How difficult is it to move a boiler?
There are many reasons you may want to consider relocating your boiler. It might be that your boiler is taking up space in your kitchen or that it’s located in your bedroom and makes too much noise at night. Maybe you’re switching from a conventional boiler to a combi and want to change its current position. Whatever your reason, moving a boiler is certainly doable.
We’ve put together this guide to advise you on how to find a new position for your boiler as well as how long it could take and how much it may cost.
Where is the best place to put a combi boiler?
Once you’ve decided you want to move your boiler, you need to decide where you want to move it to.
Firstly, you should think about practicality. Moving your boiler is a substantial task and you want to be happy with its new position. How easy will it be to access your boiler should you need to repressurise it? Can an engineer get to it without difficulty?
You should also take into consideration how practical it will be to install the boiler in your chosen place. Carpet is easy to take up so that the pipework can be laid for your new boiler, however if you have tiled or concrete flooring, the pipes may need to be run through a wall or even a ceiling. This may create more mess and could cost more.
You might also consider moving your boiler into the loft. To find out more about the benefits and repercussions of doing this, read our paragraph further down the page.
Secondly, there are some regulations to consider if you wish to move your boiler to another room of the house.
According to regulations, gas condensing boilers need to be positioned a certain distance away from doors or windows. This is a requirement due to the minimum flue clearance distance which states that the flue needs to be at least 1,200 mm away from an opening door or window.
Access to a waste pipe is required for a boiler, which makes a bathroom or utility room a convenient location. Bear in mind that the greater the distance between the boiler and the waste pipe, the more pipes are needed to connect the two. This could increase the cost.
How much does it cost to move a boiler?
There are a variety of costs associated with moving a boiler, and the figures provided may be impacted by additional factors that we haven’t taken into consideration. Every home is different and some relocations may be easier than others. The figures we’ve provided are an estimate.
Firstly, you need to choose a new boiler. This could cost anything from £700 to £2,000 depending on the type. Some other products that may need to be purchased for the relocation include:
- Boiler flue
- Pipework and additional fittings (rawl plugs, screws, etc.)
- Extension flue pipe
- Magnetic central heating filter
- Boiler controls (usually a digital thermostat)
There will also be the cost of running the condensate pipe from the combi boiler to a waste pipe and the cost of making a new hole for the flue. These are labour costs only.
The total cost of replacing a combi with another mid-range combi boiler in a new location could be around £2,650*. This may be subject to change depending on the difficulty of the relocation, unexpected complications or product prices.
This cost could also increase if you’re switching from one type of system to another, for example, if you are switching from a conventional system to a combi. This kind of relocation could cost around £3,000*.
How long does it take to move a boiler?
When a boiler is moved, the pipework needs to be moved as well, which is what adds most of the cost to the job. It will also require extra time and additional labour.
A like-for-like swap should take one day. A new boiler in a new location should take around one and a half to two days. If your new boiler is being moved a substantial distance, it could take longer than this. It may also take longer if any complications arise.
Can you put a boiler in the loft?
Many people are choosing to move their boilers into their lofts. However, you need to think of the repercussions of going for this location. The loft space may need to be altered to accommodate the boiler. This could include boarding out the loft, fitting the boiler with frost protection, making sure you have a loft ladder installed and ensuring that the wall can hold the weight of the boiler. Additional renovations like these will increase the cost of the project.
It’s also worth remembering that if your boiler is situated in the loft, it may take longer for hot water to reach your downstairs taps. This could result in wasted water and energy.
Once your boiler has been moved, you should fit a carbon monoxide alarm. You should also keep an eye on the pressure of your newly located boiler. It could take some time for the system to settle into its new position and it may need repressurising in the first few days.
*Information correct at the time of posting