How Much Does a New Boiler Cost?

According to Ideal Heating, the average lifespan of a boiler is 15 years; however, we think that most people can extend that provided spare parts are still available.

But how much does it cost to install a new boiler and what options do you have?

Here are a few things that will massively affect the cost of the installation:

• Whether you want a straight-forward swap.
• If you want to change the type of boiler (for example from a regular to a combi)
• Where the boiler will be located; in the same place or a new location?

Do consider that a straight-forward swap could be the cheapest option but you might miss out on the long-term savings achievable with a more modern system (such as a combi).

Your Options

Here are the different boiler options:

A combi boiler – These boilers are easy to replace on a like-for-like basis, but if you have an older system boiler or regular boiler, a combi boiler installation will involve lots of extra pipework and the removal of water storage tanks. Combi boilers produce instant hot water, but as they don’t use tanks, they’re reliant on the water pressure from the mains being good enough. Combi boilers are best suited to smaller households where there is less demand for hot water. It’s worth noting that shower pumps and power showers can’t be used with combi boilers. Combis are the most energy-efficient option as water is heated on demand and not stored in tanks where heat is lost. Consider a combi boiler if you don’t have a loft or are converting your loft into a room as combis don’t require any water tanks in the loft.

A regular boiler – Also easy to replace on a like-for-like basis, these boilers have a hot water cylinder (often in the airing cupboard) and also water tanks (often in the loft) which help to boost the pressure. Regular boilers don’t produce instant hot water, you’ll need to heat the water in advance, but you do get plenty of hot water for multiple users, and you can easily boost the pressure with a pump. The use of hot water storage tanks means regular boilers aren’t as energy-efficient as modern combi boilers and the tanks take up space in the cupboard and loft.

System boilers – These are often confused with regular boilers as they both have a cylinder tank (usually in the airing cupboard), but there’s a big difference between the two boiler types. System boilers don’t use water header tanks in the loft, and the entire system is pressurized. These boilers are very energy efficient and are often seen in homes without a loft, making them ideal for those planning a loft conversion. Unfortunately, due to the pressurised system’s nature, they aren’t suitable for retrofitting into homes with old radiators and pipework.

In early 2021 we surveyed 18 boiler installers and asked them for prices to replace a boiler in a small 3-bedroom property.

We requested prices for several different boiler installation scenarios:

1. Straight-forward boiler swaps (combi, system and regular boilers)
2. Boiler change (from a regular boiler to a combi boiler)
3. Boiler change (from combi to a regular boiler)
4. New boiler and also relocated to a new place.
5. Old boiler relocated to a new place.

1) New Boiler Cost (Boiler Swap)

There are several reasons why you may wish to swap your existing boiler for one of the same type:

• It’s old, can’t be repaired or doesn’t meet current safety standards or is a risk.
• It’s unreliable.
• You want a new boiler of the same type but one that produces more power, perhaps to heat extra radiators you’ve installed or new underfloor heating etc.

This is how much we were told it would cost to swap a boiler for a new one of the same type.

The prices are for a typical 3-bedroom property and include the boiler, flue, pipework, labour, VAT and paperwork.

2) Cost to Install a Combi Boiler and Remove a Regular Boiler

Combi boilers are usually installed into new builds and are best suited to homes with light to moderate hot water demands.

By removing the regular boiler, you’ll free up space in the loft as the cold water tanks can go. As a bonus, you can also get rid of the hot water cylinder tank in the airing cupboard as well.

Did we mention that combi boilers are very energy efficient and produce hot water on demand without the need for preheating?

(Tip: As combi boilers rely on the mains water pressure, make sure yours is strong enough for the shower. You can’t install shower pumps or power showers if you have a combi boiler.)

3) Cost to Install a Regular Boiler and Remove a Combi Boiler

It’s quite unusual for a consumer to want to swap a combi boiler for a regular boiler as combis are the preferred choice and are far more energy-efficient. They also produce hot water on demand and save space in the loft; they don’t require a cylinder in an “airing cupboard” either.

However, reasons for wanting to ditch a combi include:

• An extension has been built, and there’s now more simultaneous demand for hot water and the combi boiler is no longer suitable.
• Low water pressure issues – combi boilers shouldn’t be fitted to homes with low water pressure, but many are. If your combi boiler produces a meagre dribble of water at the shower, you have two options; install a mains water pump (which isn’t ideal) or change the boiler type (which is expensive).
• A combination of the above two points.

Whatever the reason for ditching the combi, the cost will be high as a regular boiler requires a hot water cylinder in a cupboard and also a water header tank in the loft. The amount of work required is considerable and may take 3-5 days to complete. You will also need to consider if there is enough space in the airing cupboard for a cylinder and the loft for the water tanks.

The prices below include the boiler, flue, cylinder, tanks and all other materials, labour, VAT and paperwork.

4) Cost to Install a New Boiler in a New Location

The most common reason for moving a boiler to a new location is free up space in the kitchen. While you can move your existing boiler, most consumers prefer to upgrade their boiler simultaneously; this makes sense financially unless your existing boiler is less than 10 years old.

How much a new boiler in a new location will cost is based on:

• How far from the original location it will be.
• If you’re changing the type of boiler or keeping it the same.
• Considerations for the flue.
• Flooring or walling that needs to be drilled or dug up etc.

As a general rule of thumb, boilers should be located in a warm part of the home to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.

You can move a boiler to a garage to free up space within the home, but extra insulation will be needed.

For this example, we asked for prices to install a new regular boiler in a garage and remove the existing boiler from the kitchen.

5) Cost to Move a Boiler

The most common reason to move a boiler is to free up space in the kitchen or improve aesthetics.

If your existing boiler is fairly new and you want to move it to a new place, such as a garage, this is how much the experts told us it would cost.

The figures below include all materials needed, such as piping, a new flue, labour costs, VAT and paperwork.

The prices include the repair of any walls or floors but not the cost of any coverings or finishes; the replacement of any damaged floor or wall tiles or wallpaper etc. is excluded.

Tip: Some places would be unsuitable for a boiler; for example, a regular boiler needs water pressure from a water tank upstairs so you couldn’t relocate the boiler to the loft.

Other Costs to Consider

The prices displayed on this page are for typical boiler installation projects and don’t include extra work or materials that could be specific to your installation.

Depending on the age and condition of your heating system, you may also wish to get a price for powerflushing.

Powerflushing is a process that cleans the insides of pipes and radiators to improve efficiency and warm-up times, reduce knocking sounds and can also reduce the strain on the pump.

If you haven’t had your system powerflushed in the last 15 years, check out our price guide here.

Boiler Service Prices

We recently asked firms up and down the country how much they charge to service a boiler.

A service is usually carried out yearly and will include the following:

• A visual inspection of not just the boiler but also it’s the location to check that it still meets safety standards.
• Removal of the casing followed by an internal inspection.
• A clean of the boiler internals.
• Inspection of the burner, heat exchanger, injector and spark.
• A check of the flue and an emissions test to determine if it’s releasing the correct type and amount of gases.
• A pressure check.
• A start-up and running check.
• A check of the carbon monoxide alarm if you have one.

See how much a boiler service costs here.

Got a question about boiler installations and prices? Try our FAQs.

Boiler Installation FAQs

Below you’ll find answers to common boiler installation and pricing questions: