Boiler Systems
Traditional central heating systems have a hot water storage tank (in an airing cupboard) and a feed and expansion tank (located in the loft). Having a hot water storage ability allows these systems to deliver large amounts of hot water at short
notice. The hot water capacity is only limited by the size of the hot water tank and the ability of the boiler to renew the hot water when depleted.
The additional components and hot water storage also contribute to reduced energy efficiency, higher installation costs and a more complex system.
To counteract these deficiencies the combination or combi boiler was developed. This type of boiler heats hot water on demand whenever the hot water tap is turned on. This means that the supply of hot water is not limited and there are far fewer components in the central heating system.
Fewer components and no hot water storage all contribute to a lower cost installation with a better energy efficiency, resulting in lower ongoing heating costs.
One disadvantage is that the hot water flow rate of a combi boiler will not match that of a conventional boiler. Water has to be heated on demand and hence it may take longer to run a bath although a shower will be a pleasant surprise as the hot water is delivered at mains pressure giving a high power spray.
Another issue to consider is the temperature of the hot water. This can be influenced by the temperature of the incoming cold water and the flow rate. As a result it is essential that the power of a new boiler is matched to your heating needs.
Some advanced combi boilers incorporate a small hot water cylinder. Installation is still easy with reduced components but the boiler stores some hot water to enable it to meet initial demands for hot water.
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Hi dear sir or madem i want to fit a new combi boiler . so if u can tell me how much is gona cost me .
When quoting for a new boiler there are several items which need to be taken into consideration, such as, the heating and hot water requirements of the system, the positioning of the boiler and so on, all of which affect the type of boiler that would be most suitable for your property.
As well as this, one also has to consider the cost of the installation which can vary significantly from one house to another.
For these reasons, it is not possible to provide a costing without having a Heating Sales Adviser visit to assess your requirements. When suppliers provide a quick quotation online they often need to revise the figures quoted when the installer visits the property and the installation facts are established.
Should you wish to read more about the factors which need to be taken into account in the selection of the right boiler for your home please visit our boilers site at britishgas.boiler-systems.co.uk
Hi there,
I have had a new vaillant boiler fitted, what paperwork should I have been left with?
Thanks
Can you please expand upon your question to help us to provide a satisfactory answer.
Are you referring to sales paperwork, installation and user instructions or to energy efficiency / boiler type documentation.
Could you also please advise who installed the boiler, was it British Gas ?
why does the boiler system keeps cutting off each time the hot water tap is turned on.
Diagnosing an issue such as this over the Internet is very difficult as there coule be several reasons for your problem.
If you have previously taken out one of British Gas’s Homecare agreements We recommend you request a visit from a British Gas engineer who should be able to identify the cause and adjust / repair your system.
If you do not have an agreement British Gas do offer an ‘on demand / emergency repair service. Telephone now on 0808 178 2098 for a Quotation. No matter how big the problem the price quoted includes all parts, labour and call out charges.
Do you use Brisih gas Corgi qualified installers and engineer’s to carry out any works if I upgrade?
We promote British Gas Central Heating systems. All British Gas Boiler Installation and Servicing work is carried out by British Gas Engineers who have been trained to the highest standards at the British Gas Engineering Academy.
We trust that this gives you confidence in any work carried out on your heating system. In addition British Gas will send a trained heating advisor to your property to complete a free, no-obligation quotation for any work required so that you can be confident that you have an accurate quotation that will not change once the engineers arrive to install your system.
I had a leaflet delivered by the post office from you–it came today offering £250 off a new boiler and free installation—Today is the 1st May–your offer expired 27th April 2007 ?? Offer No AR02
Was this a gimmick ?
No – no gimick at all and you will be pleased to learn that the offer of up to £934 savings has been extended to the end of May.
i stayed in for an appointment between 12 6pm no one turned up lol not too impressed can you give me another time slot
We are sorry to hear that and have passed your comment to British Gas online enquiries department for them to email you with a response and arrange another appointment.
i have a potterton puma 80e…about 9 yrs old, had 1 of the boards changed 2 months ago. now another problem, hot water working ok, if heating is off, heating not working at all, if i try to use water when heating is on timer(even if it’s off)boiler goes onto lock out within minutes. reset does nothing,have been told it’s a switch i need, not sure which, or how much, been quoted £60 for one part and £120 for another without fitting or vat, is this something i should consider or has my boiler had it??
