Like-for-like swaps
Replacing an old combi, system or regular boiler with a new one in the same place, usually in a day or two.
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Conversions and moves
Switching to a combi and removing the cylinder and loft tanks, or moving the boiler to a loft, utility room or cupboard.
The rest of the system
System flushes, magnetic filters, new controls and thermostatic radiator valves, fitted alongside the new boiler.
A new boiler must be fitted by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Ask to see their Gas Safe ID card, and check the back to confirm they're qualified for boiler work. Your installer should register the new boiler with the manufacturer and with Gas Safe, which notifies building control for you. You should then receive a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. Keep it with the commissioning checklist the engineer completes, as you'll need both when you sell your home and if you ever claim on the warranty.
The biggest factor in the price is whether you're swapping like for like or changing the type of boiler. Replacing a combi with a new combi in the same place is the simplest job. Converting from a regular or system boiler to a combi means removing the hot water cylinder and loft tanks, rerouting pipework and often upgrading the gas pipe and flue. That adds a day or two and can add £1,000 or more. A combi suits most smaller homes. Homes with two or more bathrooms in use at once often do better with a system boiler and an unvented cylinder.
Reading's hard water matters here. Limescale builds up in a combi's hot water heat exchanger, so building regulations guidance expects scale protection to be fitted in hard-water areas, and most manufacturers require it for the warranty. Engineers also usually recommend a system flush and a magnetic filter, so sludge from old radiators doesn't damage the new boiler. In England, a new combi must also come with an extra energy-saving control, such as weather compensation or a smart thermostat with automation, so ask what's included.
Warranties vary from a few years to ten or more, but almost all depend on an annual service. Ask how long the warranty is, what it covers and whether it includes labour. If you're thinking about a heat pump instead, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers a grant towards one in England and Wales. Check GOV.UK for the current amount and eligibility before you get quotes. It doesn't cover gas boilers.
Get at least three quotes, and make sure each one covers the same work: the boiler model and warranty, flue, filter, flush, controls and removal of the old boiler. Reviews on Trade Pilot come from real, invoiced jobs, so you can see how other homeowners rated an engineer's installation.
Typical prices
| Job | Typical UK range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New combi, like-for-like swap | £2,200–£4,000 | Depends on the brand, flue and warranty length |
| New system or regular boiler, like-for-like | £2,500–£4,500 | A new cylinder is extra if needed |
| Conversion to a combi | £3,500–£5,500 | Includes removing the cylinder and loft tanks |
| Moving the boiler | Add £500–£1,500 | Depends on the distance and the pipe and flue route |
| Magnetic system filter, fitted | £150–£280 | Often fitted with a new boiler |
| Power flush | £400–£800 | Depends on the number of radiators and the system's condition |
Typical UK ranges; your quotes depend on the job and access.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A like-for-like combi swap usually costs £2,200 to £4,000 fitted. Converting to a combi, or moving the boiler, can take the total to £5,000 or more. Get three quotes that cover the same work.
A straightforward swap usually takes a day, or two at most. A conversion to a combi, or moving the boiler, can take two to four days.
If the boiler is 12 to 15 years old and needs an expensive part, or keeps breaking down, replacing it is often better value. For a small repair on a well-maintained boiler, repairing usually makes sense.
Yes, in practice. Reading's water is hard, building regulations guidance expects scale protection on a combi in hard-water areas, and most manufacturers need it for the warranty. Your installer should include it in the quote.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is for heat pumps, not gas boilers. Some energy-efficiency schemes help households on certain benefits or low incomes, so check GOV.UK to see what you might qualify for.
A completed commissioning checklist, the warranty registration, and a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate, which comes after your installer notifies Gas Safe. Keep them all together.
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