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Original poster

How do people afford new boilers?

52 replies

BirthdayKake · 05/06/2018 07:55

Just that really. We've got an old system boiler. Need a combi boiler. The hot water takes at least two hours to be hot enough for one bath and we have four children to keep clean!!

Seems that with fitting, the cost runs into the thousands... Any ideas?!

OP posts:
troubadorstights · 05/06/2018 08:37

Check what a local plumber would charge (get recommendations). Out new boiler was £1800 fitted - it would have cost over £3K with British Gas.

notanurse2017 · 05/06/2018 08:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AJPTaylor · 05/06/2018 08:47

whatever you do have a plan for it dying on the coldest day of the year

HoneyDragon · 05/06/2018 09:01

We managed to negotiate British Gas down to what local plumbers were charging outright and then go on their payment plan which had a lower apr than our credit card at the time. It was over three years so manageable.

Original poster
BirthdayKake · 05/06/2018 09:02

Thanks everyone. We do live within our means, and I'm happy to pay for a boiler. I just don't have a job so can't do it without DP. I've lived on my own since I was 18 but this is his first house so the high price of things are just always a massive shock to him at first.

OP posts:
WhereIsMyXylophone · 05/06/2018 09:03

We used HelpLink who will do a payment plan (I don't know about that though as we had savings, sorry.)

They changed the boiler, installed 10 new radiators to replace old rusted up ones, 2 new heated towels rails in bathrooms, changed the pump and some pipework to do with that, plus lift the floor to change the pipe from 15mm back to 22mm. It cost under £4k, but that was a lot of work.

Obviously you can just have the boiler changed which would be much cheaper. They came recommended from a friend. Our boiler was on its last legs so much so that we knew the British Gas engineers by first name and they knew us! We were on a care plan with them and now don't have one due to the boiler only being 2 years old.

SporkInTheToaster · 05/06/2018 09:05

Savings, loans, negiotiating deals, payment plans/instalments, factoring it into renovation costs.

ApolloandDaphne · 05/06/2018 09:10

We got a new boiler fitted by British gas recently. They were fantastic and we got an obligation free quote in the first instance. It cost us around £3000 but we added Hive and we need a big boiler (not combi) as we have a big house. They offer finance (i don't recall if it was interest free as we paid ours on completion). It is worth having them out to quote for you. If nothing else you will find out what you need then you can shop around.

Original poster
BirthdayKake · 05/06/2018 09:14

I have a question

If we got an interest free credit card, that's only for purchases isn't it? So how can you use it to pay a plumber?

OP posts:
Notmorewashing · 05/06/2018 09:15

Sorry but “D”P needs to put it on the 0% credit card. That’s life things like this cost a lot! Why is it his first home ?

OrchidInTheSun · 05/06/2018 09:15

If your partner has an interest free credit card, why won't he use it for this? Surely this is the sort of thing that they're for? I think mine was under £2 grand.

LovingLola · 05/06/2018 09:15

If you live within your means do you know exactly (to the penny) what your incomings and outgoings are.
Is there enough spare cash each week to start a savings account? Can you cut back on spending so that you have a buffer when things like this happen?
In relation to your current boiler has it been recently serviced? Does the hot water tank have a lagging jacket on it so that it retains the heat better?

Heroo · 05/06/2018 09:16

100% do it in the summer before it actually breaks! So much cheaper as they can schedule in advance rather than be competing with winter "help my boiler is broken i'll pay anything' cases.

How to pay.... 0% CC / payment plan with BG or similar / sell something / savings.

Stuff like this is a real shitter if you are struggling and a home owner. PP might have sounded smug, but it is important as a homeowner to have a bit of a slush fund because there will always be something that needs attention.

OrchidInTheSun · 05/06/2018 09:16

You can pay a plumber using a credit card. Or you should be able to

SoyDora · 05/06/2018 09:19

A ‘purchase’ doesn’t just mean buying goods, it means buying services too. As long as the plumber has the facility to take card payments then it’s fine.

wowfudge · 05/06/2018 09:44

Shop around - Worcester Bosch supply and fit boilers as do independent gas Safe engineers/plumbers. BG are very expensive because of their overheads.

Original poster
BirthdayKake · 05/06/2018 10:11

Well he's just had a massive go at me saying I'm putting pressure on him and we can't afford it. Apparently I keep bringing up more and more that needs paying. We can wait, we don't need a boiler right now. He's got "£150 to pay back on the credit card" (interest free).

I told him to sell the Eminem tickets for next month. He refused.

OP posts:
Original poster
BirthdayKake · 05/06/2018 10:17

Hmm he's rung me back after I hung up and is being more reasonable

OP posts:
reallybadidea · 05/06/2018 10:17

I do mean this kindly - but if you can't afford to pay for stuff without getting into debt, then by definition you're not living within your means.

Savings are more or less essential to avoid getting into debt when you own a house. IMHO you don't go buying non-essentials like Eminem tickets when you don't have savings. You really need to cut back on treats until you've built up a savings buffer.

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 05/06/2018 10:23

I'm on a heating payment plan with Domestic and General. I can't remember exactly how it works but I pay £20 per month and for that, they will cover coming out to repair the boiler (including parts) and I think if they can't fix it they give you a certain amount towards the cost of a new boiler... can't remember how much. Might be worth having a look?

LovingLola · 05/06/2018 11:37

I told him to sell the Eminem tickets for next month. He refused.

So how much did they cost? What else is being prioritised over a new heating system?

Original poster
BirthdayKake · 05/06/2018 11:44

A couple of hundred, but they go for lots on eBay this late in the day!

OP posts:
Notmorewashing · 05/06/2018 12:05

Why don’t you take out a new card and put it on there. There are lots of 30-36month deals. A boiler is a necessary item !

Original poster
BirthdayKake · 05/06/2018 12:26

We're going to have a look at cards, thank you :)

OP posts:
Jesuisleloup · 05/06/2018 12:32

Make sure it is 0% and no fee on purchases. Sometimes it isn’t clear

Martin Lewis usually has a list (I’m sure you know that but sometimes you can’t think when stressing and DH Is being a tool)

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