Reading your comments it sounds that the system is starting to have electrical problems and could start to incur ongoing costs to rectify the situation. Without seeing the system it is very difficult to advise whether the repair will fix your issues and you will have years of trouble free operation or whether there are other components that will soon start to fail. This is the same situation as with an older car … at what point do the maintenance costs rise and purchase of a replacement becomes cost effective / a necessity.
Boilers tend to have a 15 plus year life so this is rather early to have problems but the 15 years is an average figure. You also need to take into account the operating efficiency of the boiler. Modern boilers are very efficient and installing a new boiler can lead to lower heating bills year on year as less gas is consumed.
We suggest you contact Baxi Potterton direct to see if they are able to give you a better view.
i want to install gas and put in a central heating system. Neighbouring properties have gas but mine doesn’t, how much could i expect to pay?
British Gas’s boiler installation service requires a gas supply to be available at the property and the installation engineers do not connect properties to the gas mains. We therefore are not aware of the current charge for gas connection.
The responsibility for this is with Transco and they will be able to advise what their costs would be to connect your property if you contact them direct on 0845 6056677.
Is it more cost effective to keep the hot water on constant or set to timer to come on/off as required?
We assume you have a system with hot water stored in a hot water cylinder.
For best energy efficiency you should: -
- Ensure that the cylinder has the recommended insulation to prevent heat loss
- Set the boiler hot water thermostat to the recommended level
- Set the central heating room thermostat to the recommended levels to save energy
- Set the timer to heat water at times to match your family’s hot water usage requirements
- take showers in preference to baths as they use less hot water
I am looking to expend my existing central heating system.
I want to add two radiators to a conservatory (recently built) and one radiator to the lounge.
I need advice as to whether my existing boiler( Ariston Micro-Combi 23MFFI/27MFFI) would be upto the job or whether I would need to replace it.
Any advice or comments would be appreciated.
Before a boiler is selected and installed its power output should be sized taking into account the heat losses for the house. If, at that time, you advised the heating assessor that you were considering extending the property and fitting additional radiators they may have increased the boiler power. If you did not the boiler output would have been sized to your property and heating needs at the time, boilers which are over rated for the property will be inefficient and this will increase running costs.
Without knowing how much capacity is being taken up by the existing system it is impossible to say whether the new radiators will fit in with the current boiler or whether you need to upgrade the boiler. As a general rule though, if the boiler was installed a few years ago it would have been sized to work with the existing heat losses – so adding 3 radiators would generally mean a bigger boiler is required.
This is a difficult question that customers often meet and British Gas are able to send a heating advisor to your home to review the installation options, work out the correct heat loss for new boiler, and help to select the right boiler for your home if an upgrade is required. This visit is free with no-obligations on your part and will also enable an accurate quotation to be developed for a new boiler.
hi our boiler is a little bit old so i just wondered how much it would cost for a new one?
There are many options available in selecting a new boiler that prevent a ‘quick price quote’ being given: -
- what type, regular, system or combi
- what power rating ( determined by your homes heat loss calculation)
- where is it to be installed
Often the options appear complex. To ensure that you select the right boiler British Gas are able to send a heating advisor to your home to review the installation options . This visit is free with no-obligations on your part and will also enable an accurate quotation to be developed for a new boiler
I have got a combi boiler and it started leaking water around the attachment site of the air vent. Do you have any ideas regarding the nature of the problem and how can I solve it?
Regards
It is very difficult to diagnose faults remotely. Obviously this could be a boiler leak. Alternatively, you mention that the leak is from the vent and it could be condensate from the exhaust gases particularly as the weather has been colder recently.
In any circumstance the system is not working as installed and you should ask a trained plumber to investigate. Make sure that they do not charge you a large call out fee.
If you have previously taken out one of British Gas’s Homecare agreements we recommend you request a visit from a British Gas engineer who should be able to identify the cause and adjust / repair your system.
If you do not have an agreement, British Gas do offer an ‘on demand / emergency repair service. Telephone now on 0808 178 2098 for a Quotation. No matter how big the problem the price quoted includes all parts, labour and call out charges.
