's warranty. This is quite a bit dearer than other local firms have quoted, but I'm impressed by the assurances given, the professionalism and the peace of mind in going with a big company. So, I just wondered if anyone else has had work done by British Gas, and what you think of the price?

[etccarmageddon]

BG always quote rip off prices. I wouldn't be surprised if they sub contract it to someone local anyway. A quality combi will cost around £800 to £1000 if you look on the internet. A tradesman will charge you a couple of hundred quid to install it.

Radiator values cost about £10 to £20 each plus a plumber should install them for around £20 each.

If you currently dont have a combi and have a traditional system then there's a bit of work involved but the cost should be around £2500 max and that includes the boiler.

Personally I'd never change from the old boiler style to a combi as they arent as reliable and dont last as long. Stick with a tank and a cheaper condensing boiler but a quality one.

A combi is ****E at maintaining hot water temperature - it's up and down like a yo yo as you burn you hands. If you do get a combi get one with a small tank in it as they are better at the hot water temp regulation.

---------- Post added at 18:46 ---------- Previous post was at 18:45 ----------

nb. yes, that you'd be mad to pay that price.

[bob_a_builder]

You may get a more targeted response on this other forum

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...play.html?f=94

There are specific threads there asking similar question to yours, querying theiir BG quote which of £3700 for what (on the face of it) looks like similar work to yours

[Angua]

Had ours done by BG a couple of years ago, more for speed rather than price. You should be able get a local person with a good reputation to do the job cheaper and just as reliably.

As for combi boilers you must make sure you never have a drippy hot tap or fluctuating water pressure as they are very sensitive to both these factors & you will wake up to a frozen house coz the boiler switched off.

[superbiatch]

I've got a plumber friend who says that the flushing out of your current system is absolute rubbish and will only knacker it up in the end. He fitted a boiler, and 5 radiators with valves whilst removing the old boiler and tank for £1750 - shop around

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by superbiatch

I've got a plumber friend who says that the flushing out of your current system is absolute rubbish

Hmm I don't see how this could be?

[Hugh]

We just had a replacement condensor boiler, remove and make good the brickwork where the old one was and the new one was going, 8 thermostatic valves fitted (we already had 8), all 16 radiators flushed then balanced, check of the existing Hot Water Tank in the airing cupboard (all OK), extra piping for the condenser part of the boiler, 2 days work in all, negotiated down to £2300. Also included was half-price maintenance for 3 years.

This was with Safegas, a large firm based in Yorkshire, who do work all over the country - the equivalent quote from BG was £3700.

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Hmm I don't see how this could be?

Only going on what i was told

Altho they did do mine, then my boiler packed in

We had a new condensing combi fitted by British Gas, last year.

Yes they are more expensive, however the installation was thoroughly professional, included a discount for taking away the old boiler & a years free maintainance contract.

Our first combi, which the new one replaced, needed a new heat exchanger very soon after fitting, because the engineer (local Corgi registered chap) did not flush the system & the crepe in the pipes blocked the heat exchanger....

We found the original one was fine on maintaining the water temperature, provided we kept the internal pressure up to the mark, using the built in filling loop. The new one is even better, especially as we have had a thermostatic mixer valve fitted to the shower.

Even if the OP decides to go for a cheaper option than BG, I would recommend taking out a maintainance contract. The BG one provides for an annual maintainance/safety check & priority callout if you have a problem - parts & labour free. Obviously it is less likely to be needed while the boiler is new - but in our case the replacement heat exchanger I mentioned above would have cost about £400 to fix...

[Stig]

Shop around. Half the quoted price is fair...

[etccarmageddon]

go for a maint contract as mentioned above - it will be around £15 a month - only bother with British Gas as only they can be relied on to come to you and fix things promptly.

[Alanmelon]

Think I'll shop around a bit more...thanks for your responses.

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

go for a maint contract as mentioned above - it will be around £15 a month - only bother with British Gas as only they can be relied on to come to you and fix things promptly.

I've never been less than extremely impressed

We placed a call at 16.30 one afternoon - they had an engineer here by 18.00, he diagnosed the problem, downloaded the schematics for our boiler onto his laptop, ordered the parts needed online & said someone would be back in the morning.

- sure enough, knock at the door, next day, parts fitted, system working....

It does seem to be one thing that does 'what it says on the tin' , in my experience, at least

[Angua]

BG will service & maintain any boiler once they have checked it out regardless as to who fitted the system in the first place (as long as you pay the monthly fee that is).

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by homealone

I've never been less than extremely impressed

We placed a call at 16.30 one afternoon - they had an engineer here by 18.00, he diagnosed the problem, downloaded the schematics for our boiler onto his laptop, ordered the parts needed online & said someone would be back in the morning.

- sure enough, knock at the door, next day, parts fitted, system working....

It does seem to be one thing that does 'what it says on the tin' , in my experience, at least

'tis the only part of BG that works. And boy does it work - I worked in the call centre for a short period and the staff can't do enough for the customers. The management on the other hand are hideous and try and stop staffs bonuses any time they can. I'm surprised the staff still fight the customers side for them as hard as they do.