Boiler Replacement Cost Guide

If your old boiler has broken down, you’re moving into a new house or simply want an upgrade, check out our boiler replacement cost guide.

Choosing a replacement boiler

When choosing a new boiler you’ll 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 and 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.

Condensing boiler prices

Under section L of UK boiler regulations, all new boilers must be condensing models, which are up to 12% more efficient than non-condensing boilers. 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.

Intergas 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.

Oil 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 to choose from; select one that’s the right size for your home’s heating and hot water needs. Some example prices for oil-fired boilers 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 £740 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.

Electric boiler running costs

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:

• 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 £870 a year to run

Get more information on electric boiler running costs.

Ecogen boiler prices

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.

Boiler repair costs

On the whole, it’s 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.

Central heating boiler prices

Choose from 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 replacing your boiler always make sure you hire a qualified engineer 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
• Solid fuel burning boilers – hire a HETAS registered engineer to replace your boiler

Boiler replacement grants

You could receive a grant for replacing your boiler 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 Warm Front scheme – those in England can receive up to £3,500 off the cost of replacing their boiler if they meet eligibility criteria
• Warm Homes scheme – a similar scheme to Warm Front 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.

*Sources: Which?, Department of Energy and Climate Change, Ideal, Grant Vortex, Intergas, Worcester Bosch, Baxi, British Gas, Energy Saving Trust, Potterton, Gas Safe, OFTEC, HETAS, Directgov . All information is accurate as of January 2012