Cost to buy/instal GCH in 3 bedroom flat

[GroovyRach]

Hello, trying to find prices online but not much luck. I realise l have to phone around a few companies to get quotes (and plan to 2mrw) etc but was looking for a rough idea on how much l would expect to pay for gas central heating? Currently have the awful, waste of time (and money!) electric heaters. Have suffered 4 winters with them but have decided to get it changed before it starts to get cold again!

I live in a top floor, 3 bedroom flat. Good size living room, and all bedrooms large enough to fit double beds (just trying to give idea of size). Im guessing;

1 x livingroom
3 x per bedroom
1 x in hall (long and narrow)
1 x towel rail in bathroom
not sure about kitchen, dont see the need for one in there? maybe should though.

Anyone had fitted in same sort of size? Can give me a rough idea of costs. Thanks :)

well new boiler is usually around 2k, so add i would add on another 2k to put in all the pipework - are you shure you can the pipework to all the places you want it to go to. presumable you want hotwater as well from your boiler?

yes, i would. hot water tank is no good. not even enough to fill a bath!! a few other people in my block have had heating installed so l know it can be done. thanks for your help :)

A boiler is not 2K for what you are describing.

You could get a complete system with a 24kw combi boiler installed for under 2 grand almost anywhere in the country

I would say allow 3 and a half to an absolute maximum of five grand. I think that's what we were looking at for a 3 bedroom house (although didn't end up buying that house) so in theory you should come under a bit less.

You should be able to get quotes online - I went here www.heating-installers.co.uk/?gclid=CJar7IKA8KQCFU824wodyFZw2Afor quotes, although this was a few years ago

I usually use this site www.whatprice.co.uk/plumbing/central-heating.html to see what others have paid before phoning around for quotes.

We paid about £2/2.5k for about the same size, that was about 10 years ago though, we went for a local independent, the british gas quote was shocking.

We actually had a quote this week for a new boiler the plumber said he could get one for about £1k fitted, so I think the prices haven't gone up much from what we paid last time.

We paid about 4.5k for a 3 bed house -- new combi boiler, removing tanks, all new pipework throughout and new radiators. We have one extra reception room so you should definitely be under that figure by my reckoning.

If you want a good laugh, get BG to come and give you a quote. It will usually be about 50% more than any reputable local independent will charge you. However the good aspect of having a system fitted by a well-known energy company is that if it is badly done, you have someone to complain to who has a reputation to maintain. For example I used to work for Scottish & Southern, they are also not cheap but I consider them trustworthy. They are certainly not going to take your money and run off never to be seen again. You will often get a discount or cheap finance if you look at the website of your gas and electricity suppliers, unless of course you wait until winter to place your order, when they have more work than they can cope with.

Get recommendations from local friends and neighbours for a good local installer who also does repairs. Obviously he must be Gas Safe Registered and should show you his photo id without being asked when he comes round for a quote. If he says "I've left it at home" or "It's in the van, surely you don't want me to go out in the rain to fetch it" then you have only yourself to blame if you allow yourself to be conned by a cowboy.

Ask the installer if the one he recommends has a stainless steel heat exchanger, the better boilers do. Sadly a cheap boiler may only last a few years, so not a good investment. Most installers wil have a favourite brand of boiler that they install all the time, this is fine because they will be very familiar with fitting and repairing it, as long as their favourite is OK with you. Beware of a cheap boiler sold by a DIY shed. A tradesman who buys lots of boilers of the same make will get a good discount from his supplier so has no need to buy cheap boilers from B&Q.

Beware anyone who wants to come and fit a combi in two days and then never be seen again.

If the person who gave you the quote showed you his Gas Safe photo id, but someone different turns up to fit it, ask to see theirs. If they haven't got it, don't let them start work. Phone the company and demand to know why they are using unqualified workmen.

A combi is very suitable for a small flat with only one bathroom. May not be a good choice for a larger property as the flow from one tap will reduce if someone turns on another. The installer should measure the pressure and flow (litres per minute from the kitchen tap) before telling you what he recommends. A combi can give a good shower but is quite slow to fill a bath.

Remember that "cheapest" and "best" do not go together.

Hello, not had much time online recently, but thank you for all your input/advice! Ive got a few companies who were recommened coming in the next few weeks for quotes.

Fingers crossed!!