We get asked all the time how long it takes to install a new boiler system in a home.
It’s only reasonable to wonder, given the impending disturbance to your home life (not to mention your boiler and water heater).
Time required is contingent on too many factors to provide a straightforward answer, including:
- regardless of whether or not you need a boiler.
- what gas you’re running on.
- regardless of whether you are moving your boiler.
- Can you tell me about the boiler you’re having put in?
- whether you are switching boiler types, and if so, between what types.
- any nuances brought on by the house’s construction, the city’s water system, and so forth.
However, a new boiler installation would likely take anything from six hours to four days. Below, we’ll dissect several instances to give you a better grasp of the process and give you a better concept of what we mean.
Last but not least, we haven’t accounted for difficult scenarios because they’ll vary from instance to case.
Therefore, the below ballpark figures reflect the standard home configuration.
To replace a boiler, it usually takes between 4 and 6 hours:
Installing a new boiler of the same type as the old one is the quickest and easiest option.
Assuming the old one was only broken, the new one will go in the same spot, and the water, central heating, and gas lines will already be in place and meet the new model’s standards, this is the case.
Isolating and draining the systems, turning off the power and the thermostat, removing the old boiler, and replacing it with the new one are all that is required to install a new boiler in this setting. In less than a day, a single engineer can finish this task.
Boiler replacement time: one to two days:
Relocating an existing boiler or installing a new one is not something that can often be accomplished in a single workday, even if the job is done by professionals.
This is due of the necessity of connecting new electric power and thermostat connections, as well as installing new water and gas pipes.
Some light framing and brick wall cutting may be necessary to accommodate the chimney and the overflow. If the old boiler needs to be relocated or removed, that process might take some time as well.
A new combi boiler requires only a few of days to install:
Given the similarities in effort required for both tasks, the time required to construct a boiler in a location where none now exists is likely to be comparable to that required to transfer an existing boiler.
The time you save by not tearing down the old structure will be used to install fresh types of pipes and fittings for your water and gas supply.
In the absence of a boiler, indoor heating is unlikely. When a new central heating system and combi boiler are also being installed, the time required to finish the project increases significantly.
Estimates for a new system often range from one to two weeks because of the extensive work required (including removing existing carpeting, flooring, and floorboards, as well as installing pipes and radiators).
This is fantastic news since it may be accomplished simultaneously with the boiler installation.
It takes around two to three days to switch the boiler type:
New boilers often fall into one of three categories: Combi, heat-only, or system. Switching between them is as time-consuming as installing a new system due to the differences in plumbing and electricity.
Changing from a combi unit to a heat-only or system model is the most significant upgrade.
- A cylinder is required to store the water for the central heating system when using a system boiler. This requires removing flooring and installing new plumbing because it is typically found in an airing cupboard or close to the boiler. The electric mains will also need to be supplied to any immersion heaters installed in the cylinder.
- An upgrade to a heat-only boiler necessitates the addition of a cold-water tank and an expansion tank; the latter should be placed in the attic or on the highest point of your property. This is because gravity, and not mains pressure, is used to power the system. There will be additional pipes to set up, thus extra time is needed.
Any additional time required to convert from a system or heat-only boiler to a combi boiler will be spent dismantling the unused cylinders and tanks, cutting out the surplus piping, and cleaning up.
Some people elect to keep them installed in case they change their minds about upgrading in the future.
It’s up to you, but remember that cylinders and tanks may take up more room than you might want and that, after sitting unused for a while, their individual parts may need to be stripped and cleaned.
Boiler relocation and replacement: three to four days:
Changing the kind and location of your boiler is the most time-consuming task you’ll face. The tasks listed under “changing the kind” and “changing the position,” among others, are all rolled into one massive process, which can take several days.
Water, gas, and electrical supplies to the boiler may need to be re-routed, as may any additional piping, tanks, and cylinders (or their removal).
This may require the installation of new brackets, the knocking through of walls, and the re-routing of existing pipes.
To switch fuels takes about two to three days:
It is important to remember that upgrading to a new boiler from a different fuel source would necessitate additional plumbing and electrical work.
An additional amount of time must be allotted for the installation procedure if, for instance, an old oil or gas boiler is being replaced by a new electric boiler in the same location.
Not all exchanges can be made directly:
Remember that not all boilers, cylinders, and tanks are created equal and that the central heating system’s piping may be too little or too large for a specific boiler model.
Having your gas system checked by a Gas Safe Engineer will put your mind at ease if you have any doubts.
When a boiler reaches the end of its useful life, it’s not just the boiler that may need to be replaced; other components of the system may also be worn out.
The installation cost should be accurately estimated:
The professionals we employ make it simple to locate the ideal replacement boiler for your home, however, installation times vary widely. Due to this, the durations mentioned above should only be seen as rough estimates.
Boiler replacement and installation are the only significant expenses included in these quotes; other major renovations, such as those involving the water, gas, or electrical systems, or the addition of new fixtures like tubs, showers, or washbasins, are not covered.
Therefore, if you want an exact price for installing a new central heating boiler in your house, it’s best to speak with an Ideal authorised installation in your region.
