Cost of Moving a Boiler

How Much to Move a Boiler?

The cost of moving a boiler to a new location can be anything from £350 to £800, including parts and labour. You should expect to pay around £350 to relocate a few feet, £500 to transfer an average amount of pipes, and £800 to move a large amount of pipework (complete another side of the house, drilling through walls, etc.).

The costs of boiler relocation are based on the pipework and general preparation required to relocate the boiler, not on the type of fuel used. Various fitters, on the other hand, charge different prices.

The only thing to consider is if you have an oil boiler (which normally weighs more than 100kg, compared to 45kg-50kg for a gas/LPG boiler). The boiler engineer will almost certainly need to hire a labourer to help move and install the boiler. The cost will increase as a result of this.

Boilers are sometimes large and bulky, and with limited space, it's understandable to wish to relocate them to less used and more inconspicuous areas of your home. Attic space, garages, or a storage box in another area of your home are all common places to put a boiler.

Boiler Relocation Prices

Below is a table with the average prices you would expect to pay when moving a boiler.

Additional Boiler Moving Costs

Along with the cost of moving a boiler, you may need to consider additional jobs, including:

New Boiler

One of the most common and expensive jobs when moving a boiler is the actual boiler installation itself, with the cost depending on the type of boiler you choose. For example:

• Combi boiler: Typically costs around £1500 to £3500
• Biomass boiler:Could cost up to £9000

Although you should expect to spend more if the engineer is required to perform extensive pipe and/or flue work.

New Radiators

If you are having a new boiler installed, you may also want to consider having your radiators replaced. The cost of replacing radiators will depend on the type and number of radiators you need. However, you should expect to pay around £200 to replace a radiator and £300 to install an additional radiator.

Plumbing Alterations

In order to ensure circulation between where the boiler is to be located and the radiators or water supply, getting the plumbing alterations actioned correctly is a major part of the project.

Plumber prices in the UK are normally between £40 and £60 per hour, although in areas with a high cost of living expect this estimate to increase significantly.

If you are only moving your boiler a short distance it may be a case of extending the pipework. However, should you need the pipes to travel through a wall, ceiling or floor the process becomes a lot more complex which may affect the final cost.

Gas Pipework Adjustments

Aside from amends to ensure there is a gas supply to the boiler, it also needs to meet safety regulations and flow requirements.

Once any work has been completed, you will need to apply for a Gas Safety Certificate (costing around £75) which can only be supplied by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This will involve testing the gas flow and checking for leaks, along with a manual inspection to ensure regulations have been adhered to.

Flue Relocation

If you are moving a boiler, the chances are you will need the flue relocated at the same time. This is the pipe that expels exhaust gases from the boiler, and will require creating a new opening through an external wall or roof.

The cost of which can be in the region of £200 to £600, depending on the complexity of the situation. Once this work is carried out, it will also need to be signed off as part of the Gas Safety Certificate.

Electrical Work

If the new location for your boiler isn't on the electrical circuit, you may need a professional electrician to rewire your property accordingly. This is so there is a power supply for the thermostats and any further controls.

Labour Cost to Relocate a Boiler

The labour cost of moving a boiler will depend on the type of boiler you have. Parts, labour, VAT, and the time it takes to perform the job are also included in the overall cost. The pipes must also be moved when a boiler is relocated, which accounts for most of the job's cost. It will also necessitate additional time and effort.

You should expect to pay around £40 to £60 per hour for a heating engineer’s professional boiler services.

It should take one and a half to two days to install a boiler in a new location. It may take longer if your boiler is being moved upstairs or downstairs. The timeframe could also increase if there are any difficulties.

What Does Moving a Boiler Involve?

The most important thing to consider is where you should put your boiler. You should choose a new space wisely, and keep in mind that there are some rules to observe. The boiler should be at least 1.2 metres away from any open entrance or window.

It should also have access to a waste pipe, so relocating it to a bathroom or utility room is the ideal option. Because of the length of the pipes, the further distance you put it from the waste pipe, the higher the costs of relocating it will be.

