A gas boiler is the cheapest and the most efficient option for heating your home. Hence a vast majority of the homes in the UK have gas mains. The price of a new gas boiler depends on the type of boiler, brand, and model.
Price of a New Gas Boiler A boiler is a complicated machine. It is at the heart of a home. Without a boiler, you won’t have a heating or hot water. The average price of a new boiler starts from £500 and goes all the way up to £2,500 and even more. These prices vary based on size, type, and brand.
Households usually prefer buying combi boilers these days because they are compact and energy-efficient. Finder Energy Savings gives average prices of gas boilers depending on their size:
| Boiler Type | Property Size | Average Price |
| Combi Boiler (Gas) | 1 to 2 bedrooms | £1,000 |
| Combi Boiler (Gas) | 3 to 5 bedrooms | £1,500 |
| Combi Boiler (Gas) | 5 and more bedrooms | £2,500 |
Disclaimer: Note that the above-mentioned prices are approximate. The prices may vary depending on factors such as model, brand, and type of boiler and any additional work required such as relocating, flushing the pipes, etc.
Factors Affecting the Price of a New Boiler
It’s never easy to quote a broad figure for the cost of a new boiler. Certain factors affect the price of a new boiler. These include:
Brand: Reputable boiler brands usually have expensive gas boilers. The price also depends on the output and energy-efficiency of the model. When you are buying a boiler, choose from Worcester, Ideal Boilers, and Vaillant even if they are expensive. They are trusted brands.
Size of the boiler: Each home has different heating and hot water needs. If your heating needs are higher, you will need a boiler with a greater output. The bigger the size, the higher the price.
Type of boiler: You have 3 main options when it comes to the type of boiler – conventional boiler, system boiler or combi boiler.
Conventional boilers are the heat-only boilers. They have a separate cold-water tank and a cylinder for hot heating. The boiler heats the water and the pump pushes it into the hot water cylinder for use.
A system boiler is slightly similar to a conventional boiler. It uses a hot water cylinder but not a cold-water tank.
Combi boiler is a compact boiler that provides hot water on demand. It does not have a separate cold-water tank or a hot water cylinder.
Each of these boilers has a different price range and accompanying costs.
Material cost: There is always a need to get new parts and materials when installing new boilers. There could also be a need to upgrade the gas pipework. You might have to upgrade the condensate drain pipe and boiler flue.
You could need another heat exchanger or a new part to install the boiler. All these materials add to the cost of installing the boiler.
Cost of labour: Installing a new boiler involves pipework, installation and making electrical connections. Sometimes, you need to clean the tanks and test the soil for leaks. If the task also requires removing old boiler, water tanks or cylinder, this means spending more hours on the job. Hence you will have to pay more in terms of labour cost.
Warranty: Boilers come with different warranty periods. Usually, a boiler with up to 5 years of warranty is more expensive as compared to the boiler that only has 2 years of warranty. It’s not advisable to buy a boiler with a limited warranty. If something goes wrong with the parts of the boiler and the warranty is out, you will have to spend money out of pocket. Such repairs are expensive.
Cost of Boiler Installation
You will realize the cost of installing a boiler is higher than the cost of a new boiler itself. Love Money Magazine says boiler installation cost significantly varies depending on how much work is required, your location, parts needed and who you hire to get the job done.
If the job involves installing a combi boiler in the same location, you can expect to pay £540. On the other hand, if the job involves installing a new system in a new location, the cost of installation could go as higher as £1,440.
You might need additional services such as a chemical flush, mechanical flush or pipework. Each task could cost £200, £510 and £200 respectively. These are estimated figures. The prices still may vary as per the amount of work required. A new boiler and its installation could cost you between £1,040 and £4,250 altogether.
Replacing a conventional boiler with a new combi boiler
This job involves removing a hot water cylinder tank. You will need extra parts to install a combi boiler in the same location. The installation will cost around £2,400. The job will take between 2 to 3 days if no complication arises. If you choose not to remove the tank and pipework, this will make the installation cheaper. However, in that case, the new system will not be as efficient as it should be.
Replacing a combi boiler with an older combi boiler
If you want to install a new combi boiler in the same location as the old combi boiler, this will cost you up to £1,700. The installation should take 5 to 8 hours. The boiler will be ready to use on the same day.
Prices vary with installers as well
All Gas Safe engineers charge a slightly varying amount for the work they do. If you choose an installer from a national company, they will charge a higher price for their services.
Hiring a local installer, on the other hand, is cheaper. Their charges are low not because they offer substandard services, but because they don’t have to worry about overhead expenses like large companies.
