Where to Get Instant Online Boiler Quotes: 2023 Guide

Ever wondered why ALL boiler installers don’t offer online boiler quotes?

That’s because it’s a complicated process — the installer must spec your home to ensure the boiler is suitable, and most companies haven’t got the means of doing so online. Luckily, some companies have worked out an algorithm for producing online boiler quotes instantly and accurately.

This guide will help you get a legitimate online boiler quote, pick a suitable model, choose a reputable company, and get your new boiler installed — all on your desktop or smart phone, from the comfort of your home.

Why Online Boiler Quotes Are CHEAP!

Getting an instant online boiler quote removes the need for installers to make a site visit.

A boiler installation company spends time and money whenever they dispatch someone to quote a job. These companies must factor in the vast estimating costs — including those for the jobs they don’t get — into their average new boiler quote.

So, in a sense, you’re paying them to quote other companies’ install jobs!

In contrast, by inputing the information you provide about your property into their algorithms, installers like Heatable can quickly and accurately quote you online. Less overhead for them — more savings for you.

You can see how it works yourself — fill out Heatable’s anonymous questionnaire and get a fixed price on screen in less than 90 seconds. Then go ahead and compare it against other estimates you get from local installers (if the latter offer you a better deal, Heatable will match it, too).

Cha-ching!

The Online Boiler Quote Process

Here are the typical steps you’ll have to go through to get a boiler quote online.

1. Survey Your Home

If you want your online boiler quotes to be accurate, your home must be surveyed. Good news — you can do it online yourself.

Some of the more tech-savvy boiler installers have come up with a DIY, online home survey. The questionnaire asks you simple, non-technical questions about your home and central heating system, and these are enough to get a detailed overview of your property.

The more details you provide — such as the property size, radiators quantity, existing boiler type, flue location, postcode, etc. — the more accurate the online boiler quote will be.

One of the leading companies offering fixed online boiler replacement quotes are Heatable. They’re an online boiler installer that invests in technology to provide low-cost installs. They also have phenomenal deals with top brands like Worcester Bosch, so their prices are typically the lowest on the market.

You can try using Heatable’s calculator here and get a fixed-price quote for your boiler replacement.

2. Compare Boiler Quotes

Here’s the thing about boiler prices: they vary dramatically, based on a number of variables. If you’ve only had a single new boiler quote, whether it’s £2,000 or £4,000, there’s a good chance you’re thinking one thing:

Am I Being Ripped Off?

The only way to find out is to get more than one quote.

Start off by getting 2-3 quotes from Gas Safe engineers.

Then, see what fixed prices you can get from Heatable — if you’re looking for a Worcester Bosch boiler, Heatable are often the cheapest option thanks to their tiny overhead and relationship with the manufacturer.

3. Get an Itemised Boiler Quote

No boiler quote or installation is the same. If you want to avoid a “sudden” bump in the boiler price on the day of the replacement, you NEED to get an itemised boiler installation quote. When you do, make sure it includes the following:

1. Hot Flush

This process involves dosing the heating system with chemicals, cranking up the temperature, and flushing out any debris from your heating system. This debris (known as heating sludge), is a boiler-killer — make sure it doesn’t kill yours.

2. Boiler Type and Warranty

If you’re looking for an accurate boiler quote comparison, you’ll need to see how the boilers’ warranties measure up against one another.

For instance, some boilers come with a short, 2-year warranty; sad face 🙁 .

Others, like the Ideal Logic Plus, are protected by a 10-year warranty; smiley face 🙂 .

I’d never pay £1,000s for a new boiler without a MINIMUM of a 5-year warranty. I’ll urge you to do the same.

A final note on warranties: many manufacturers will offer a warranty on their boilers ONLY if the appliance is fitted by one of their accredited installers.

Check the boiler brand’s terms and conditions. If this is the case, and you use a Gas Safe engineer without accreditation, you could miss out on multiple years of extra warranty!

3. Boiler Protection (Filters)

The heating sludge mentioned above builds up over time. So, you’ll want a magnetic system filter to catch this sludge, then empty it out with your annual boiler service. Top filter brands include BoilerMag, Fernox, and MagnaClean.

