Should I move or replace my boiler?

Your boiler is probably connected to three utilities – gas, water and electricity – and is also plumbed to your household hot and cold pipework and any storage cylinders or tanks you have. It also happens to be attached to the wall with a large vent hole passing outside.

If you move your boiler, all of the services need to be re-routed; old pipework and wiring needs to be removed, extended, re-routed or blanked; and the space your boiler occupied will have to be filled and re-decorated. Not a small job!

So you should only think about moving your boiler if you absolutely have to. Some good reasons for moving it include the following:

• You’re building an extension or conservatory outside where the boiler is
• You’re knocking down the wall holding the boiler
• It was installed in the wrong place originally
• It’s not safe where it is
• It gets in the way of thoroughfares
• You can constantly hear it when you’re relaxing or in bed
• Pipes are getting frozen in winter
• It’s in a small kitchen and you’d rather have more storage space
• You can’t reach the controls, perhaps after a change of personal circumstances

As you can discount the cost of the boiler itself, the cost will be entirely down to labour and any new parts – pipework wiring, flue and so on.

And don’t forget to add on the cost of redecorating the place where the boiler was, although you might be able to put this off if it was hidden away in a cupboard.

Because there are so many variables here, it’s impossible to put an accurate price on the move. As a guide, the job will probably take a day, possibly two, so it is unlikely to cost less than €500 based on a typical day rate.

If you’re looking at moving a boiler, it’s unlikely that you’ve only recently had it installed, as you’d probably have known about any issues from your old boiler.

That means there’s a good chance your boiler might already be nearing the end of its life anyway. For this reason, it’s worth considering getting a brand new, efficient boiler and having it installed in the new location.

A fresh boiler installation​​​ ​will mean your engineer can be sure all the pipework and electrics are fully compliant with the latest specifications, and you’ll also get a brand new warranty to protect you and your boiler well into the future.

Finally, you start saving money on gas the moment you install a new boiler of the same type and size.

Of course, there’s the cost of the boiler itself. But since you’d be paying for labour and parts anyway, it might not work out as costly as you might think.

And don’t forget, you won’t need a new boiler for at least 15 years, whereas your current one might give up in three or four years if it’s already seen ten winters.

If you do choose to move your boiler, don’t attempt to move it yourself, even if it’s a few centimeters sideways. It’s a professional job that has to be done properly and safely.

If you’d like a quote for a move or a brand new boiler, get in touch – we’d be delighted to advise you on what’s best for you and your pocket.