It never feels like it’s a good time to install a new gas boiler in your home, but when you do need to do it, it needs to happen as soon as possible. So what should you expect with a boiler installation?
But before we talk about the steps involved in a new gas boiler installation, you need to select an installer who meets your criteria.
Find An Installer You Can Trust
It is essential to shop around and contact multiple installers to discuss what they think you need for your hot water needs. When selecting an installer, make sure to:
- Research their online reviews about work completed
- Check the Gas Safe Register to ensure they are qualified to do the work
- Ensure they are easy to contact and communicate with
- And make sure they have given you options that meet your needs
UK residents have many alternatives when installing a new gas boiler, and it’s crucial to have an installer or company who can clearly communicate what you need and why.
Also, homeowners can be overwhelmed by industry jargon and might not ask the correct questions.
Here are some examples of questions to ask:
Do You Have A Gas Safe ID?
According to a study conducted by the Gas Safe Register back in 2016, illegal gas fitters installed over:
- 186,000 gas cookers
- 147,000 boilers
- 75,000 gas fires
- 32,000 gas meters
- And 645,000 gas pipeworks over one year
In the same study, the Gas Safe Register’s team investigated almost 5,000 illegal gas boiler installations. They found three in five had appliances operating in unsafe conditions, and one out of five jobs were so dangerous that the team had to disconnect the appliance immediately.
While this study is a few years old, we strongly recommend asking for a Gas Safe ID. Gas Safe Registered engineers are sometimes only qualified for specific gas-related tasks, which will be included in their listing on the study conducted by the Gas Safe Register.
How Long Have They Been In The Trade?
It’s a more general question, but experience matters. The last thing you want when an engineer is installing your boiler is for them to ask for assistance.
Most younger engineers will be shadowing experienced colleagues, but it’s good to ensure that the work is being done by someone who has been there, done that, and fitted the boiler without a fuss. This way, the job will be completed as soon as possible.
Are You Insured to Install a New Gas Boiler?
Most heating and gas engineers will have two types of insurance: public liability and employers’ liability insurance.
Public liability insurance covers the homeowner and the property if anything goes wrong with the installation or work the engineer performs.
Employers’ liability insurance covers the engineer who has employees if anything happens to them on the job site.
Ensuring your engineer is covered means more peace of mind for you.
What Boiler Do You Recommend?
With WarmZilla, you find the boiler you need via our intuitive questionnaire. However, this is not the norm within the industry sector.
The usual process is to rely on your engineer to suggest a boiler to meet your home’s needs. But with players like WarmZilla, you can review your options in depth.
For those not using our services… when selecting a new gas boiler, you must understand the three main types of boilers on the market and choosing the one that suits your needs.
Also, other questions that will need answering are:
- How much water does your household use?
- How large is the space for the boiler?
- And what is the boiler’s energy rating?
If this seems like a lot of extra research effort, it is, and our questionnaire can be done within minutes.
How Does Your Payment System Work?
Certain engineers need cash upfront to buy a high-value item like a boiler, so they consider it a deposit. However, most engineers will accept this deposit as a bank transfer because of the amount of money being moved.
But you must ask the engineer directly, as it can change depending on who you’re dealing with.
Be aware that no engineer should ask for the full quote amount upfront.
Once you’re comfortable with their payment method, it’s time to ask for a quote.
Getting The Quote for Your New Gas Boiler Installation
Once you’re happy with your selection, it’s time for the engineer to issue a quote. This quote should include the following information:
- Cost of power flushing the heating system
- Labour and items needed to complete the work
- And whether any system changes are required for the new boiler.
Now that you’ve accepted the quote, it’s time to install the actual boiler.
What Happens On Installation Day?
For many, the day of a new boiler installation can’t come soon enough. After all, living without hot water is a comfort we’ve all come to expect.
D-Day For Your Boiler
Depending on the project’s scope, a new gas boiler installation can take one to three days. However, a simple boiler exchange or swap will take a day.
Make sure to have someone at home to let in the engineers; alternatively, you will need to book the day off work or work remotely from home.
