Boiler Installation Glasgow: Get a Boiler Replacement in Glasgow

Ask someone in Glasgow what their main worry is about boiler installation, and most would answer: “cost.” After all, boilers have a reputation for being very expensive, whilst the heating and gas engineers who fit them are known to charge quite a bit for their services.

If you live in Glasgow and need a new boiler, this is the guide for you. This no generic advice column — we’ve got detailed information to help buy and install the best replacement boiler at a great price.

Whom Should You Hire For New Boiler Installation In Glasgow, Scotland?

If you’re looking for quotes for boiler installation, Glasgow can quickly overwhelm you. From East Kilbride to Bearsden, there are tonnes of local trades, all of whom claim to be the best and cheapest. Obviously, they can’t all be that.

The first and most crucial piece of advice is to get as many quotes for boiler installation as you can. Getting 3 quotes is the absolute minimum, and there’s no maximum. The more quotes you get, the better idea you have of what the local market rates are, and the more chance of you finding a great deal.

When you are looking for quotes, there are 3 different types of boiler installations services you can consider from: online installers, local gas safe engineers, and national services. We suggest you get at least 1 quote from each of these installer types.

Online Companies For Boiler Installation

For the sake of convenience, your first quote should come from a reputable online boiler installation company.

An online boiler installation company will quote you instnatly, so you’ll have a benchmark figure to work with as you ring up other trades.

But this isn’t the only reason: online boiler installation companies occupy something of a goldilocks zone between national and local installation prices.

National companies cast a wide net over the market, and offer standardised rates that will allow them to remain profitable over the largest variety of jobs. Of course, the prices for boiler installation will always favour the company, as they need to hedge against corner cases.

Local engineers, on the other hand, may offer more bespoke service and greater savings, but then again they may not. You’ll find the greatest variance amongst quotes from local Gas Safe heating engineers, as they have to account for various factors, like proximity to the job site, equipment on hand, and available personnel.

As with most industries, the internet era has shaken up the way a lot of people are buying their new boilers. It has led to a number of new online boiler installation companies springing up. Because these boiler companies are based online, they have low overheads and are able to pass on significant price savings to their customers and may even undercut local installers.

Best Online Boiler Installation Service

Heatable are a well-established online installation company. They offer some of the lowest possible prices on a wide range of models from the best boiler manufacturers.

Heatable often have excellent special deals, such as extended warranties and flexible financing options. Their network of approved installers are located all over the UK, including in Glasgow, and can get your new boiler installed as quickly as the following day.

If you want to know how much your boiler installation would cost with Heatable, just head over to their website and fill in their online form. It takes about 90 seconds, and you won’t have to supply any personal information, apart from your postcode. After filling in the form, you’ll get a fixed-price boiler quote for some of the best replacement boiler models to suit your property.

National Boiler Installation Companies

There are several heating installation companies that operate across the UK, including in Glasgow. These high-profile companies often run adverts on TV, in newspapers, and magazines. You may well recognize their names, but TV adverts aren’t cheap and these companies run higher overheads, which they often pass on to their customers in the form of higher prices.

However, large national companies typically offer quality installations and decent after-care. What’s more, they often have stellar new boiler installation deals, so they’re definitely worth asking for a quote. Some of the most prominent national installation companies you should consider include British Gas and Homeserve.

Local Heating and Gas Safe Installers in Glasgow

Never discount local gas and heating engineers, even if it takes a little bit of effort to find a good one. We’re talking about small companies or independent traders that only operate in Glasgow and the surrounding areas. Some might advertise in local media, but often you will only hear about these engineers through word of mouth.

Local engineers often charge far lower prices for the same work, and this being the case, happy customers are typically eager to share the lowdown on “their guy”. If you know someone who has had a new boiler fitted lately, why not ask them who did it and how much they paid for boiler installation?

And remember — the more quotes you get from these guys the better your chances of finding a good deal and weeding out low-quality installers.

What Boiler Should You Buy?

Before soliciting quotes, you must answer 3 important questions:

• What fuel will my new boiler work on?
• Which type of boiler do I need?
• What’s the optimal boiler size for my property?

Below, we’ll help you arrive at these essentials.

What Fuel Type Will Your New Boiler Run On?

Common boiler fuel types include:

• Gas
• LPG
• Oil
• Electricity

Most people in Glasgow have a mains gas connection, so a gas boiler is likely to be the best and most cost-effective choice.

If you don’t have access to mains gas, LPG is another great option, and most gas boiler models can be easily converted to LPG.

Oil boilers are yet another alternative for properties that aren’t on the gas grid, but they tend to cost far more to buy and install.

Electric boilers cost more to operate, simply because electricity costs more per kW than natural gas. That said, an electric boiler can be a fitting solution in a small property with modest demand for central heating and hot water.

Common Gas Boiler Types

Assuming that you opt for a new gas boiler, the next thing you should figure out is what boiler type you need. There are three primary categories:

• Combi Boiler
• Regular Boiler
• System Boiler

Depending on the current setup of your central heating, installation quotes may higher or lower than normal. For example, if you’re converting from a regular to a combi boiler, you’ll pay more than average. On the other hand, simply installing a new boiler of the same type will typically cost the least.