The process starts with:

1. Before proceeding, your Gas Safe engineer will want to double-check a few things with you. The number of radiators you have, your water pressure, the number of bathrooms in your home, and the location of your current boiler and flue are all factors to consider.
2. If it's a simple switch, such as a combi to combi, the engineer should be able to complete it in a single day. It's worth noting, though, that if you're replacing an older boiler system or switching boiler types, there may be issues that cause the installation to take longer. You'll need to be present for a demonstration of the new boiler controls once they've been installed.
3. All Gas Safe firms must notify the local authorities whenever they install a new gas appliance to comply with Building Regulations and Gas Safe guidelines. They should also provide you with a completed Benchmark Certificate and a Building Regulations Certificate to demonstrate compliance. If this doesn't happen, make a note of it.
4. Most trustworthy businesses will provide you with a warranty on their services. Our installations come with a five-year warranty from British Gas, but the terms may differ from business to business. As a result, always double-check before accepting a job.

If you have any concerns regarding the safety of your new boiler installation or believe your engineer did a poor job, contact them as soon as possible. They must either fix any issues they caused or compensate you for the expense of employing a new engineer. You shouldn't have to be concerned if you've employed a Gas Safe engineer.

Where to Move Your Boiler

Moving your boiler is a big job, and you want to be happy with where it ends up. You should examine how easy it will be to install the boiler in the location you have picked and whether or not it's practical to do so.

Below we take a look at some of the options available, along with the pros and cons of each one.

Moving a Boiler to the Loft

Many people opt to relocate their boilers to the loft. However, to make room for the boiler, the loft space may need to be renovated. This may involve boarding up the loft and installing a loft ladder, as well as protection against frost on the boiler itself.

Pros

• ✔ Space-saving, keeping the boiler out of the way.
• ✔ Noise reduction, due to the boiler being away from living areas.

Cons

• ✖ Water may take longer to reach the taps, making the boiler less energy-efficient.
• ✖ Complex installation could require an additional cost and renovation work.
• ✖ Without which the boiler may also be hard to reach for maintenance or adjustments.

Moving a Boiler to the Kitchen

Many current boilers are designed to be small enough to fit into a kitchen cupboard. Combi boilers are compact and don't require additional tanks or cylinders, so as a result, can be simply tucked away.

Pros

• ✔ Easy to access, maintain and convenient to monitor.
• ✔ Located in a convenient position to supply the whole property.
• ✔ Modern boiler designs are suitabe as they are discreet and unintrusive

Cons

• ✖ May take up valuable kitchen cupboard or storage space.
• ✖ Not practical for noisy boilers, especially in open-plan kitchens

Moving a Boiler to a Utility Room

If you have a utility room, it might be a good place to put your new boiler. The boiler will be out of the way and less likely to interfere with your normal living space.

Pros

• ✔ Keeps the boiler out of sight and away from key areas around the home
• ✔ Logical and less disruptive if the utility room is already used for washing machines etc

Cons

• ✖ May have to sacrifice larger white goods to allow space in smaller rooms
• ✖ Storage area surrounding the boiler would need to support functionality and ease of access

Moving a Boiler to a Bedroom

The bedroom is a less popular option and can be an inconvenience, albeit potential to still be a viable location for a new boiler, especially if hidden out of sight.

Pros

• ✔ Can be easily hidden away in a cupboard or wardrobe.
• ✔ Will free up space in more common boiler areas such as the kitchen.

Cons

• ✖ Boiler noise, even on quiet and modern models, can disturb light sleepers.
• ✖ Having a boiler moved to such a personal space can feel intrusive.
• ✖ Potential concerns over CO2 risks, albeit less common, may cause extra worry.

Moving a Boiler to the Garage

If you have a garage, it can be a good place to put your boiler as it will be out of the way from any living areas. Although moving a boiler to effectively an external building will need significant plumbing as part of the installation.

Pros

• ✔ Won't look as out of place and doesn't intrude on the main property.
• ✔ Easy to access, both from a user perspective and during any service maintenance.

Cons

• ✖ Fluctuation in temperature will be more of a consideration, requiring additional insulation.
• ✖ During the colder months extra precautions such as frost protection will be needed.
• ✖ Additional plumbing and electrical work will increase the cost, especially if a separate building.