My house is a mid-terrace,ex-local authority property. The hot water/heating is part of a communal bolier system. I would like to come off this system. I need advise on what sort of system would be approriate for me. Do you have experience in dealing with conversions of this type? Can I arrange to have someone visit and then give me a quote, please?
British Gas have experience of converting the heating systems in ex-local authority properties. The new installation will require disconnection from the existing system and then a brand new boiler, cylinder and controls adding as it is assumed that you already have radiators. The only decision you need to make is whether to purchase a combi boiler or a regular / system boiler.
There is a considerable amount of background information on our site at britishgas .boiler-systems .info which will enable you to read of the options available to you. In summary a combi boiler gives you instantaneous hot water and feeds the central heating through a pressurised system so there is no need for hot water tanks or a cylinder. A regular condensing boiler feeds the hot water through the cylinder and your radiators through a fully pumped system and is able to deliver a greater hot water flow through several taps simultaneously.
I have recently had a new combi-boiler installed, the work was sub-contracted out to a local firm even though I was told it would be done by British gas engineers. The work carried out is of a poor standard and the new 22mm copper pipe work to the boiler has been installed outside my house in total exposure to the elements with no protective tubing. The location of the pipe (across a step) makes damage inevitable. A local heating engineer also commmented on the unsafe and poor practice of the installation. Please can you give me advice about external copper gas piping and whether its acceptable to be left exposed?
Reading your comments it can be seen that you are not happy with the installation you have received and British Gas need to give you satisfaction that you have a safe installation that has been installed to their standards rather than respond just to the question on the exposed pipe work.
Contractors are sometimes used to install systems but this should not matter to the customer as the system is being supplied and guaranteed by British Gas. The workmanship should be to British Gas standards and should also be inspected post installation by the quality process.
We cannot answer fully as this site is an affiliate of British Gas and works with them to promote the sale of their systems, although we do have access to British Gas technical experts to respond to customer questions.
The first advice we would give you is to not sign the installation acceptance form and to not settle the remainder of the bill until British Gas have reviewed your complaint and given a full and satisfactory response. If you have already accepted the work and paid the bill we would still recommend that you contact British Gas and ask that their local installation manager visits your property to inspect the work to either confirm that it is properly installed or to make arrangements to remedy any poor work.
To initiate your complaint we suggest you telephone British Gas Installation complaints on 0845 600 0352
We hope that you receive a satisfactory response and that any issues are quickly remedied.
I have recently bought this property and it has a SIME super 102 combi-boiler installed. Are you able to supply me with a handbook/manual for this?
We are sorry but we do not hold a stock of manuals to supply to visitors. However we suggest you contact the manufacturer direct and they should be able to assist you.
SIME’s details are: -
SIME Ltd.
Unit D2 Enterprise Way, Bradford Road
Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD10 8EW
Phone : 08709911114
Fax : 08709911115
web www sime ltd uk
i have just moved into my new house and it has the boiler that i have mention above.but i can not get the pilot light to come on so i can not get any hot water.can you give me any advise on how to get it lit thank you A waiter gloucester ITS THE BAXI BERMUDA 45/4E
If having consulted the manual you are unable to ignite the pilot light then there could be several reasons why the pilot will not remain on, all of which are hard to diagnose via the Internet.
We suggest you call british Gas Emergency line on 0845 026 2438 to get assistance, when calling you will be provided with a fixed price quotation.
Hello, we have an oil fired harmony coachman boiler (thermical) we are experiencing a lot of water hammer and kettle type noises in the piping system. the noises are loud, several large bangs followed by whooshing sound?
The vent line to the expansion tank is HOT. when the boiler system bangs the vent line releases water into the expansion tank. this hot water is then replaced from the expansion tank. the expansion tank then tops up with new cold water. this cycle continues every 20 mins? obviously untreated water is entering the system eveytime it tops up – what can be done to fix the problem – please help.
Hello
I wonder can you help.
I have just moved into a new flat that I have bought. There is a boiler but therer does not seem to be ANY timer even thought I have searched everywhere for this.
This is a new build and I seem to have continuous hotwater.
Is this normal? Will I be be paying for this?
How do I get a timer?
A central heating timer is an important component for controlling the energy usage of your boiler and a missing timer will lead to higher operating costs. We are assuming that the boiler is in your property and serves only your property – Have you confirmed that you are not on a community heating scheme with hot water provided to a whole area from a central boiler?
