Boiler installations-what to look for when obtaining quotes

I've compiled a small list of what you should think about before approaching someone for a boiler replacement quote.

1. Which boiler? Ask advice from your friends and family. Do some research on the internet and from magazines and the trade press,most good plumbers merchants have plenty of marketing material available which is free for you to take away with you and read. Visit the manufacturers' websites for technical information such as hot water flow rates and central heating outputs .  Ask the professionals which boiler they recommend then call that particular boiler manufacturer and ask their advice on things like service calls and how quickly they would be able to repair your boiler if it required a service visit during warranty. And,how long does it take for the manufacturer's representative to answer the phone when you call their service helpline? Calling an 0871 premium number to wait on the phone for 20 minutes to speak to someone is perhaps an indication that you should look elsewhere for your new boiler.
2. The installer? When looking for an installer also take advice from friends or family however there are some serious considerations for you to consider in this particular regard. Most important of all is that from April 1st 2009 the installer must be a Gas Safe Registered engineer and don't just take someone's word that they are! Telephone Gas Safe Register and check the installer's details on this number: 0800 408 5500 or visit the Gas Safe Register Website at http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/
3. With some condensing combination boilers rated at over 40KW output it is vitally important that the gas supply pipe-work to the boiler is sufficient and a good Gas Safe Registered installer will check this so this is another good example that you should look for when speaking with your prospective installer.
4. Cold mains water pressure and flow need to be sufficient to ensure that the boiler can produce the hot water that it was designed for but with insufficient water pressure and flow then the boiler won't be able to deliver the 17.2 litres a minute hot water in the case of a Worcester-Bosch Greenstar 42 CDi ,for example, so there is very little point installing that particular boiler in your home if your water pressure and flow is poor. Again, a competent installer will be able to check the water mains to ensure you have the correct boiler for your home.
5. Power-flushing? Another very important aspect of replacing a boiler so you should ensure that your installer power-flushes your system before your new boiler is installed and the system properly cleaned and inhibited with a leading brand name such as Sentinel or Fernox,indeed some boiler manufacturers insist on only those two chemical manufacturers' products for their boilers so make sure your installer uses one of them. I can't over-emphasise enough the importance of a clean system when installing a quality product such as the Worcester-Bosch Greenstar combi boilers we install because a dirty heating system can cause the boiler to fail prematurely and some manufacturers refuse warranty on systems where the water quality is poor therefore you could end up with an unforeseen expense if your installer doesn't clean the system properly.
6. Magna-clean filters protect the boiler by stopping magnetic particles (iron-oxide)entering the boiler and are a worthwhile investment when you are spending significantly on heating system up-grade such as a boiler replacement.  No amount of power-flushing is going to remove all of the iron-oxide in your central heating system which could have been there for anything up to thirty years so it makes sense to install a product the provides adequate protection against boiler failure so ensure your installer installs one.
7. Condensate waste? This can be a particular problem when installing a condensating boiler and can sometimes be difficult leading to some installers simply not installing the waste pipe-work at all which can lead to all sorts of problems not least damage to surrounding property and brickwork in particular so make sure that your installer talks you through the various ways of installing this important pipe-work.
8. Programmers and thermostats? In this age of increasingly rising fuel prices it makes sense to invest in a quality central heating controller but unfortunately some installers are driven purely by cost so they will often install a combi boiler with the basic manufacturer's mechanical plug in time-clock which offers only very limited control over the way the boiler is used for central heating however by using a sophisticated programmable room thermostat such as the Worcester-Bosch DT10 RF optimiser or DT10 RF digistat you can significantly reduce your fuel bills by controlling exactly the way your run your central heating and the temperature you run it at. These programmers control temperature of the living space and can be programmed to run a different programme every single day for up to three times per day seven days a week and they can also delay the start of the heating time by up to an hour in the milder months to ensure that your house doesn't overheat thus saving you money.The DT10 RF range can also programme the hot water pre-heat facility on the Worcester-Bosch  Greenstar combi boiler range which allows you to control this important feature. This means you can save even more money on your fuels bills by only using the per-heat when it is required rather than having it either on or off all of the time.  A simple mechanical time-clock cannot save you money on your fuel bills because this type of programmer can only switch your boiler on and off at a given time which means your boiler is on all of the time that the programme is set for. At the very least,when installing a new combi boiler, you should insist to your installer that a simple room-thermostat is installed to ensure your house doesn't overheat when the boiler is on to heat your house.
9. Electrics? Unfortunately some installers completely disregard this aspect of a  boiler replacement however there are some very important considerations in this regard such as main equipotential bonding of the gas and cold water supply,supplemental bonding to the boiler pipework and making safe your old boiler, it's controls and the immersion hot water heater supply. All of those have to be done safely which is why we always employ a fully qualified electrician to carry out this work,does your installer?
10. Do you know your installer's address and telephone number? An increasing number of central heating installers simply advertise an 0800 number, an 0845 number or a mobile number but good installers will publish their land-line telephone numbers and an address where they can be easily reached so ensure they you know how to contact your installer when you need him or her.
11. Finally,remember cheap means exactly that. If someone is quoting you a very cheap price to do your work then you have to consider what you are getting from them,exactly. You should always obtain three quotes for the work and try to ensure that all of those quoting are quoting for more or less the same as the others in terms of boiler and materials etc.