How Much Does It Cost To Move A Boiler

How Much Does It Cost To Move A Boiler?

Whether you want to move your boiler into an airing cupboard, bathroom, attic, utility room or garage, it can be achieved by a professional in around 1 to 2 days.

Within this article, we discuss the costs involved in moving a boiler in your home as well as what factors affect the overall costs.

Fact: A combi boiler is the cheapest type of boiler to move because it has the least amount of external parts

What Boiler Do You Want Moved?

The type of boiler that you want to move will make a big difference to the overall costs. This is primarily due to the amount of external components that certain boilers (regular and system) contain to function. Below are the three main types of boilers found in UK homes:

What Is A Combi Boiler?

A combi boiler, (short for combination boiler), is a type of boiler that provides both heating and hot water without the need for a separate water tank or cylinder. Combi boilers are designed to be compact and efficient and they are a popular choice for homes with limited space. It also benefits from being the cheapest to move if you have one installed.

What Is A Traditional Boiler?

A traditional boiler, (also known as a traditional boiler), is a type of boiler that’s typically found in older homes. It requires a separate water tank and cylinder to provide hot water and heating. Unlike combi and system boilers, regular boilers don’t provide instant hot water and can take some time to heat the hot water. Therefore, it’s often more suitable for larger households with multiple bathrooms.

What Is A System Boiler?

A system boiler is a type of boiler that comes with a hot water cylinder, but unlike a regular boiler, it doesn’t require a separate tank in the loft. Instead, it uses the cylinder to store hot water and the boiler heats the water as and when it’s needed. It’s typically used in homes with a high hot water demand or no loft space.

How Much Does It Cost To Move A Boiler?

Due to the fact that boiler installations differ, it can be difficult to provide an exact figure to move a boiler. However, as an approximation of moving each type of boiler, you can expect to pay the following:

  • Moving a Combi Boiler – £500 – £1,000
  • Moving a Traditional Boiler – £800 – £1,500
  • Moving a System Boiler – £700 – £1,250

This cost can vary widely based on the location where you want to move the boiler and the complexity of the job. For example, if the new location is far away from the old location, the cost would be higher. Additionally, if the job requires extra work such as re-routing pipes and moving the flue pipe, this would add to the overall cost.

What Factors Affect The Cost?


Type of Boiler

As discussed above, the type of boiler you have in your home will make a big difference. This is primarily due to the additional parts that need to be moved such as the water tank in a traditional boiler.

Additional Pipework

More likely than not, when you move a boiler, there will be additional pipework required. Therefore, you’ll need to factor in the cost of the copper pipes as well as the labour costs. The labour in particular can be costly due to the need to lift carpets and floors, drill through walls and ceilings and various pipe bends that’ll be required.

New Flue

When moving your boiler, it’ll be unlikely that you can reuse the existing flue. Therefore, you’ll need to factor in the cost of the flue and the labour costs to install it.

Depending upon where you move your boiler, the flue can be installed through the roof or a wall. Each has their own complications and it can cost between £100 to £200 alone to install a new flue.

Location

Where you live in the UK can play a big role in the cost of moving a boiler. This is because if you live in a populated city such as central London, you’ll more than likely have to pay more than someone else living in a rural area.

Where Should You Move Your Boiler?

When considering where to move your boiler, there are several factors to take into account to ensure that the new location is safe, efficient and practical. Below are a few key considerations to keep in mind when determining the best location for a boiler:

Accessibility: The boiler should be easily accessible for maintenance, repairs and replacement. Ideally, it should be located in an easy area to access such as a utility room, basement or garage.

Ventilation: Adequate ventilation is necessary to ensure that the boiler operates safely and efficiently. The boiler should be located in an area that provides proper ventilation such as near an open window or a vent.

Distance from other appliances: The boiler should be located far enough away from other appliances and potential sources of ignition to prevent potential hazards. For example, boilers should be located at least 18 inches away from combustibles such as wood, paper or other flammable materials.

Proximity to the main hot water cylinder: If you have a system or traditional boiler, it would be best to locate the boiler near the main hot water cylinder. This will minimize the length of the pipe run, which reduces heat loss and also makes maintenance and repairs easier.

Plumbing and electrical access: The new location should have easy access to existing plumbing and electrical systems to minimize the need for additional installation work.

How Long Does It Take?

A professional plumber/heating engineer should be able to complete a boiler move within one or two days. Usually, they can complete it in a single day but certain boilers may require additional work.

Is It More Cost Effective To Install A New Boiler?

Depending upon the age of your current boiler, it may be more cost-effective to replace the boiler altogether. For example, if moving the existing boiler requires major changes to the plumbing, a new boiler may be easier to install, which will reduce labour costs.

It is worth baring in mind that when installing a new boiler, it’s the labour costs that are usually the most expensive part. Therefore, when you move a boiler, you are already part-paying for the installation anyway.

However, if your boiler is only a few years old and still under warranty, there isn’t much need to replace it with a new boiler.

Can You Move A Boiler Yourself?

It is not recommended to move a boiler by yourself because it’s a complex and potentially dangerous task that requires the skills and expertise of a plumber/heating engineer. Attempting to move a boiler without proper training and experience can result in damage to the boiler and the surrounding equipment. It can also void any existing warranties and be a hazard in your home.

Conclusion

Hopefully our guide on the cost of moving a boiler has answered all your questions and given you an idea of the work that’s involved. However, if require further information, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.

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