New boiler, new location,

A question about : New boiler, new location,

I've a Gloworm boiler which I'm told is 20-25 years old. I recently needed to get it repaired and it still makes a heck of a noise. Whilst I could put up with it until it croaks, I've also got an eye to the resale value of the house should I sell it before then. Also, the house needs a load doing to it so it makes sense to get the heating sorted before everything is made nice.

But what I thought would be a small swap plus a few extras sounds like a major job. Or that would be what the BG engineer seemed to think.

Currently it's on the ground floor and vents directly onto next door's driveway so it's going to have to be moved to a new position. I live in a 3 storey town house with windows all along the front and back aspects, and a party wall and next door's driveway on either side.

So the job would be

New combi boiler on the top floor (combi as hot tank is on ground floor). It's a w/b boiler.
Vertical flue out through the loft and roof
Scaffolding to fit the flue as it's a 3 storey
All the other bits (wiring, flush, and wotnot).

From what I can research on the building regs, I can't see a way of redirecting the current flue so it does look like the boiler needs to move.

The BG quote was Ј5,500. I'm going to get more quotes from local independents but was wondering what sort of figures I could be looking at?

Best answers:

• First comment, DO NOT use BG. They will charge you a stupid amount.
  I had a boiler moved from an internal wall, to the other side of the kitchen. New flue was required, plus plumbing into the heating system. While they were it, they also pressurised the system too (not the hot water, only the heating part)
  Despite the fact these guys were complete idiots, my quote was Ј2k all in which included a new Vaillant 28kw boiler.
  Other quotes I had came in between Ј2k - Ј3k
  Do you really need the boiler on the top floor, especially if you're planning to move? I imagine that is where a considerable amount of the cost is coming from.
  You mention the boiler vents out onto your neighbours drive, but its 20 - 25 years old, so it's obviously been there for a while. Why bother moving it, can't be causing that much trouble
• I'm not sure I want a boiler installed by complete idiots!
  The problem is that the building regs have changed since the boiler was installed and the current flue is no longer compliant. The other issue is that if I get a condensing boiler there'd be a lot more steam and nuisance for my neighbour.
  I could leave it but it makes sense to get it sorted before I do the place up.n
• Is that 5.5k plus vat or vat included, out of interest? And is there scope for them to increase the price in the contract?
  With a modest combi boiler, you could probably get it done for 3k all in.
  If you pick a top of the range boiler it would probably be more unless you are lucky enough to locate a gas plumber down to his last 5 pound note.
• I'd get some local quotes - still if you're aiming to sell the house, is it worth getting the boiler moved anyway ?