Thanks to the everchanging evolution of technology, the simple answer to this is, no, you don’t need to have a home survey before buying a new boiler.
Over the last few years, consumers have been making more and more purchases. More recently, we have seen this bridge over into the boiler and heating industry where companies are now offering instant online prices for new boilers with installation as quick as 24 hours later, available.
You can now fill in a quick form online, explain what you are looking for, get a price on your phone and have your new boiler fitted the next day. Great right? I mean, you buy everything else online so why not your boiler? Many will argue that getting a physical home survey is important, however, with technology being so advanced today, and with the communication platforms that are currently available today, customers are now able to send images of their boiler, their flue and answer any queries regarding what they are looking for, all from the comfort of their own home.
Looking for a new boiler? Then why not try out our Boiler Comparison tool. This tool allows you to compare up to three boilers from different brands at the same time, helping you find the perfect new boiler for your home. Our new Boiler Comparison tool has all the information you need for each boiler so that you can make an educated and informed choice.
WarmZilla also understands that buying a new boiler can be expensive. For this reason, we offer boiler finance, helping you spread the cost, making it more affordable to get that perfect boiler for your home.
What is a home boiler survey?
A home boiler survey is an appointment where the surveyor will engage with you, regarding your home and heating needs to ensure that a suitable boiler is selected and installed.
Different types of home surveys can be carried out before getting your new or replacement boiler, these include:
Online Survey
An online survey allows you to answer a simple set of questions regarding your current heating system, including the boiler and the boiler flue as well as your future demands for central heating and hot water. You will be asked to explain what type of property you have, whether it be a flat, a detached or semi-detached house, etc, as well as how many bedrooms/bathrooms you may have. If you have any queries, you can discuss this with the operations team via phone, email, or live chat. If the team has any queries for you, you may be asked to send an image of your boiler via email or message.
Video Survey
This is a quick and easy option for homeowners who prefer to have their survey conducted electronically. All you have to do is download the survey app and a surveyor will guide you through the survey process – examining your current system and assessing your heating and hot water needs.
Home Survey
During this appointment, a surveyor will visit your home and examine your current heating system – this includes the boiler, gas meter and bathrooms and any other amenities etc. They’ll also ask you about your requirements for heating and hot water. By the end of your survey, you will be given a quote for your new boiler installation. A full house survey usually takes around 1-4 hours, depending on the size and type of property you have. Please note, all Gas Safe Engineers should provide you with their in-date Gas Safety ID before entering your home.
What are the benefits of an online survey?
Don’t have time for a home survey? Don’t worry about it! The beauty of online surveys is that you can do them instantly, in the comfort of your own home. For some people the convenience of this option is fantastic. We all have busy schedules, so who wants to take an afternoon out of work to get quotes for a new boiler?
- Don’t have to take a whole day off work for the survey alone
- Easy and convenient
- Installation with 48 hours
- Saves time
- Qualify for online discounts
Why is it important to have a survey before buying a new boiler?
You may not need to have a physical home survey, but any company, whether it be online or offline, will ask you a set of questions regarding your current boiler, the location of your boiler, your existing boiler flue and what you are looking for from your new boiler. This is because choosing the correct boiler for your home is very important. Choosing a boiler that is not efficient enough to meet your demands and needs, will end up costing you more than it should from working overtime on trying to heat your home. On the other hand, choosing a boiler that is too large for your home will result in you wasting money.
When it comes to the energy efficiency of your new boiler, you want it to have an ErP rating above 90%. In financial terms, for example, if your boiler’s efficiency rating is 93%, 7p for every £1 you spend, is being wasted. If you have your boiler on for a total of 8 hours a day, and your boiler’s efficiency is only 90%, you would be wasting a total of £292 a year on your energy bills.
The WarmZilla Way
With WarmZilla, we aim to make the customer journey as easy and simple as possible. If you are looking to purchase a new or replacement boiler, then all you have to do is follow these steps:
- Head over to our website, www.warmzilla.co.uk
- Click on ‘Get your quote’
- Start your survey by entering the beginning of your postcode
- Select your current boiler’s fuel source.
Please note that we are currently not selling LPG or Oil boilers, but will be in the future - Then select what boiler type you have.
If you are unsure what type of boiler you have installed in your home, we have a blog that explains all boiler types which can help you to identify what boiler you have in your home - Your current boiler’s location.
The survey will then ask you if your current boiler is working and whether or not you want it installed in the same place. If you are converting from a system or regular boiler to a combi boiler, you may find that you have a hot water cylinder in an airing cupboard of your home. If you are having a new combi boiler installed, you will no longer require this additional cylinder, meaning that your boiler can be located almost anywhere in your home - What type of home do you have.
You will then be asked to describe what type of home you have. This refers to whether or not your home is detached, semi-detached etc - How many bedrooms and bathrooms are in your home?
You will be asked this so that we can ensure that the correct kW size boiler is offered to you. If you are unsure what size kW boiler you need in your home, we have a separate blog that covers this. We also have a blog explaining exactly what kW means when it comes to your boiler, if you want to check that blog out too? After this one of course - You will then be asked where your boiler flue is located
Your boiler flue will need to be replaced when you get your new boiler installed, to keep in line with building regulations and manufacturer’s specifications. The next question in the survey will depend on whether your boiler flue is located through a wall or the roof. If your boiler flue comes out the side of your house, you will be asked how close your boiler flue is to the ground and its distance from your neighbours’ house. However, if your boiler flue comes through the roof of your home, then you will be asked whether your roof is either flat or sloped - One of the final questions in our 3-minute survey will be whether your boiler flue is located under a carport, balcony or any other structure
- Once you have finished answering these questions, you will then be given a list of boilers that are compatible with your requirements. If you would like to compare the boilers that are listed as most compatible with your demands and needs, you can use our Boiler Comparison tool, which allows you to compare up to three boilers at one time, so that you can find the best new boiler for your home
Did you know that when you buy a new boiler with WarmZilla, you don’t just get the boiler alone? We have listed below everything that your boiler package includes:
- Flue Kit
- Neomitis RF Digital Wireless Room Thermostat
- System Cleanse of your current central heating system
- Magnetic System Filter for ongoing protection
- Chemical Inhibitor for extra protection for your new boiler
- Free removal of your old central heating system
- Installation by a Gas Safe Engineer
Do I need a home survey before installing a heat pump?
When it comes to installing a heat pump, getting a physical at-home survey is essential. Online surveys are not available for a heat pump. The property will need to be assessed in many different aspects to determine if a heat pump is suitable for your home. This can be time-consuming as you would need to book an appointment with a suitably qualified heat pump company, collect 3 heat pump quotes, consider the quotations and then purchase with one of the companies and book an installation date. This is a slow but necessary process.
Installation time depends on the type of heat pump system you are having installed. For a ductless air-source system, it can take between 3-4 days to install, while it may take longer to install a ground source heat pump, especially if you need to dig a borehole.
Unfortunately, although getting an online survey for a heat pump is currently unavailable, everything you need to know to purchase your new or replacement boiler is on the WarmZilla website. Our 90-second survey asks you the questions above, once the survey is completed, we will provide you with a list of the best boilers for your needs. And you can do this all whilst enjoying a warm cuppa with your slippers on. What more could you want?
