Are you looking for advice to help to save money on your boiler installation costs?
If you’re looking to update your old, inefficient back boiler or regular boiler in favour of a new energy efficient combi, you’ll probably already know that time is money and qualified gas engineers don’t come cheap.
So, what can you do if you need a new combi boiler in a strict budget?
Well, as an Edinburgh heating engineer myself, I find myself helping more and more young people on a budget who want a premium combi boiler at a budget price – and some of the more savvy ones have worked out if they do some of the manual work themselves, they can save on costs.
With that in mind, I’m going to talk you through five of the best tips to help you save money on your overall boiler installation costs.
1. Strip out the tanks and pipework yourself
If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts, you’ll know that getting 2 – 3 fixed price quotes is essential. However, if you want to save a little bit more, ask about draining the tanks and leaving any redundant pipework in the attic (as this is something you could do yourself).
This would mean the heating engineers wouldn’t need to get involved with any of the labouring removing tanks, and could easily save on half a day’s labour.
I recently had a job where the client asked us to visit, cut the water off, drain the tanks and come back in a couple of weeks to fit the boiler. This was because he wanted to strip out the old boiler and tanks himself – he also lifted the floorboards to make the job easier and more cost-effective.
2. Core the flue hole yourself
If the boiler you are going to get fitted requires a 120mm hole to be cored for the flue duct – and if you’re handy and don’t mind a bit of DIY – ask the installer how much you would save by cutting the hole yourself.
Most specialist core-cutting companies charge between £150 – £190 for this. You could hire all the equivalent tools from Speedy Hire for around £40.
3. Install it before you move in
If you’ve only just purchased your property, it’s always cheaper to have the work installed in an empty house opposed to a fully furnished one, with carpets and furniture to worry about. So, why not get the boiler installed before you move in?
The benefit of this is that it could save either half a day, or even a full day’s work – and of course it’ll be cheaper.
4. Rip out older flooring
If the property you’re moving into is older and you’re thinking about making some changes such as ripping out the old flooring, then lifting carpets, lino and even some floorboards can be to your advantage – much like in the story I mentioned above about the chap who also removed his tanks!
5. Dispose of your own waste
Rubbish removal can be expensive; companies have to be SEPA-registered in order to carry waste, or use a SEPA-registered company to collect rubbish. A trip to the local tip can save you around £80- £100!
Advice from an experienced heating engineer
Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is. I have listed a few ways to save above, but also, don’t let yourself get hoodwinked into paying cash or money upfront. Or worse, getting help from someone who is a friend but not Gas Safe registered!
Last but not least, it may seem tempting to scrimp on the brand of boiler, as there are some very appealing deals on more budget models – however, cheap boilers don’t tend to last and may end up costing you much more in the long-run.
I’d recommend going for a reputable brand with good reviews and a long guarantee, such as Baxi, Ideal, Vaillant or Worcester Bosch.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to save on your boiler installation costs, the above tips are a great starting point! Remember, do your research, get a few different fixed price quotes, and if you’re handy, ask about doing some of the work yourself in order to save on overall costs – you might be surprised!
If you have any particular questions about saving on your boiler installation costs, please feel free to leave a comment below – I’ll do my best to get back to you when I can!
