British Gas Boiler Install Quotation?
We bought our house a year ago and knew from the outset that we would have to update the central heating system in the years to come, but it came sooner than expected. To cut a long (and frankly quite scary) story short, we had our boiler condemned. British Gas came out and have quoted us nearly £4,000 for a new combi boiler. A lot of work does need to be done as the old system is a dual-system and not a combi. The boiler needs relocating (which means additional pipework and valves and things), and the old system (including immersion tank) needs removing. They are also flushing through the whole system. Because of the recent house move we are completely broke so have had to get the work done on a credit scheme. We have checked the other big companies and they are all pretty much the same.
British Gas are scheduled to come in next wednesday and thursday (they think the work will take 2 days).
Does anyone actually have anything good to say about them and this scheme? Does anyone have any constructive suggestions? I don’t suppose anyone knows of a cheaper company located in Portsmouth (hampshire) who offers credit schemes?
I hate the idea of going with this company but, they are offering to save our skin…and quickly!
the work they are quoting us is something we do want done. The hot water system we have at the moment is noisy and takes an age to heat up. Our current boiler is ancient - and installed in a really inconvenient (and apparently now illegal) place. We have asked a few other people and they agree that whatever we do we would need to relocate the boiler.
We have chosen a top-range boiler with British Gas (can’t remember the make at the moment) with a 91% efficiency rating. We have calculated that this new system will save us around £35 in gas per month!
I have to say I am happy with the work they want to carry out and even with the price. I have just heard a read so many negative things about BG that it’s hard to think that they are not trying to take advantage of me.
British Gas are overpriced and so will the other ‘BIG’ companies be because you the cost of their advertising, office staff etc has to be paid from some where. If you want to get a decent quote you will be better to go with an independent gas safe engineer ( loads in the yellow pages/ yell.com).
a boiler for your house (30kw) top of the range 98% efficiency (sedbuk band A) costs £1200. (vaillant or worcester)
a lime scale reducer £30
a magna clean £80
pipework and fittings £100
so you only get £1400 worth of materials, the rest of the price is the labour.
a power flush to clean your existing system will cost £250 (british gas charge £400+) and takes about 4-6 hours
A reasonable price to pay would be about £2500
This type of install rarely takes more than 2 days.
my advice to you would be to take a loan and go independent. you get a 2 year gaurentee on a new new boiler anyway and you will probably get better service than the ‘horror story’ that is british gas.
Perhaps you should consider retaining the existing system and replacing the old boiler with an updated version. That would be much less expensive of course as it would merely involve an alteration to the boiler connections. At worst you may have to relocate the boiler due to flueing considerations. It seems to me that BG have seen an opportunity to install a changed system which is not necessary but will exercise their cash registers.
There is no doubt that combis are good appliances, especially the Worcester Bosch which BG usually fit. But if you haven’t got a spare £4000 burning a hole in your pocket I would investigate a boiler only option. You can get ‘A’ efficiency boilers ’system’ boilers which will do exactly the same as your old boiler did but at lesser running cost. A new boiler should cost around £500 - £800 according to the size of your house. Any Gas Safe registered heating engineer should be able to ‘install only’ for no more than £1000, and that’s with relocation. Start ringing round for quotes.
I don’t know about credit schemes but you could spread it interest free over a year with a new credit card. Google interest free credit card deals if it appeals. Alternatively ask your mortgage co if you can tack on the cost, or if not your bank may be able to help with a better deal than BG.
For the amount of work involved, it sounds to me quite a good quote.
I used to always get British Gas/Scottish Gas to service my boiler annually until I got a new combi boiler fitted last year and it’s still under warranty with the local heating engineer that fitted it.
I never had any complaints against British/Scottish Gas and they are going to do the work quickly for you.
Barry B has given a very well informed and logical answer,
A boiler installation by British Gas is akin to robbery without violence.
Unfortunately its not just a case of new boiler,new location as any boiler replacement carried out now requires the whole system to be brought up to current building regulations standards. As to price something around 1600-2000 + VAT depentant on the property would be realistic . As to other companies able to offer the kind of credit BG do then in your area SSE operate a simular scheme at a slightly lower price but still an arm and a leg. You may find a smaller company that can offer credit or cheaper a bank loan if you can get one.
All you need to change from a gravity system to a combi is all the rad valves changed and TRV fitted (thermostatic radiator valves) a combi boiler and room stat and yes the system needs fo be cleaned and fernox added after.
Combi boiler from £500 to £1400
Rad valves £7 each pair
wireless room stat £50
22mm copper pipe for Gas run
most we charge is £2,800 (thats with a £900 boiler)
price all in with copper pipe and fittings
if the airing cuboard has an outside wall thats where we fit the boiler£