If you live in a “hard water” area, you’ll also want a scale reducer to keep your system free of limescale build-up.

When the boiler’s fitted with the suitable filters, you’ll also need a central heating inhibitor dosed in the system. This breaks down sludge and limescale, making it easy for the filters to catch.

4. Heating Controls

Does your itemised boiler quote include new control systems, or will the installer hook up your replacement boiler to the existing ones?

If new heating controls are included in the online boiler quote, compare them to those offered in the other estimates you receive.

HINT: You can Google the name of each control and check the price — this should give you an indication of their quality.

Honeywell, Drayton, Tado, Hive, Nest, Salus and Danfoss are all leading brands in this field.

5. Terms & Conditions

Check the terms and conditions of the online boiler quote, and think about how they could affect you.

You’ll want to see if there’s a section related to the “gas mains”, or “gas run”. Older buildings were constructed under more lenient gas regulations, and may have gas runs (the gas pipes feeding the boiler) that are now not up to standard.

The heating engineer installing your gas boiler can’t legally tick your property off as “Safe” if your gas run isn’t up to standard. Upgrading the run could cost between £100-400, depending on complexity. And that’s a cost surprise you don’t want.

To this end, check the terms and conditions of your online boiler quote. If you suspect your gas run is outdated, try to photograph it and share the images with your boiler installer before agreeing on an installation date and price.

4. Compare the Boiler Installation Companies

So, you’ve had a handful of quotes and you’re torn between 2-3? Or, you’ve picked a boiler installation quote you’re happy with and want to check out the company’s legit? Here’s what you do:

1. Check out the company and engineers on the Gas Safe Register
2. Search their company number or name on Google
3. Read online reviews (Google, FaceBook, Yell)

Under no circumstances should you accept a gas boiler quote from an engineer that’s not Gas Safe registered; they’re not legally allowed to fit boilers.

And let’s face it, if a company hasn’t got ANY online presence, that’s a red flag that something’s going on.

When You Should Get a Boiler Replacement

There are 2 reasons to replace your boiler.

The first is that your old boiler is ridiculously inefficient. On some properties, an A-rated new boiler could save you up to to £840 annually on your energy bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

The second is that you’ve got an old boiler, and the cost of maintenance or repair is spiralling out of control. If your boiler is old, out of warranty, and likely to cost £500-1,000+ to fix, that’s the time to start getting boiler replacement quotes.

There’s a good chance that between additional efficiency and a parts/labour warranty, your boiler essentially, pays for itself!

Boiler Replacement Costs

New boiler costs can vary dramatically.

A simple replacement for a new 24kW Ideal Logic Plus would cost approximately £800 (including VAT) for just the boiler, and around £1,900 including installation.

But if you opted for a Worcester Bosch 32/50 Utility oil boiler? You’d fork over around £2,000 for the appliance alone, and upwards of £3,500 for the whole package, including installation.

If you need a cylinder installed, or are you upgrading from a system boiler or regular to a combi, then be prepared to pay more.

Adding to the confusion, labour rates can vary by as much as 20% throughout the country. The installer you choose can also drive the costs up or down. For instance, national companies can charge £500+ more than a local fitter.

Overwhelmed?  You can use this boiler price calculator here and get prices within 90 seconds.

The Average Boiler Replacement Cost

But whilst the prices can vary quite a bit, below we’ll give you a general idea of what you can expect to pay for mid-range gas boilers based on the size of your property.  You can also read our guide to average boiler replacement costs to get a more in-depth understanding of this topic.

Small Properties — £2,200-£2,400

If you live in a flat, apartment, or a 2-bedroom house with low hot water demand, you’ll need a combi boiler with a power output of 24kW. You can expect your new boiler quote to be in the region of £2,000, installation included.

 Medium Properties — £2,500+

If you’re in a 2-4 bedroom property with reasonable hot water demand, you’ll need a boiler that supplies at least 28-35kW, and the new boiler replacement quotes you get should hover around £2,500.

