Does your family desperately need a new boiler, but you’re worried about the possible disruption it could cause to your already hectic lifestyle?

Picture this: it’s a typical week day, you’ve just come home from your busy 9 – 5, the kids need fed, and then you need to take them to swimming and football practice, so where exactly are you going to fit in a boiler installation?

If you’re anything like me, your time is precious, and you simply can’t afford for your life to come to a standstill while you get a new boiler fitted. Nor can you afford to be without heating and hot water for days.

However, don’t panic: with this blog, I’m going to tell you exactly how long you can expect your boiler installation to take, and what – if anything – could cause delays.

A straightforward combi swap

First up, let’s look at a straightforward combi boiler swap, which essentially means swapping about one combi boiler and replacing it with another.

I’d expect this type of job to be finished in a day, and assuming the engineers start work in the morning, you should expect to have your boiler installation, plus clean-up, completed by about 4pm. You don’t even have to take time off work!

Possible complications

Just like anything, life isn’t always so simple, and often there are added complications that can take a bit longer.

For instance, recently we encountered a combi boiler swap in Perth, where the old boiler had been installed around 12 – 14 years ago. However, since then regulations had changed, which meant that the flue was now too close to the existing chimney.

Because of this, the flue had to be altered with 45 degree bends and taken up at an angle, so that it was safely 500 millimetres away from the chimney.

Other problems could also require:

• A gas pipe upgrade
•  A new condensate pipe fitted and a new drain run
•  A new flue hole cut – potentially adding 2 – 3 hours onto the installation time.

What about heating/hot water?

If it’s a straightforward combi swap, you’ll never be without heating and hot water for more than a day. If your installers start work in the morning, you should have your heating and hot water back up and running by the time you’d normally get back from work.

If I know a job is going to take a little longer, I always ensure there are at least two men there to ensure the work gets done quickly, and to make sure mess and upheaval is kept to an absolute minimum (for instance, drilling holes in walls can be messy, which is why it’s important to ensure everything is cleaned up quickly afterwards).

Conclusion

Especially if you’re worried about your boiler installation taking longer than it should, it’s important to always book a home visit so engineers can take a proper look at your boiler and decide on the work that needs done.

Saying that, a standard combi boiler swap should only take a day, and you should expect your heating and hot water to be working the same evening.

If a job does appear to have any added complications, I always send at least two men to make sure the job is completed on time with minimal fuss and upheaval to your home.