Boiler 5 April 2023

Gas Boiler Installation Guide for Homeowners

Gas boilers are an essential component of modern homes, providing heating and hot water throughout the year. However, installing a gas boiler is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of the gas boiler installation process for homeowners, covering everything from choosing the right boiler to finding a qualified installer.

Choosing the right boiler

There are many different types and sizes of gas boilers available, so it’s important to choose the right one for your home. Consider factors such as the size of your property, your hot water usage, and your budget when selecting a boiler.

Getting a quote

Before you begin the installation process, it’s important to get a quote from a qualified installer. This will give you an idea of the cost of the installation, as well as any additional work that may be required, such as upgrading your gas supply.

Choosing an installer

It’s essential to choose a qualified and experienced installer to carry out your gas boiler installation. Look for a Gas Safe registered engineer with good reviews and references.

Preparing for installation

Your installer will need access to your home, as well as the space where the boiler will be installed. Make sure the area is clear and free from clutter before the installation begins.

Installation

The installation process can take several days, depending on the complexity of the installation. Your installer will need to connect the boiler to your gas supply and water system, as well as install any additional components such as radiators or thermostats.

Testing and commissioning

Once the installation is complete, your installer will need to test and commission the boiler to ensure it’s working correctly. They will also provide you with information on how to use and maintain your new boiler.

Registering your boiler

It’s important to register your new gas boiler with the manufacturer and with Gas Safe. This ensures that your warranty is valid, and that your boiler is registered on the Gas Safe database.

Questions Worth Asking Any Installer

Whoever you use, these five questions will tell you most of what you need to know:

• What is your Gas Safe registration number? You can check it in a minute at gassaferegister.co.uk. Ours is 951167.
• Is the quote fixed, and is it in writing? Ours are both, and they are free.
• What’s included? Removal and disposal of the old boiler, a system clean or filter where needed, and the Building Regulations notification should all be in the price rather than added later.
• Who registers the boiler with the manufacturer? If the answer is “you do”, and you forget, your warranty may not be valid when you come to claim on it. We do it for you.
• What happens if something goes wrong afterwards? Our workmanship carries a 12-month guarantee on installations (90 days on repairs), separate from the manufacturer’s warranty on the boiler itself.

How Long It Takes, Realistically

A straight swap — same boiler type, same position — is usually a day. Moving the boiler to a different wall, or converting from a regular or system boiler to a combi, is more like two, because the pipework has to be reworked and the old cylinder and tanks come out.

Expect to be without heating and hot water for most of the working day. If a job is going to run overnight we will tell you before we start, not at five o’clock.

What It Costs

We do not quote boiler installations over the phone, because the honest answer depends on your house rather than on a national average. What moves the price is the boiler you choose, whether it is staying in the same position, whether the gas supply needs upgrading, and what condition your existing pipework and radiators are in.

So we come out, look at it, and give you a fixed written price free of charge. Materials are agreed with you before we fit or order anything, so nothing appears on the invoice that you have not already approved.

Call 01732 792 454 or request a callback. We cover Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding Kent villages — see our coverage areas.