Boiler Installation Cardiff: Get A New Boiler Or Boiler Replacement in Cardiff
Are you trying to get a boiler installed in Cardiff or the South Wales? Then you probably know how stressful it is to find a quality, reasonably priced boiler installation company.
But the good news is, you don’t have to choose between overpaying for the likes of British Gas or risking shoddy workmanship from an obscure local trade. In this guide, we’ll show you how to get your boiler installed quickly and without getting ripped off.
In a Hurry? Here’s How to Get a New Boiler in Cardiff ASAP
If your boiler stopped working and you need to replace it urgently, you probably don’t have time to wait around for several installers to show up and quote you, then compare their prices.
The fastest way to get your new boiler installed is through a boiler like Heatable. The boiler installation company has ridiculously low overhead and brilliant deals with premium suppliers, like Worcester Bosch, so their prices are always reasonable.
Best of all, Heatable’s huge network of installers in South Wales means that you can get your new boiler the next day — all you have to do is fill out a quick, anonymous survey and select your model.
Heatable offers plenty of special deals (like extended 10-year warranties) as well as a range of flexible, interest-free financing options. To get a fixed-price quote, just visit the Heatable website and enter a few details about your property. No personal information is needed, and Heatable will generate a range of quotes for different boilers to suit your property.
If you like what they have to offer, their fixed-price offer is guaranteed.
Even if you do have the time to solicit and compare several quotes from local installers, it still makes sense to get Heatable’s estimate and use it as a benchmark — you may well be surprised at how much you could save.
Get Multiple Quotes for Boiler Installation in Cardiff
Yes — getting several quotes will help you determine the true market price for boiler installation in your neighbourhood. Just keep in mind that the process can take some time, as some Gas Safe installers — especially Cardiff’s local trades — may want to meet you in person before giving you a fixed quote.
If time is not an issue, then certainly try to get as many quotes as possible. Doing so will help you weed out the suspiciously low offers, as well as those that are completely out to lunch, and zero in on a reasonable price.
So, which companies should you solicit for quotes?
Online Installation Companies
Whether or not you feel comfortable using this relatively novel service, it makes good sense to get a fixed quote on your screen right away, then use it as a point of reference in your research. You’ve got nothing to lose — a company like Heatable will quote you immediately without personal information or commitments on your part.
Who knows, you may find a deal you like right away and save yourself heaps of time. Online installers like Heatable don’t have a massive overhead to recover by overcharging their customers, and this gives them a distinct advantage over the brick-and-mortar companies.
National Installation Companies
These large national companies typically charge a premium for boiler installation services. If you don’t mind parting with a large sum, you can expect a quality installation and excellent customer service from one of these big guys.
Also note that large installers sometimes have stellar promotions up their sleeve, which they use to attract new customers. That’s why you shouldn’t think of calling British Gas of E.ON as a waste of time — it’s not too likely, but you may be able to land a great deal on the cost of your boiler replacement.
Local Gas Safe Installers
There are plenty of small installation companies or individual Gas Safe registered heating engineers in Cardiff and the surrounding area that can easily beat the national companies on price. Often, the difference can be as much as several hundred pounds.
Beware, though — if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Some smaller installers work without a license and perform low-quality work. That’s why it’s important to get word-of-mouth opinions from past customers for any installer whose quote you’re considering. Again, the more quotes you get, the more likely you are to hit that balance between cost and quality.
What Type of Boiler Do You Need?
Another key decision you have to make when installing a replacement boiler is which new boiler to buy. A lot of people will just let their installer choose a good boiler for their property.
But this is not always a sensible approach. A lot of installers will prefer to work with certain makes and models and may even get special deals for certain types of boilers that boost their profit margin. Unfortunately, these installer-recommended boilers may not necessarily be right for your property or central heating system.
It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with some boilers so you can know the best makes and models for your property and be sure you are getting a good deal. This might seem daunting, but actually, choosing a boiler is not as complicated as you might think.
What Fuel Does Your Boiler Work On?
In a large, urban area like Cardiff, natural gas is your best fuel option. It’s readily available, relatively clean, highly economical, and gas boilers typically have the widest selection of models.
If you’re in a more rural are of South Wales and don’t have mains gas, LPG may be a fitting option; there are plenty of boiler makes that operate on this fuel type, too.
What kind of fuel does your boiler use?
Fixed price online with next day installation
Find the Right Boiler Type for Your Home
The next question you need to consider is the type of gas boiler you need. You can choose from the following:
- Combi Boiler
- Regular Boiler
- System Boiler
When to Choose a Combi
If you’re in Cardiff, chances are that you live in a flat, apartment, or a smaller home, so a combi boiler is likely to be the best choice for you. A combi boiler can generate heating and hot water without you needing a hot water cylinder or a water tank in the attic.
Regular and System Boilers
If you already have a water tank and an airing cupboard and want to keep them, a regular or system boiler will be a better choice for your central heating system.
Likewise, busy families with high water demand will need a system boiler to generate sufficient heating and hot water.