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Building Regulations for Moving a Boiler

Although there are plenty of options on where you can move your boiler, there are many safety regulations to consider. To guarantee that the system is safe to use and compliant with current legislation, your installer will have to follow a set of laws and regulations, including:

• Gas Safe registration is required for your engineer.
• A-rated (92 per cent ERP) and condensing boilers are required.
• A discharge pipe must be connected to an appropriate foul water drain due to condensation.
• A gas boiler must be equipped with time and temperature controls, according to the 2018 Boiler Plus regulation.
• A flue gas recovery system, a weather compensation device, a load compensation device, or a smart thermostat must be installed on all new combi boilers.

So, when your boiler is being moved to a new location, the tradesman will have to follow these rules as they move your boiler for safety and legal reasons.

Planning Permission for Moving a Boiler

Installation or replacement of a boiler or heating system usually does not require planning approval. However, you should check with your local planning authority if you live in a listed building.

If the installation necessitates a flue outside, it is usually a permissible development if the conditions indicated below are met.

• A maximum of one metre above the highest section of the roof is allowed for flues on the building's back or side elevations.
• Even if you have approved development rights, it's a good idea to check with your local planning authorities before installing a flue if the building is listed or in a designated area. Internal changes are also likely to require consent.
• The flue should not be installed on the major or side elevation if it faces a highway in conservation areas, national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, or the Broads.

Therefore, it depends on where you are moving your boiler. If it is in your own home, you will not need permission; however, if it is in a commercial building, it is best just to double-check.

Common Problems When Moving a Boiler

Other factors can impact and, in certain situations, dramatically raise the cost of boiler relocation. Essentially, the cost will be more if the installation takes more time, requires more materials, or is heavier and more difficult to handle.

With that in mind, here are some typical reasons why relocating your boiler may be more expensive than you anticipated:

Boiler Conversions

Converting a boiler from one kind to another, such as from a back boiler to a combi boiler, is known as a boiler conversion. The most common cause is switching from an old, out-of-date boiler, such as a back boiler (which is no longer supported), to a modern combi boiler.

Because back boilers are designed to be positioned behind a fireplace, your replacement boiler will almost certainly need to be relocated.

New Flue Installation

Some boilers use gas as fuel. This is consumed during the combustion process, producing hot and hazardous exhaust fumes as a by-product. These must be channelled out of your home and into the outside world, which is accomplished using a flue system.

As a result, when you relocate your boiler, you'll also need to relocate or, in most cases, replace your flue.

Additional Pipework

The number of pipes required will have a significant impact on the cost of moving a boiler. These are fed from your mains to your new boiler, so if you're transferring your boiler a long distance, you'll need to use extra pipework. Copper pipes are utilised in central heating systems, and obtaining them is not inexpensive.

They're not easy to install and may require the floor to be lifted, and holes will need to be drilled in the walls to get the pipes through. It's important to remember that you'll be paying for the copper pipes as well as the engineers' time and effort.

Any Additional Work Besides Boiler Fitting

The cost of laying pipes does not solely determine the cost of transferring a boiler to a new location. Other items that consume time (and money) depending on the work include:

• Relaying and lifting floorboards
• Drilling holes for the pipe and the flue through the walls
• Filling in any gaps

That's why moving a boiler a few feet (inside the same room) might cost nearly half as much as transferring it to a new room.

Replacing Your Boiler

With a boiler replacement costing roughly £500, it's a good idea to think about it. This is not a good idea if your boiler is only a few years old and still under warranty. However, boilers like the Ideal Logic 30 cost roughly £800 and come with a 7-year warranty.

If you have an old boiler, you'll likely save this much on your heating bills within a couple of years, and the guarantee will still be valid for another five years. Furthermore, the cost of installing a new boiler on a new site is comparable to the cost of transferring your existing boiler.

How to Find and Hire a Boiler Relocation Specialist

To ensure your boiler relocation is compliant with current building regulations and planning permission rules, you need to hire a qualified heating engineer to complete the job. They typically charge around £40 to £60 per hour; however, this will depend on the complexity of the job.

Before hiring a heating engineer, you should first check their credentials to ensure they are fully qualified to complete the job. You also need to ensure that they are gas safe registered if your boiler is fuelled by gas. You can check this by visiting the official gas safe register website.

FAQs

Sources

https://yourheat.co.uk/moving-a-boiler-installation-tips-tricks-and-costs-of-the-project/
https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/boilers-and-heating/planning-permission