Boiler Installer Please Read...

[Dan Smith 10]

I currently have storage heaters through out the house and an immersion heater and tank in a cupboard in the bathroom. I am about to renew my bathroom and would like a combi boiler installing in there. Initially I will not fit a full central heating system (money too tight) but would like the boiler to replace the tank and immersion heater, and to provide hot water to all taps and to heat a towel rail.

 

I have had a 22mm gas pipe routed to the kitchen ceiling and it simply needs extending through the ceiling up into the existing cupboard in the bathroom. I believe that the existing water pipes that run from the tank to the taps in the house should be ok to just hook up to the boiler (with a bit of reworking at the boiler end). I will want the required pipework for a central heating system installing in the bathroom (under the floor) so I don't have to touch the bathroom again when I fit central heating.

 

My main question is how much sould I expect to be charged for Corgi qualified instalation of the boiler? I guess it is only the gas pipework and electrics that need to be done by them by law, the water pipework could be done by me?

 

Also, I suspect that a vertical flue would be best as it could easily be fed up through the bathroom ceiling and then out through the roof. Far easier than routing horizontally through the chimney breast? Do certain boilers only allow horizontal flues or can all boilers have either type of flue?

 

Finally, I plan to buy the boiler myself (Baxi 105he or a Worcester hopefully) so the engineer need only turn up, sort the gas feed, mount the boiler and install the flue. Any idea of cost??!

 

Happy to arrange for any interested engineers to see the job.

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Dan

[jl-heating 10]

you can run a combi on hot water only but you still have to connect a water circuit to it and pressure the system, (very easy 20 min job) and yes most boilers do have the facility for vertical flue.

As for you supplying everything some engineers will take on that kind of work and some wont, it will be a case of ringing round for a labour only price.

make sure you tell them exactly what you are supplying so they can quote you correctly.

 

john

[Dan Smith 10]

John,

 

Would you take on the job? (I'm assuming you're a heating engineer)

 

Would it be a problem to run hot water and just the towel rail? i.e. will the boiler have too much 'power' for just running a towel rail?

 

Dan

[Complete-Heat 10]

John,

 

Would you take on the job? (I'm assuming you're a heating engineer)

 

Would it be a problem to run hot water and just the towel rail? i.e. will the boiler have too much 'power' for just running a towel rail?

 

Dan

 

Not a problem. But for the towel warmer you need an engineer who knows how to downrate the boilers central heating output to match.

[jl-heating 10]

another thing to keep in mind when filling out a bench mark and notifying to building standards the installer has to confirm the correct connection of not only the flue and gas but also the hot and cold connections too.

the only way i would take on a job like this is i would supply the boiler,fit the boiler and commission it .

i would connect to your towel rail and supply and fit an external auto bypass valve,also leave pipe work under the floor ready for the rest of the circuit,

things you also need would be a inline water filter (sesi).

room stat,

programmer or boiler interlock,(same thing really)

cross bonding if in bathroom,

electrical test and notification if in special location.

 

its never as easy as it looks and despite what every one says not all plumbers want to rip you off and just want to make a living as i am sure you do.

 

get a few quotes and pick there brains ...

 

by buying your own stuff you wont save anything and if there is a problem they wont do a call out until the installer has first checked it and confirmed it is a manufacturers fault.

and guess what the installer did not supply the boiler so he will charge you too ..

 

when was the last time you bought an exhaust and fitted it your self..

 

a new boiler can be 1 of the best upgrades possible in a house all that heat and comfort it should be a pleasure not a hassel get professional in and let him work his magic..

 

good luck ..

[Complete-Heat 10]

I agree with John. You've far better cover and peace of mind if the installer supplies and fits the combi. Also, you will get an extended manufacturers guarantee.

 

You also get their experience on different boiler makes (the baxi 105he and worcester greenstar are worlds apart in my opinion).

