Wondering how you can futureproof your boiler for any household improvements later down the line?
For instance, you may have just bought a house, and are thinking of getting a new kitchen, or extension with an extra bathroom. Maybe you’re just thinking about new double-glazed windows, or replacing your floors.
But how will you know what size of boiler to get? And should you install it first, or after you’ve had the other work done?
These are just some of the questions and concerns I hear from clients all the time! It can be difficult knowing what to do, and in what order to do them.
So, as an experienced Edinburgh heating engineer, I thought I’d put together this blog post to help shed more light on the subject.
Planning for the future
If you need a new boiler now, it only makes sense that you’d expect to get a good many years of use out of it. Boilers are a big investment, but what if you KNOW you’re planning an extension, or adding a new bathroom in the next six months – or even the next couple of years?
Say your house has nine radiators and one bathroom at the moment. However, with the extension, it’s going to go up to 14 radiators, a bath and two showers? That’s quite a difference, so you’re going to need to know the boiler you’re getting now will be able to cope with the extra load.
Otherwise, your house just won’t get sufficiently warm in winter, and might struggle to cope with your new hot water demand.
TIP: The best thing to do is start researching and planning now. However, if you’re at all unsure, speak to your chosen heating engineer. Even better still, get 2 – 3 quotes and see which size of boiler they recommend to handle your upcoming improvements.
Planning for right now
If you have upcoming work (like a new kitchen, bathroom or extension) that is happening imminently, and includes getting a new boiler fitted, you also have to be smart and plan the order you’re going to do things. This might sound really obvious, but in my experience, some people just don’t think ahead.
For instance, you may want to ensure all of your central heating and pipework is fully fitted BEFORE you install a new kitchen, flooring or extension, like one of my recent customers. That’s definitely the smart way of working! It means less upheaval and mess, and it may even work out cheaper in some cases! (Such as engineers not having to work around your new sealed flooring)
Or, you may be fitting new double-glazed windows. In which case, it might be an idea to move your radiators from underneath your windows to your internal walls, so you get more of the heat benefit and make your heating system more cost-effective.
If you’re installing a new boiler anyway, you might as well consider it.
Advice from an experienced heating engineer
The best advice I can give you is to speak to an experienced engineer, and do your research online. Check some of the blogs we’ve written to get a better idea of the size of boiler you might be looking for. You could even call out an engineer – you might think it’s too soon, but most will be happy to help if they know the work is coming in a few months’ time.
I find people often get projects and just don’t know what order to do things in, so sometimes you’ll be calling in a few different contractors. You may wish to plan carefully and get them to co-ordinate with each other.
Sometimes you’ll find sacrificing a night or two without central heating or a working kitchen might be your best option. For instance, I have a client who is going for two weeks without a working cooker and hob in order to get the pipes rerouted before the kitchen comes in – so everything will be flush when it’s finally fitted.
Once, I spoke to a lady who had already arranged a boiler quote with us. Two months previously, I advised her to get the boiler fitted BEFORE getting her new kitchen installed. Unfortunately, she didn’t listen, and when she got back in touch with us she was panicking about all the upheaval and mess of installing a boiler.
Luckily, we still took the job, and were extremely careful and lucky to get things done neatly.
TIP: Always get 2 – 3 fixed price quotes from different tradesmen if possible, and find out what they are saying. Everything should be detailed and itemised, and if you’re unsure of anything? Ask!
Conclusion
Wanting to make home improvements AND install a new boiler? Then you’d better make sure it’s all going to be futureproof. After all, you wouldn’t want to have to replace your boiler after just a couple of years, or live with a house that’s doesn’t get warm enough. Some of the tips in this blog should help.
Remember, always do your homework on the size of boiler you’ll need. In any doubt? Speak to 2 – 3 experienced engineers, and get their advice. They’ll probably be able to provide you with some impartial advice, and even some fixed-price quotes if you want to go ahead with the work right away.
Do you want to ask anything more specific about futureproofing your boiler? Let me know in the comments’ section. I’ll be happy to help!