It is best to get a quote from a large company as well as local installers and compare their prices and services before making a final decision.
Extra Services that Influence Cost of Boiler Installation
The cost of a new gas boiler installation increases if you add the following services:
Power flushing: It’s the process of pumping chemicals and water through the radiators and pipes to get rid of the rush and any built-up grime clogging the heating system. It’s beneficial to get a power flush when you are having a new boiler installed at your property.
The cost of power flushing depends on the number of radiators in the house. Sometimes, getting a power flush becomes mandatory especially if your system is clogged. This could undermine the efficiency of a new boiler.
Heating controls and thermostats: Upgrading to newer controls and thermostats is a personal choice. Analog systems are cheaper as compared to a wireless one.
Condensing pipe: Combi boilers need condensing pipe. The price of the pipe depends on its length and then there is installation cost. Usually, both are cheap but if additional work is needed for installing the pipe, you might have to pay a higher price.
Flue: If you are switching to another type of boiler, you might have to replace the old flue. The price of flue depends on the type of boiler.
Boiler relocation: Relocating the boiler is the most expensive type of installation. The engineer has to remove and relocate the water and gas pipes. Once the job is complete, they have to plaster and decorate the place as well.
Can I Get Help with the New Boiler Cost?
Buying a new boiler is a costly affair. Some schemes and plans help pay the cost of a new boiler. Grants are available to individuals with income less than £15,860. Here are some options:
Energy Company Obligation: As per the ECO scheme, companies must contribute a certain amount of their profit towards helping the ones struggling with fuel poverty. They help consumers by offering free or subsidized boilers.
To qualify for the benefit, you don’t have to be the customer of the energy company. However, there is still an eligibility criterion you must fit. Your monthly income must be less than £15,860 and you must be a receiver of one of these: Pension Credit, Job Seekers Allowance or Working Tax Credit.
Payment plans by manufacturers: Some manufacturers are willing to offer payment plans to consumers. This allows you to pay the price of the boiler in installments over 1 to 5 years. Keep in mind when you choose this option, you have to pay an interest rate. Make sure you add insurance and maintenance services in your contract.
Personal loan: You can get a personal loan from a bank or even buy the boiler with your credit card. Do some research to find out which option makes it more convenient for you to afford a new boiler and pay the cost of installation.
Signs You Need a New Boiler
If you haven’t yet considered getting a new gas boiler, take out a little time to watch out for certain signs. Boilers present signs indicating you need a new unit. Watch out for the following:
Old age: A boiler that is more than 10 years old is always worth replacing. Such boilers consume more energy. Even if they are functioning well, you could be saving money on heating bills by switching to a modern boiler.
Regular repairs: When the boiler becomes inefficient with age, and it needs constant repairs, you are better off replacing the unit. When the heating engineer comes to your place for an annual boiler service, ask them if it’s better to replace the boiler.
Odd noise: With age, the parts of boilers wear out. Sometimes, having the whole system replaced is more cost-effective than repairing the parts. If it’s making popping, knocking, hissing or gurgling sounds, call a heating engineer to inspect the unit.
Leakage: A boiler that leaks are dangerous whether it’s leaking water or gas. Call a heating engineer to check the extent of the problem. They might recommend getting a new boiler.
Inefficient performance: If the temperature of the house keeps on fluctuating or you don’t have enough hot water to even take a shower, you need a more efficient boiler. Chances are the boiler has worn out or you need more output. In such a situation, repairs are not the solution.
Boiler Regulations for New Boilers
When you are getting a new boiler, you must make sure it complies with the government regulations for energy efficiency and safety. Such as:
Buy a condensing model: A gas boiler must be a condensing model. Such models are almost around 12 percent more efficient than non-condensing models. These units can recover more heat from the waste gases released by the system.
Upgrade heating controls: With a new boiler, make sure you install proper heating controls. This lets you monitor and control the timing and temperature of the heating. It would let you monitor the usage of the heating as well.
Check the building regulations: As per the building regulations, all new boilers must be A-rated or at least 88 percent energy-efficient.
Get planning permission: This is optional. You might require planning permission if you have to fit the flue outside your property. Learn more about it by checking with your Local Building Authority.
Summing Up
If you have plans of buying a new boiler, it will cost you between £500 and £2,500. This does not include the cost of installation. Installing a new boiler can cost between £540 and £1,440. If you are upgrading from a conventional boiler to a combi boiler, your central heating system will undergo some major upgrades and this will increase the cost of installation.
Although new boilers and their installation are costly, in the long run, you are saving money. You won’t have to call a heating engineer because of a boiler breakdown. If you need help paying for the cost of the boiler, government schemes are there to assist.