Combi Boiler — Ideal For Smaller Properties With Low Demand For Hot Water

Most smaller houses, flats, and apartments in Glasgow would do well with a combi boiler. Combi boilers generate hot water and heating on demand and don’t require a hot water cylinder or a water storage tank.

However, combination boilers aren’t well-suited for larger properties, or households that consume a large volume of hot water.

Regular Boiler — Good Options For Large Properties With Robust Demand For Hot Water

If you have a larger home, or already have a regular boiler with a hot water cylinder and water storage tanks in the loft, then a new regular boiler is probably best for you. That said, you also have the option of switching a regular boiler setup to a combi boiler; just note that this will drive the cost of installation up.

System Boiler — Great For High Water Demand and Smaller Properties

Much like regular boilers, system boilers give you access to large volumes of hot water, since they’re connected to a hot water cylinder. They don’t, however, require any water feeder tanks, since they rely on mains water to keep the hot water cylinder full.

Would a Compact Boiler Help You Save Precious Space?

Compact boilers are specifically designed to fit into a standard kitchen cupboard. As such, they’re ideal for small properties where space is at a premium.

What Size Boiler Do You Need for Central Heating in Glasgow?

When we talk about boiler size, we’re really talking about its heating output rather than physical size.

It’s crucial to get the right-size boiler for your property and central heating requirements. If you choose a boiler that’s too small, it will struggle to provide sufficient heat and hot water. And if you end up with one that’s too big, you will find your energy bills are higher than they need to be.

Unfortunately, sizing a boiler isn’t an exact science, and there are several variables at play here, including:

• Property size
• Quantity of radiators
• Hot water demand
• Existing central heating system setup

The list above is far from complete. That’s why many people choose to ask a qualified, Gas Safe registered heating engineer for their views before buying a new boiler.

Boiler Size Table

However, to give you an idea of what boiler size you may need, we’ve put together this table:

Again, note that this boiler size guide only offers a broad estimate and is based on the assumption that your household has reasonable demand for hot water.

If you’re unsure what boiler size is ideal for your property, you can use Heatable’s online calculator and see what size the company recommends. You’ll also get a fixed-price quote for all the recommended boiler models.

Glasgow Boiler Installation: How Much Does Boiler Replacement Cost?

There are a lot of variables that affect the cost of buying and installing a replacement boiler. The size, fuel, and type of boiler you choose, as well as the boiler brand, all affect the final price tag.

Now, we know that you probably want us to quote a price somewhere in this article, so we’ll try to give you an average boiler installation cost. Assuming you’re getting a 24kW combi boiler from a reputable, Which? Best Buy award-winning range like Worcester Bosch Greenstar, you’ll probably pay somewhere around £2,200 — boiler and installation included.

Cheaper, less reliable models are available, too. And, obviously, you can spend more if you like — it’s up to you.

One thing we can’t overemphasise is this — never buy a cheap boiler with a short warranty. Aim for a warranty of at least 5 years, but the longer, the better. Although you may spend a few hundred pounds more upfront, you’ll way more on boiler repairs over time.  

Moving Your Boiler’s Location

If you’re replacing an old boiler and want to install the new one in a different location, you can expect to pay more.

Boiler relocation costs generally depend on the amount of work that needs to be done. For example, moving pipework around always adds to the price of installation. Other things that will cost money include installing new flues and performing any work to external walls or the roof of your property.

If you need more than one engineer on site to complete the work, this will also cost more.

We would typically expect a boiler relocation to add around £350 to £750 more to your overall bill. However, it’s always possible that a local Gas Safe engineer, or an online installer like Heatable, might do the job for less.

What Extras Do I Need With My Boiler Installation?

When a simple boiler repair job is not an option and you’re buying a replacement boiler, it’s quite likely that your engineer will recommend some extras with the new boiler. More often than not, these will drive the cost of your replacement boiler up, so you may be tempted to decline the offer.

However, there are some extras that are well worth spending a little money on as they can allow your boiler to last longer and ultimately end up saving you money in the long run. These include:

Magnetic Filter to Keep Your Heating System Free of Sludge

This device collects sludge that would otherwise build up in your heating system. If you allow sludge to accumulate, it can affect your boiler’s performance and even damage its components. Installing a magnetic filter will reduce repair costs in the future. 

Scale Filter to Prevent Limescale Buildup

If you live in a hard water area, a limescale filter is another sensible investment. That’s because over time, limescale accumulation can cause serious damage to your boiler. And whilst water in Glasgow is soft, you can still expect some limescale to collect over time.

Hot / Power Flush the Heating System Before Boiler Installation

If your heating system is quite old, your engineer will probably recommend hot- or power-flushing it before you install a new boiler; doing so will clear out existing debris and sludge. This is a good investment, but be careful with power flushes if your system is very old, as excessive water pressure can damage the pipework.

Buying a New Boiler in Glasgow: Summary

Boiler installation in Glasgow is a big job, and certainly not a cheap one. But there’s absolutely no reason for you to be paying over the odds.

In this guide, we have told you everything you need to know about buying and installing a new boiler. If you feel that there’s anything we’ve missed, or you’d like to ask a question, please leave us a comment below.