Feedback on a combi gas boiler quote

CryoSat

Hello,

I'm looking at getting a 30Kwh combi gas boiler installed to replace a failing gas boiler in a house I've recently purchased. I am in the process of getting a few quotes but I was just looking for feedback on the 1 I have received so far. I just want to know if it's in the ballpark of what I should be paying. This is all new to me.

I have been quoted €3650 (ex VAT) for removal of exiting boiler and tank and to install a 30Kwh Bosch system with the magna filter and pump.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

Lenar3556

Hard to say without more information.
For a boiler replacement it seems expensive, but what else is involved? Is the existing boiler a combi too?

CryoSat

No, the existing boiler is an old system heating the water in a small, old copper cylinder and then the central heating.

Lenar3556

Well there is more work in that. I presume the plan is to pump the supply from your existing (or new) storage tank.
Bosch boilers would be one of the top brands.
What kind of showers have you?
Is there a particular reason you are going the combi boiler route.

CryoSat

Thats correct, pumping from the existing storage in the attic. The shower is electric but I have spoken to the plumber about changing that but as it stands the quote is just for the combi.

The reason for going the combi route is a lack of space for a bigger hot water cylinder and having to change the boiler system anyway. The property is a small 2 bed, ex council cottage so a combi system seems to make sense and we get a chunk of storage space back in the living room.. I know there going to be a significant cost difference going the combi route and I just want to make sure i'm paying a fair price. I'm a first time owner after renting for 13 years so this is all new!

I'm unsure what size our combi boiler (Ideal) is, but it heats 13 radiators no bother, and when i was adding 3 to that (to bring it from 10 to 13) the plumber commented that the boiler would be well able for it. So I'm not sure if that helps narrow it down or not (if it says it somewhere on the boiler, i can take a look, but just not near it at the moment).

I paid about the same price you quoted above, except it included VAT. My job was as part of an extension. The quote was for removing the old condenser boiler, removing the hot water tank, removing an old radiator, and replacing the boiler with the combi, and the old radiator with two new ones (in different places, about 3-4 meters apart).

This was about 4 years ago.


EDIT: Also, people on here give out to me saying this, because apparently it's not the 'right' way to do things, but most of our water is direct from the mains, not via the water tank in the attic (which still feeds the toilet upstairs). I've been told you shouldn't have mains water set up like that, but the plumber was RGI, SEAI inspected and passed the works, and two other RGI plumbers have worked in the house in the meantime and none have ever mentioned it as an issue.

Sleeper12

Deleted User wrote:

EDIT: Also, people on here give out to me saying this, because apparently it's not the 'right' way to do things, but most of our water is direct from the mains, not via the water tank in the attic (which still feeds the toilet upstairs). I've been told you shouldn't have mains water set up like that, but the plumber was RGI, SEAI inspected and passed the works, and two other RGI plumbers have worked in the house in the meantime and none have ever mentioned it as an issue.

Just to be clear here. Your RGI cert says that the gas part of the work is safe and up to standard. RGI is gas safety only. The certificate you got doesn't mean that the plumbing works meets basic building regulations, Irish water regulations and local bylaws. Likewise SEAI are only interested in the energy efficiency of the home /job. They can't give you anything in writing saying that the job meets building requirements.

EVGR

CryoSat wrote: »

The reason for going the combi route is a lack of space for a bigger hot water cylinder and having to change the boiler system anyway. The property is a small 2 bed, ex council cottage so a combi system seems to make sense and we get a chunk of storage space back in the living room..

Make sure to enquire how much noise the pump and its vibrations will make, and what the installer will do to eliminate this. There are two types of noise: from the engine and from vibrations. In a small house these sounds may be heard as they travel.

EVGR

EVGR wrote: »

Make sure to enquire how much noise the pump and its vibrations will make, and what the installer will do to eliminate this. There are two types of noise: from the engine and from vibrations. In a small house these sounds may be heard as they travel.

If you've decent water pressure (as is the case with myself) you don't necessarily need pumps and such, I wouldn't have thought?


(mind you, all my stuff that's used regularly is ground floor. Our upstairs bathroom hasn't been used in a long, long time, but is getting renovated in the next fortnight. Perhaps I should be looking at a pump install somewhere along the way, if gravity has an affect on pressure?)

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Just to be clear here. Your RGI cert says that the gas part of the work is safe and up to standard. RGI is gas safety only. The certificate you got doesn't mean that the plumbing works meets basic building regulations, Irish water regulations and local bylaws. Likewise SEAI are only interested in the energy efficiency of the home /job. They can't give you anything in writing saying that the job meets building requirements.

Yeah but I still had a few plumbers to the house, and none of them eye batted an eyelid at my set up. The SEAI guy also made some informal comments and conversation about the set up (and house in general) but never mentioned mains water being an issue at all.

grassylawn

LPG set-up here

25i Bosch combi gas boiler with magnetic filter and vertical flue
New gas pipe routing for new location
Zoning (doesn't work properly but don't really care as was literally done to confirm to grant spec - using smart TRVs)
Boiler moved to different room
Disconnection and disposal of old boiler
Cleanse system
Pump (€550)
Installation of mixer[?] shower to replace electric one. Using same setup with the old hot water tank being used as reservoir for pump. We bought the shower in a shop iirc.

€5850 including VAT
-€1200 grants applied as credit on bill
=€4650

2019

grassylawn

For us the pump isnt too loud while running. There is a loud thump when it activates though. Turning it off at night because it's next to a toddler bedroom and doesn't get activated by the appliances. Also some drip somewhere seems to be causing intermittent unexplained activation.