 Large Properties — £2,800-£3,500

Things are a bit more complex with larger properties. There’s a good chance a combi isn’t going to live up to your hot water demand, so you’ll be using a regular or system boiler that has a cylinder — and the latter adds to the cost. Expect the boiler replacement cost to be in the region of £2,800-3,500.

Which Are The Best Boiler Brands To Install?

We’ve already mentioned that your new boiler quotes will vary based on the boiler type, warranty, and so on. You’ll probably find some cheaper quotes, but these will be from inferior boiler manufacturers or models. I wouldn’t fit these in my home, and neither should you.

Besides, the difference between a cheap (and unreliable) unit, and a premium one, isn’t as much as you’d think — a few hundred pounds on an installation that’s going to cost upwards of £2,000!

So, firstly, look for a new boiler with a 5-year warranty or more. Then, stick to the best boiler brands available. We’ve created a detailed guide to the best boiler brands, but here’s the shortlist.

The Best Gas & LPG Boilers

If you’re getting new boiler prices for gas or LPG boilers, these are our preferred brands:

1. Ideal Boilers
2. Worcester Bosch
3. Vaillant
4. Potterton
5. Baxi Heating

The Best Oil Boilers

Off the grid, and getting oil boiler quotes? Here are our 3 preferred brands:

1. Grant
2. Worcester Bosch
3. Vaillant

NOTE: If you’re getting oil boiler replacement quotes, you’ll need an OFTEC engineer, NOT a Gas Safe engineer; you can visit OFTEC for more information here.

Conclusion: Should You Get Online Quotes for Boiler Installations?

If all you’re entering in an online form is your postcode, contact details and being promised a fixed online boiler quote; there’s no way that quote is legit.

How to Tell If an Online Quote Is Legitimate

Here’s an example of a legit, online fixed price quote form from Heatable. Using their form, we found a suitable new boiler at a price of £2,395, with boiler finance options available (even interest-free payment options to help spread the cost). Needless to say, prices can quickly change and tend to vary by region, so you may not get the same price as us; you can easily get your own free online quote on Heatable’s website.

What You’ll Need to Provide to Get an Online Quote

As we’ve mentioned before, your installer needs to know the following (and more) to quote you accurately:

• Property size
• Number of radiators and towel rails (and their BTU)
• Hot water usage (1 shower? 2 showers?)
• The state of the gas run (does it comply to Gas Safe standards)
• Flue location

There ARE companies that can offer a legit fixed quote for a boiler online, and they collect as MANY details are they can.

If you want to get a quote that is truly fixed, expect to spend more than 3 seconds filling out a form.

If you’ve found a website asking for detailed information about your property and heating requirements, the new boiler prices you get are probably fixed, and won’t suddenly change on the day of your replacement.

On a side note —  these companies don’t need any personally identifiable info — other than your postcode — so you needn’t worry about sharing private details.

Online Boiler Quotes — FAQs

Before we finish, let’s go over some of the most common questions about online boiler quotes.

How much does it cost to move a boiler?

If you’re moving an existing boiler to a new location, it’ll cost you anywhere between £400-£800, depending on the complexity of the move.

And if you’re planning to install a new boiler in a new location, you’ll likewise have to pay around £400-£800 on top of the regular installation costs.

Are British Gas expensive for boiler installation?

Installing new boilers via large national heating solutions companies, like British Gas, typically costs more than using a local trade. Online companies like Heatable also usually have better boiler deals, thanks to their low overhead.

Does a boiler have to be on an outside wall?

No, a boiler doesn’t need to be installed on an outside wall; just any wall that’s strong enough to support the weight. That said, the boiler’s flue must pass through the exterior wall to the outside, so you should take this into consideration when you choose the location.

Who can install a boiler in the UK?

A gas boiler must be installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer, whilst only OFTEC-certified engineers can fit oil boilers. That said, the radiators, towel rails, and pipework may be installed and serviced by a plumber.

What’s Next?

Thanks for reading out 5-minute guide to getting instant online boiler replacement quotes.

Had a new boiler quote you were happy with? Not sure if you’re being ripped off, or which heating controls you should buy?

If it’s about boilers, we’re interested; drop a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

And, bookmark this page and pop back soon, we regularly post up new buyer’s guides and boiler advice.