What decides the price of a boiler installation
Two homes can need very different work even when both are "just a boiler swap". These are the factors that change the quote:
- Boiler type. A combi heats water on demand and needs no tank. A system boiler works with a hot water cylinder. A regular (heat-only) boiler works with a cylinder and a loft tank. Switching from one type to another means extra pipework and often removing tanks.
- Output (kW). The boiler must match your heating and hot water demand. A one-bedroom flat and a five-bedroom house need different outputs, and a bigger boiler is not automatically a better one.
- Brand and model. Different manufacturers and ranges carry different prices and different guarantee lengths.
- Position and flue. Fitting the new boiler where the old one was is the simplest job. Moving it, or changing the flue route, adds labour and materials.
- System condition. A heating system full of sludge may need cleaning or a filter fitted so the new boiler is protected.
- Controls. A basic thermostat, a programmable one and a smart control all cost different amounts.
- Property. Tenement flats, older stone houses and newer builds each bring their own access and flue considerations. We check these at the survey.
What a proper boiler quote should include
When you compare quotes, check every one lists the same things. A low headline price that leaves items out is not a lower price.
- The exact boiler make, model and output
- Removal and disposal of your old boiler
- Flue, fittings and any new pipework
- Whether a system flush and a filter are included
- The controls being supplied
- Commissioning and your Gas Safe and Benchmark paperwork
- Manufacturer guarantee length and what it needs from you (for example, annual servicing)
- Who will do the work, and their Gas Safe registration
- Timescale, and what happens if the job finds extra work
How to compare quotes, including from large national firms
People often ask how much a national company charges to fit a boiler. We don't quote other companies' prices because they change and depend on the home. A better approach is to ask each company for a written, itemised quote for the same boiler type and output, then compare line by line. Ask whether the engineer who surveys your home is the engineer who fits the boiler.
How McInally's quotes work
We start with a free survey, so we see the existing boiler, flue route, pipework and cylinder or tank before pricing anything. You then get a fixed, itemised quote with no obligation to proceed, and the price is agreed before work starts. Every installation is carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers, and you receive your commissioning paperwork on completion. See our boiler installation service for the full process.
Is a new boiler always the answer?
Not always. If your boiler is fairly new and the fault is isolated, a repair may make more sense. Our guide on whether to replace an old boiler explains how to decide. You may also be able to get help with the cost: read boiler grants in Scotland.