In today’s world, your boiler is the heart of your home. It keeps your living space warm and comfy during the colder months and provides hot water for everything from relaxing baths to washing dishes and clothes. Given how essential it is to our daily routines, a broken boiler can throw life into chaos, leaving you scrambling for a solution.
Fear not! If your boiler is beyond repair, our complete guide to installing a new one will walk you through everything you need to know—from choosing the right type of boiler to understanding installation costs and finding a reliable engineer. Whether you’re upgrading for efficiency, replacing an old unit, or installing a boiler for the first time, this guide ensures a smooth and stress-free process.
Choosing The Right Boiler For Your Home
As professional heating engineers we advise our customers to consider several key factors when choosing the right boiler for their home. Here’s what you should keep in mind:
1
Understand The Different Types Of Boilers
There are three main types of boilers, each suited to different home setups:
- Combi boilers – ideal for smaller homes or flats with one bathroom. They provide instant hot water without the need for a storage tank, making them space-saving and efficient.
- System boilers – a great choice for larger homes with multiple bathrooms. They use a separate hot water cylinder to supply hot water, ensuring strong water pressure.
- Conventional (regular) boilers – best for homes with older radiator systems or high hot water demand. These require both a hot water cylinder and a cold-water storage tank, typically in the loft.
2
Assess Your Hot Water Demand
For example, if you have a large household with multiple people using hot water at the same time, a system or regular boiler is better.
If space is limited and you don’t use multiple taps at once, a combi boiler is usually the best choice.
3
Consider Energy Efficiency
Look for an A-rated boiler with at least 90% efficiency to reduce energy bills and lower your carbon footprint. Modern condensing boilers are highly efficient and capture heat that older boilers would waste.
4
Check Compatibility With Your Home’s Heating System
If you’re replacing an old system boiler, it’s often easier and more cost-effective to stick with the same type.
If your home has low water pressure, a conventional or system boiler is preferable to a combi boiler.
5
Think About Future-Proofing
Select a heating system that can handle your household’s potential future needs, not just your current ones. For example, if you’re planning a home extension, such as adding extra bedrooms or bathrooms, your hot water and heating demand will increase, and a small combi boiler may struggle to supply enough hot water for your needs. Choosing a boiler with enough capacity now prevents the need for another costly upgrade later.
Plus, more rooms mean more radiators. Your boiler needs to be powerful enough (measured in kW) to heat your entire home efficiently. Check the boiler’s output- for example, a small 24kW combi boiler may be fine for a two-bedroom home but wouldn’t be sufficient for a five-bedroom house.
Future-proofing isn’t just about size either, it’s also about efficiency. Look for modulating boilers (like Worcester Bosch or Vaillant models), which adjust their power output based on demand, reducing energy waste. Many homeowners are choosing smart thermostats too (e.g. Hive or Nest) to help manage energy use efficiently as your home grows.
6
Choose A Reliable Brand & Warranty
Stick with well-known brands like Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, or Ideal, and look for models with a long warranty (5–10 years) for peace of mind.
7
Get Professional Advice & Installation
Always consult a Gas Safe registered engineer to assess your home and recommend the best boiler for your needs. Proper installation is crucial for safety, efficiency, and longevity. Maintracts engineers can install boilers from all major manufacturers.
Finding A Reliable and Trustworthy Installer
It is always good to contact a few different installers to come and visit you at your home and chat through your heating and hot water needs, as installers may vary in cost and diagnosis. They will recommend whether a simple replacement boiler is appropriate, or if there is a better alternative.
However, we always recommend ensuring that your chosen installer is an experienced professional with the appropriate credentials. At Maintracts Services, all our professionals are APHC, Gas Safe or NAPIT registered, ensuring that we always comply with the latest safety standards and building regulations:
Your installer should explain the control systems available to you and make a boiler recommendation based on the features you would like and anything extra such as smart functionality, weather compensation or load compensation.