 

I'd also strongly recommend fitting a Magnaclean or Boiler-buddy on the return side of the heating circuit.

[jl-heating 10]

i agree andy you can get spares for the baxi . it makes all the difference .

[Dan Smith 10]

Hi guys,

 

AFTer some further reading I've picked up some bad vibes about the Baxi's but I think that is mainly older models. I've not yet bought the boiler so am open to sensible quotes that include the supply of the boiler. ebay is my friend and so far, a three piece suite, taps and tiles have cost me £260, all brand new and all of decent quality. Found a Baxi 105he for £500, still in wrapping but minus the plumbing jig and flue.

 

As I said, money is tight but I did wonder whether the boiler was one money saving excercise too far.

 

JL - Could you provide a quote based on the detail provided, one with the boiler supplied and another with you supplying something toward the upper end of the scale. 28kw is what I believe I need.

 

Complete-Heat - Could you do the same please. Is the downgrading process something you could find out and do for me or do you need a bit of official looking paper to say you can do it?

 

Remember, I need all relevent certification soplease pipe up if you aren't certified to do any part of the job.

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

[Dan Smith 10]

Sorry, a couple of other things, how much is one of these Magnaclean thingies? I assume this is the filter as mentioned by JL?

 

Quotes should include all relevent bits and pieces such as the room stat and programmer as metioned by JL.

[nissan 10]

Dan, one further thing that people fail to appreciate is that if you were to hire a full set of tools including performance testing equipment to set the appliance up correct it would shock you into next week. I fail to understand how a kitchen fitter charges 1500 a basic fix, recieve a cost labour wise for a system upgrade and we are accused of daylight robbery My point being it allways just a pipe from a to b but it needs a professional approach, as trust me its not always that simple

[jl-heating 10]

magna cleans are about 80 pound new . there is 1 on ebay for 35 ...

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ADEY-MAGNA-CLEAN-PROFESSIONAL-22MM-BRAND-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ220208785845QQcategoryZ3191QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWINQ3aPOST0Q3aRECOQ3aBIDQQcmdZViewItem

 

8 days left to buy ./ :

 

500 for a 105 is cheap .. but you need a jig, i have no idea were the jig is they always come in a pack i can only assume it has been took from an empty property as many are, also you need the paper work with the boiler to warranty it...

if its a budget your on main do a boiler that is the same as the 105 (also owned by baxi just badged different.. but a little cheaper also the next model up the duo-tec they do the same boiler but badged up as a main also sedbuk A.(2 year warranty.) as i am a baxi approved installer i think i get an extra 1 year warranty i will have to check on that .

the magna clean and boiler buddy are a good idea but i never fit them (no body usually bothers to be honest) if the system need that much attention i generally power flush and add inhibitor, with a powerflush i can get the water in the system the same HP as tap water and get rid of cold spots and boiler noise etc all in 1 go. :

 

also the new raven heat is very competitive... and with a 5 year warranty (but horrible and i hate them they used to be so unreliable, but the rep says they are all sorted now. ) just a thought.

[Dan Smith 10]

Dan, one further thing that people fail to appreciate is that if you were to hire a full set of tools including performance testing equipment to set the appliance up correct it would shock you into next week. I fail to understand how a kitchen fitter charges 1500 a basic fix, recieve a cost labour wise for a system upgrade and we are accused of daylight robbery My point being it allways just a pipe from a to b but it needs a professional approach, as trust me its not always that simple

 

 

I've accused no one of daylight robbery. I very much enjoy searching out a bargain but am prepared to accept that getting a bargain boiler is not necessarily the correct move when you look at the total cost over lets say 5 years. Paying proper money to have one supplied and fitted should bring fewer headaches and cost less in the longrun.

 

JL, thanks for your suggesions, I am keen to get a decent boiler at a bargain price rather than a rubbish boiler at an even lower price. Need to fully understand warranty issues and the call out implications if I source a boiler and have it fitted by a professional.