Do You Need a Compact Boiler?
A compact boiler is a small combi boiler and is ideal for very small properties where space is at a premium.
What Size Boiler Do You Need?
The next consideration is boiler size, which refers to the power capacity of your new boiler rather than the physical size of the unit.
It is an important consideration because if you buy a boiler that is too small, it will not be able to provide your property with sufficient hot water and may not be able to get your radiators up to temperature. If, on the other hand, it is too big, your utility bills will rise unnecessarily.
Boiler Size Table
You can break down boiler sizes into three broad size ranges:
Boiler Size | Radiators | Bathrooms | Property Type |
24kW-27kW | 10 or fewer | 1 | Apartments, 1 & 2 bed houses |
28kW-34kW | 10-15 | 2 | Medium size 2-4 bed homes |
35kW-42kW | 15-20 | 2+ | Larger Properties |
A boiler installer will be able to give you a more definite steer on this. But, if you don’t want to wait for one to come round, you can use Heatable’s online calculator to find the most appropriate boiler size for your property.
Even if you choose not to take advantage of their great prices and special deals, you can see the size of the boiler they are recommended and use this to inform your boiler decisions elsewhere.
Cardiff Boiler Installations: How Much Do They Cost?
Assuming that you live in an average-sized Cardiff property, use an average amount of water, and are opting for a 24kW sized combi boiler, you total cost for the boiler and installation will be around £2,200.
There are cheaper boilers on the market but we would urge caution with these. They are usually made with low-quality components and come with short warranties which indicate how long the manufacturers expect them to last. You are likely to end up spending more on keeping these boilers running, so it is really a false economy to buy a cheaper one.
To get a better idea of what you can expect to pay, you can use Heatable’s online calculator and quickly get a fixed quote on a range of boiler models.
Moving Your Boiler
If you plan to keep the same place, installing a new boiler is quite a straightforward task as it can use the same pipework and flue as your previous one.
But if you need to move your boiler to a new location, you can expect your boiler replacement to cost more.
And costs can quickly mount up. Things like new pipework, new flues and associated work on your external walls or roof all cost money and you will have higher labour costs too.
If you are installing a large boiler unit, you might also need two Gas Safe registered heating engineers to do the job which will add to the costs as well.
Installing your boiler in a new location in Cardiff or South Wales can add something in the region of £350-750 to your total bill.
It could be more if you are moving it upstairs or to the other side of your house; or, it could be less if you can find a great deal from the likes of Heatable.
Installation Extras
The other thing that can push your boiler installation costs higher is the extras that are often needed with a new boiler.
Getting itemised quotes is key here because some installers will throw in many of the extras with their quote. Others may try and add the price on top and this can quickly inflate the amount of money you are spending.
However, we would advise you to consider the extras on offer carefully because some are very worthwhile and may help to extend the life of your boiler. The three extras we would particularly recommend you consider are:
Keep Your Radiators Free of Sludge With a Magnetic Filter
A magnetic filter is a component that can be fitting to your central heating system. It collects up any metallic debris that is floating around in your heating system.
This debris can turn into sludge and clog up your boiler, your pipes, or your radiators. It can even damage components in your new boiler, but a magnetic filter helps to prevent this by collecting the sludge until it’s cleaned out during annual boiler service.
Use a Scale Filter to Protect Your New Boiler From Limescale Buildup
Cardiff’s water can be hard at times so limescale can be an issue for some. A scale filter helps to stop limescale building up in your boiler. If it does, it can damage components and prevent your boiler from working properly.
A limescale filter reduces the risk of this and, in the long run, is likely to reduce repair bills and extends the life of your boiler. Like the magnetic filter, the scale filter gets cleaned during the annual boiler service.
Clean Your System With a Hot/Power Flush
If you are spending money on a new boiler, you want your central heating system to be clean and efficient. Having a hot flush or a power flush cleans out all the debris and muck that builds up over time in a central heating system and can affect your boiler’s performance. It is well worth flushing your system, but if you have an older central heating system, be careful.
A power flush can damage some older pipework and joints so check this with your installer before proceeding.
If you are recommended any other extras as part of the installation of your new boiler, these are worth considering but do your research before agreeing to pay any extra for them. If you are still not sure, feel free to leave any questions you may have in the comments section at the end of this guide. We are always happy to answer any queries our readers may have.
Summary
If you live in Cardiff or South Wales and you need a new boiler, we hope this guide has given you the information and confidence you need to go out and get a good deal at a great price.
We have told you everything you need to know about boilers to enable you to go out and buy the right boiler for your property. We have given you advice on the costs of moving your boiler and the extras you might want to get.
Perhaps most importantly, we have also told you where to go to get a new boiler installed, with information and advice about using national, local, and online installers. In particular, we have discussed Heatable and explained how you can get a low price on a great boiler tailor-made to suit your property.
If you have any questions or comments about the advice and information we have shared in this guide, do share them with us using the comment box at the bottom of this guide. It is always good to hear the thoughts and opinions of our readers and we will always try to respond to every comment and question that is shared.