Getting A Quote
After an initial visit to your home, your installer will provide you with a quote for supplying and fitting the boiler and should include the following work:
- Cleaning the heating system
- Upgrading controls where necessary
- Any system changes that may need to be carried out
The overall cost of the boiler and installation will depend on the boiler, system type and location in your home. However, to give you some idea of what to expect:
In our experience…
- New domestic boiler costs range from £1,000 – £4,000 (supply only)
- Installation costs are normally in the region of £1,400 – £2,500
- A simple, like-for-like boiler installation usually takes between 6 – 8 hours
Get a quick quote from Maintracts Services
Out with the old and in with the new! Here’s a recent boiler replacement project which has made huge difference to this London property:
Your Boiler Installation Day: What to Expect
A boiler installation can take up to three days to complete if it is a very complex job. However, usually it is a straightforward job, particularly like for like swaps which can be carried out in a day. The installation process and duration will then vary depending on your specific requirements. Here are the steps that our installers tend to take when fitting a new boiler:
When the engineer arrives at a property, they will confirm the installation details with the homeowner before conducting a final inspection of the current heating system to ensure compatibility with the new boiler. This ensures that the installation goes smoothly, and no unexpected issues arise.
They will prep the workspace by putting down protective sheets to prevent damage or mess to your home.
The old boiler will be safely disconnected from the gas, water, and electrical supply and if required, old pipework or the flue is also removed. Then, the system is drained to prevent leaks during installation.
Proper removal prevents gas leaks, water damage, or other hazards, and ensures the new boiler is installed onto a clean and safe system.
If necessary, new pipework is installed or existing pipes are adjusted to match the new boiler. The engineer may upgrade the gas supply pipe if the new boiler requires a larger supply. Some new boilers have different requirements, and outdated pipework may need modifications.
The new boiler is positioned and securely fixed to the wall or floor. It is connected to the mains water, gas supply, and central heating system.
Next, the flue is installed and checked to ensure it correctly vents exhaust gases outside.
It is important that a secure and correct installation takes place to prevents leaks, inefficiency, or dangerous carbon monoxide issues.
A powerflush, chemical flush or manual flush is performed to remove sludge and debris from radiators and pipes.
A magnetic filter may be fitted to prevent future buildup.
Flushing the system will improve efficiency and prolongs the life of the boiler and central heating system. It will also prevent blockages that can reduce performance. After installation, we recommend powerflushing your system every 8-10 years of so.
After it has been flushed, the system is refilled with water and repressurised to the correct level. The engineer will test the boiler, checking for leaks, gas pressure levels, and overall performance to ensure the boiler runs correctly and efficiently upon installation completion.
When the boiler is installed and working correctly, the engineer configures the boiler’s settings for maximum efficiency. If you have a smart thermostat (e.g. Hive, Nest) is installed, it is connected and demonstrated to the customer to ensure the homeowner knows how to use comfortably and get the most out of their heating system.
After a full and final safety check is performed to ensure compliance with Gas Safe regulations, the engineer will hand over all the necessary documentation to the homeowner, including a Gas Safety Certificate and manufacturer’s warranty details to ensure compliance.
Once the engineer has explained how to use the new boiler, including adjusting settings and troubleshooting minor issues, he will advise on when to schedule boiler servicing. He will also answer any questions or concerns you may have.
The old boiler and any waste materials will be removed and disposed of responsibly by the engineer to ensure proper compliance with environmental regulations. They will also ensure that the home is left as it was before installation.
We hope this guide has been useful to understanding what to expect during a boiler installation with Maintracts Services, as well as provided some idea on expected costs, types on boilers and what to consider when choosing a new boiler for your property.
Our team at Maintracts is skilled, knowledgeable, and equipped to handle any issues that they encounter. We always identify the most appropriate and cost-effective solution for our customers. If you are looking for a experienced and trusted boiler installer for your boiler installation, please contact us. Our team would love to help.
Oliver Osmore has been part of Maintracts Services since 2001, following in his father’s footsteps. As Managing Director, he ensures the company runs smoothly, supports customers and engineers, and thrives on solving complex problems others can’t. Highly organised and approachable, Oliver works closely with customers to deliver tailored solutions, drawing on his extensive experience in plumbing, heating, and electrical services to resolve enquiries efficiently.
Since 1974, Maintracts Services has built a reputation for high-quality installation, maintenance, and repairs. Under Oliver’s leadership, the company remains committed to professionalism, safety, and customer satisfaction.
