Are you planning on replacing your boiler? Then you'll need to choose the right boiler for your home and have it installed by a boiler engineer. Read our guide and find out how much boiler replacement costs; whether you're planning on installing an oil, gas or electric model.
How much does a Boiler Replacement cost?
Average cost in UK: £2300
Get local prices
£600
LOW COST
£4000
HIGH COST
£2300
AVG COST
Next Step: Find out exactly how much your project will cost.
How much does a Boiler Replacement cost?
Average cost in UK: £2300
Get local prices
£600
LOW COST
£4000
HIGH COST
£2300
AVG COST
If you are planning to repair, replace or upgrade your boiler, because the old boiler has broken down or you’re moving into a new house, for example, our boiler replacement cost guide will provide valuable information about central heating boiler prices for different types of boilers, including condensing boilers, Intergas boilers, oil boilers, Ecogen boilers, and central heating boilers.
Our guide will also help you choose a replacement boiler, the cost to replace a boiler, how to hire a boiler engineer, and it will also help you understand more about grants, rules and regulations.
Choosing a replacement boiler
When choosing a new boiler and trying to calculate the cost to replace boiler systems, you’ll first of all have to consider:
1) Whether to choose a regular system boiler or a combi boiler – Regular system boilers have a separate cylinder to store hot water in and are good for households with extensive hot water needs. For smaller homes with only one bathroom or less extensive hot water needs, a combi boiler may be a better choice. The combi boiler heats water on demand, which can reduce your energy bills, plus it doesn’t have a hot water tank so it can fit into smaller spaces.
2) Which fuel to use – this will likely be determined by where you live and which fuel you already heat with. Gas is the most popular heating fuel in the UK; used by 69% of homes, says the Department of Energy and Climate Change. According to Which? gas is also the cheapest fuel to heat with. Oil and electric boilers are more expensive all-round but are good options if you live off the gas mains.
3) Which brand of boiler you choose – there are many well-known boiler brands to choose from such as Vaillant, Baxi, Intergas and Ecogen. Shop around to find the right boiler for your property.
Under section L of UK boiler regulations, all new boilers must be condensing models, which are up to 25% more efficient than non-condensing boilers. This should positively impact on your bills to and according to Energy Saving Trust UK boiler replacement can save as much as £310 per year.
Condensing boilers recover more heat from waste gases, making them cheaper to run and more eco-friendly. There are some rare instances where you may not be able to install a condensing boiler, for example if it can’t be positioned safely, even with the aid of an extended flue. If this is the case, an engineer will provide you with a certificate to prove this and you will be able to install a non-condensing model instead. Prices for condensing boilers will vary depending on size and make; here are some example costs:
A gas Ideal Logic Code combi condensing boiler costs £1,250
A Grant Vortex wall hung external oil condensing boiler costs £1,500
Get more information on condensing boiler prices.
If you’re looking for a replacement combi boiler, Intergas makes high-efficiency condensing boilers which are great for the environment and will save you money on your fuel bills over time. Costs vary, for example:
- A combi compact HRE model costs between £704.09 and £855.29 depending on size
Get more information on Intergas boiler prices.
If you live in a rural area that isn’t on the gas or electric mains you may need to install a replacement oil boiler. There are a wide range of oil boilers and to choose from; select one that’s the right size for your home’s heating and hot water needs. Some examples of oil condensing boiler prices for can be found below:
- A Worcester Greenstar Carway external system oil boiler will cost £2,100
- A Grant Vortex Pro External combi oil boiler costs £2,310
- According to Which? it will cost around £1,100 a year to run an oil boiler (based on heating and hot water for a three-bed, semi-detached, well-insulated home)
Get more oil boiler prices.
Even though it’s cheaper to run a gas boiler; with the cost of gas set to rise considerably, installing an electric boiler may be a good option if you wanted to look into oil boiler replacement, for example:
- A replacement electric boiler will cost from around £500 depending on what make and size you choose
- Which? estimates that an electric boiler will cost around £1,600 a year to run
Get more information on electric boiler running costs.
