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Original poster

I'm getting a new boiler tomorrow- how bad is it going to be?

18 replies

fratellis · 17/10/2018 19:56

The flu (?) needs to be replaced. The man told me this and then did the 'tut and suck in teeth' (do they teach this to all tradespeople? or is it innate).

Anyway, is my kitchen going to be a disaster zone?

OP posts:
Laiste · 17/10/2018 20:50

Hmm - a good rule of thumb: imagine the mess ... and then don't be surprised if it's three times worse Grin

If it's less (occasionally it is so) then great. But if not - then at least you'll be mentally prepared.

At the moment we're knocking down and rebuilding half the house. The above advice has stood me in good stead.

EspressoButler · 17/10/2018 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NameChanger22 · 17/10/2018 20:56

I remember sitting in a very cold bedroom for a whole weekend and lots of muddy floors to clean up. It also emptied my bank account. If it has to be done it has to be done.

Original poster
fratellis · 17/10/2018 21:06

I am well stocked with tea and biscuits including a stash of Viscounts and Club Oranges which I am willing to dispense if it means heating before Monday.

It's the biggest job we've done on the house so far so I'm properly dreading it. The boiler that's in currently is at least 20 years old.... 20 years worth of grime then....

OP posts:
WhoGivesADamnForAFlakeyBandit · 17/10/2018 21:12

God I had nightmares about our boiler replacement for years. It was winter, I was 9 months pregnant and due to have a home birth. The stupid fucking idiot that did it took out the old boiler. The new boiler hadn't arrived. He walked out at lunchtime on day 1 leaving me without any hot water or heating with a vague "it should be here tomorrow" Lucky for him it was. However installing it involved walking into every room in the house - which had up until then, been spotless. He left muddy footprints everywhere and wiped his oily grimy hands on every wall, light switch and door frame in the house. The boiler doesn't work with the shower, so although somehow the workshy tosser has trashed the house fitted the boiler on day 2 we can't actually use it. Day 3 was trashing the shower to fit a new one and more walking around the house stamping his filthy feet over the mess from the day before I'd cleaned up.

And after all that he didn't fit a big enough flue and 3 months later the bathroom ceiling fell in.

We got it replaced again - for free - a year later by someone who was capable of wiping his feet.

fantasmasgoria1 · 17/10/2018 21:24

I had a boiler replaced earlier this year. It took four hours! I was expecting longer but the man said it was just very straightforward!

PickleSarnie · 17/10/2018 21:32

Ours was replaced a few weeks ago. I'm sick fed up of the water paper upstairs and was actually looking forward to the plumbers making a mess.

But the place was left tidier than it was before. Two days and it was all done.

PickleSarnie · 17/10/2018 21:33

The most painful bit was paying for it

Original poster
fratellis · 17/10/2018 21:40

The bill is a bit eye-watering. That sounds like an absolute nightmare Bandit Shock you poor thing at 9 months pregnant. All I could do was eat Haribo and sob at that point.

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 17/10/2018 21:48

Over the years I've had 3 boilers replaced. The first was put in a different place, and included some new rads, the second replaced the first, the third was in our current house. Every time it's been a clean, quickish job.
Last time, it was done one afternoon when I was at work. I came home and totally forgot it had been done! Not even a speck of dust.

PickleSarnie · 18/10/2018 20:14

^^my post made no sense. Meant to say I'm fed up with the wallpaper and was hoping they'd catch it somehow lugging tanks upstairs and I'd have a good excuse to replace it. Bit they didn't. Everything was spotless

Original poster
fratellis · 18/10/2018 20:27

Well, we have a fancy smancy new boiler and absolutely no dirt to be found. Have to say I'm impressed.

The worst bit was indeed the bill!

OP posts:
hiddenmnetter · 18/10/2018 21:28

It depends- if it’s replacing a like for like boiler and no upgrade to the gas supply or CH then it SHOULD be a quick and simple job- take the old one out, power flush and clean the CH, site, connect and install the new boiler, then charge and test. A day or two’s work, the majority of which should be wherever your boiler is.

If it’s a change from one kind of boiler to another (combi to system) or replacement of a very old boiler (unpressurised to pressurised) then it will be a lot more work and a lot more mess- it may will involve running more piping, possibly upgrading the gas supply etc etc. All of which takes time and will probably make mess.

hiddenmnetter · 18/10/2018 21:29

Bit late, but happy days!

WheelyWheelySpookilicousCotee · 18/10/2018 22:53

It will be fine

Bluesheep8 · 19/10/2018 06:22

Had 2 boilers replaced in different houses. No mess and no drama both times, fortunately.

AdventureBegins · 19/10/2018 06:26

Had my boiler replaced earlier this year and it was all finished within hours. Just keep thinking about how lovely and warm your home will be when it’s cold this winter.

PlainVanilla · 19/10/2018 07:01

I had my boiler replaced on a cold morning in January. I was switching from one with a massive hot water tank to a combi, so they removed the tank, took the old boiler off the wall, renewed the flue, mounted the new boiler and hey presto. It took about 3 hours plus a bit for testing/checking all the radiators and then a lovely, warm house plus instant hot water. Plus my gas bills nose-dived.
Enjoy!

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