Before the engineers arrive, it is advisable to clear the area around the boiler of any items in the way and clean the zone. While the engineers would clear and clean the space for you, you will be freeing up their time to install the boiler.
Also, before the engineer gets to work, they will make sure to do a few checks such as finding out:
- How many radiators do you have?
- What’s the water pressure?
- How many bathrooms do you have?
- And where are the current boiler and flue?
Your boiler’s installation will occur in several steps which are as follows:
Removing The Old Boiler
The first step is to remove the old boiler. Your engineer’s timing will depend on where it is positioned and the size of the old boiler.
However, if it is located in an easy-to-reach spot with a simple heating system attached, this first step will be quickly completed.
Performing Checks
When the old boiler is removed, the engineer will need to thoroughly check the space and inspect the existing flue system.
If everything in the flue system is in working order, the engineer will most likely walk you through the new gas boiler installation process to check you understand what is going on.
After everyone is on the same page, the engineer will cover the floors with protective sheets to ensure a clean and safe installation process.
Flushing The System
According to British Standards, your engineer must flush (or clean) your heating system. Depending on the type of heating system in your home and its condition, the engineer may do a chemical flush, power flush, or a MagnaCleanse.
A chemical flush works with the home’s main water pressure and is circulated through the system.
If the engineer needs to be more aggressive with potential blockages and debris in the system, they will resort to a power flush. The engineer attaches a high-pressure pump and shoots a hard water jet through the system to perform a power flush.
The last flush method is called MagnaCleanse, which uses magnets, a cleaning solution, and a filtration system to remove debris and sludge. Sludge refers to the build-up of old rust in the system.
Ensuring the heating system is clean before fitting the new boiler is essential.
Potentially Upgrading Pipework
When performing the system flush, the engineer will have the opportunity to check the pipework. If there are any leaks or issues, the engineer will need to replace sections.
Replacing old piping can be a labour-intensive job and will increase the project’s scope from one day to a few.
If your engineer suggests replacing old piping, do it. Boilers are sensitive to pressure changes, and a leaking system will reduce their efficiency.
Installing The New Gas Boiler
It may come as a surprise to many, but the installation of the new boiler is only step 5. However, it should be straightforward if the engineer has done their work correctly and followed the previous steps.
As we mentioned, if you have a difficult space to work in, installation can take a bit longer.
Also, if you have asked to move the boiler to a new location, expect the engineer to need much more time. And if you need to relocate the boiler, expect your bill to increase.
Installing Accessories
Your engineer will likely suggest installing accessories for your heating system, such as boiler filters. While these boiler filters are not essential for the system’s functioning, they are worth it as they will:
- Help with the boiler’s efficiency
- Prolong the lifespan of the boiler
- And with certain brands, filters will increase the warranty on your boiler.
Other accessories your engineer will suggest include filling loops, smart radiator valves, and thermostats.
Engineers will also add a cleaning solution and a corrosion inhibitor.
Checking It All Works
When all the work is done and everything is connected, the engineer must check if the appliance functions properly. This check is referred to as ‘commissioning’. Commissioning must be done by the Gas Safe registered engineer who completed the work.
The Heating and Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC) has outlined the steps for commissioning a new boiler system.
Once the engineer is happy, they will conduct a short handover chat that will explain how the boiler operates, among other things.
Registration Of The Boiler
While an engineer can register your boiler, you can also do it. But make sure to confirm who is doing it; otherwise, your boiler won’t have a warranty.
All boilers will have a unique product ID number. This ID allows the manufacturer to track where their boilers are and if there is a default with the unit, to simply send you what is required to fix it.
And just like that, you’re done.
The Work Is Complete – What Now?
When the work is done, the engineer will issue you with a Gas Register booklet to keep track of annual services.
It’s important to have an annual service as it keeps your boiler’s warranty valid and offers many other benefits.
For those wanting a new boiler installed and who understand what to expect, you can start with us right now.
If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us or chat with one of our consultants in the pop-up window at the bottom right-hand corner.
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