Baxi Ecogen boilers provide gas central heating and hot water as well as providing your home with electricity as a bi-product. This can cut your yearly fuel bills by £600 and your carbon emissions by around 40%. Baxi Ecogen boilers come in different sizes and cost more than your average boiler; although they will save you more off your fuel bills compared to regular boilers. A Baxi Ecogen costs:
- £8,781.48 from mytub.co.uk
- £7,127,82 from bhl.co.uk
Get more information on Ecogen boiler prices.
In certain instances, it can be cheaper to repair a boiler rather than replace it completely. However, always seek advice from a qualified boiler engineer to establish whether you need to repair or replace. Taking out boiler insurance may be a good idea to cover the cost of any unexpected repairs; without insurance you will often pay a higher repair fee.
- Annual boiler repair insurance costs between £156 and £324 from British Gas
- Other boiler repair costs will vary depending on the problem, the area you live in and the type of boiler you have. You are likely to have to pay expensive emergency call-out fees (especially in winter), plus hourly rates. Always get at least three quotes before you hire a boiler engineer to carry out repair work
Get more information about boiler repair costs.
Opt for either a system or combi boiler to provide central heating and hot water for your home. The price of central heating boilers will vary depending on what area you live in, the size of your home and whether you need radiators/a heating distribution system installed too.
- A heat only Potterton Promax 30 HE Plus boiler costs £850
Get more central heating boiler prices.
Hiring a boiler engineer
When you are replacing a boiler, always make sure you hire a qualified engineer as this is essential for safety purposes. Choose the right type of engineer to install your boiler:
Gas boiler replacement – by law anyone who replaces, repairs or services gas boilers needs to be Gas Safe registered.
Electric boiler replacement – hire a qualified electrician who can comply with British Standards 7671: 2008 Requirements for Electrical Installations
Oil boiler replacement – ideally, hire a member of OFTEC, the Oil Firing Technical Association. The will able to give you an estimate of the oil boiler replacement cost and timescale.
Solid fuel burning boilers – hire a HETAS registered engineer to replace your boiler.
Contact one of our trusted tradesmen to be able to learn more about boiler replacement costs.
Boiler replacement grants
Spend less money on replacing your boiler: you could receive a boiler replacement grant through one of the following schemes:
The Scottish boiler scrappage scheme – receive £400 off the cost of replacing your old boiler with a new energy saving recommended model if you live in Scotland
The Green Deal – The cost of boiler replacement can be spread and supported under the government’s Green Deal which replaced the old Warm Front scheme in 2013.
Warm Homes scheme – a scheme that subsidises the average cost of boiler replacement for residents in Northern Ireland
The Fuel Poverty scheme – for Welsh residents
Energy supplier grants – energy suppliers are obliged under Carbon Emission Reduction Target guidelines to provide grants for boiler replacement to vulnerable customers
Local government grants – check with your local authority to see if you’re eligible for a grant towards the cost of replacing your boiler.
Boiler replacement rules and regulations
When replacing your boiler it’s essential that you comply with UK installation laws for energy efficiency purposes and to keep your home safe:
Planning permission – you’ll only need planning permission when replacing your boiler if the work involves fitting a flue outside of your home
Building regulations – require all new boilers to be rated A or 88% efficient on the SEDBUK scale
Heating controls must be installed when replacing your boiler. Heating controls can save you £55 and 280kg of CO2 per year, says the Energy Saving Trust
Get more information on boiler regulations.
Find Local Boiler Replacement Services
Should you wish to learn more about central heating boiler replacement and the typical boiler replacement cost please do not hesitate to use our superb network of trusted tradesmen. Contact a boiler replacement expert through Wisetradesmen and you can soon start enjoying a warm home for less.