A timer can be purchased from central heating suppliers but it will need to be fitted by a competent engineer. If you wish British Gas to provide a quotation please telephone 0808 178 2098
I have bought a new combi boiler and radiator pack from a large retail store, I can fit all of the radiators and pipe work but would like British gas to fit the boiler, is this possible and who do I contact to arrange this?
British Gas supply and fit, they do not install only or supply only.
Hello, is it true that I would need a new flue system/pipe installed because I am changing from a combi boiler to a condensing boiler? I understand why new heat exchanger materials are required to avoid corrosion. However I don’t understand why this would apply to the flue as the flue gases are similar in both systems (but cooler and lower in nitrogen oxides in a condenser boiler).
Each boiler has its own individual flue with works the same in principal but is designed in shape/diameter differently. This is part of the overall efficiency/ safety design of the boiler. You will need to contact the manufacturer of you new boiler to see if they have something similar to your current flue pipe to cause the least amount of disruption. Please note that we did send you an email but the delivery failed as you had not supplied a valid email address.
A helpful information section, thanks.
Problem.
Glow worm ultima f40 boiler (about 7 years old) heat exchanger has failed and the leak has corroded the internals badly.
A replacement is called for. (The cost of replacing the heat exchanger etc is £500 or more) The system has a large traditional tank indirect cylinder as shown in your illustration. One bedroom flat, double glazed.
Boiler is mounted on external wall.
What modern condensing boiler would you recommend to replace the existing and interface with the existing system and controls.
Installation is in a small store room with no size constraints.
What would be typical cost for the boiler excluding labour and sundry parts but VAT inclusive ?
The Worcester 18ri would fit in perfectly, it is an 18kw boiler.
The typical cost will be influenced by the installation requirements and hence it would be wrong to quote a price in this email as it could change when the facts are established.
To establish the full installation requirements and ensure that this is the right boiler for your home British Gas are able to send a heating advisor to your house to review the installation options and review the boiler options with you. This visit is free with no-obligations on your part and will also enable an accurate quotation to be developed for a new boiler.
My tank in the airing cupboard is leaking. Is this covered by my 3 star cover?
3 star cover is an old term and the new product descriptions are Homecare 100,200,300 and 400. Homecare 100 does not cover ‘tanks’ but Homecare 200,300 and 400 do. If you check your latest statement it should advise which product you have.
Hello,
I have a worceter combi boiler which is five years old and is constantly clicking when fired up or the water is turned on. Can you service it and how much will it cost? I havent the confidence to trust local plumbers.
Thanks,please respond!
We are pleased to advise you that British Gas are able to service and repair Worcester Combi Boilers.
There are two options available to you
1. Use the Heating Repairs service – telephone 0808 178 2098 for a fixed price quote (we are unable to give a quote on the information you supplied as the price varies by region and there are discounts if you are a British Gas customer).
2. Ask for the repair to be completed but take out a boiler service contract and the cost of the repair will be spread over the year. The telephone operator will be happy to discuss these options with you.
I am about to exchange contracts on a house which has a Baxi Solo Boiler which was fitted in February 2005. My local plumber says that this type of boiler should not have been fitted after 1 April 2004 due to a change in the regulations- is that correct? It was fitted by a registered Corgi fitter. I will need to speak to the vendor asap if this is the case. Help please!
We believe you are referring to the change in the Building regulations which did not start until 1st April 2005 – so your plumber is slightly wrong with his dates. Under these regulations all new boilers must be condensing boilers unless the installer is able to confirm that would be too difficult to install a condensing boiler in your home.
Ive just had an boiler installed. My Hot water turns on ok but when i switch on the CH i get an error message on my boiler which says ( No water in the primary circuit ) WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ????
It means that there is a problem in your heating system.
You should immediately call back the plumber that installed your boiler and ask them to review the installation, until you are happy you should also advise them that you are not making the final payment on the installation.
We have a worcester combi boiler installed with a horizontal flue and when it rains extremely heavy we get water running through the flue and out the bottom of the boiler. The boiler then fails to ignite until dried out. Is there anything we can have fitted to stop this happening?
Worcester Bosch do sell cowls ( for vertical flue pipes) and elbows for horizontal flues. As you do not mention the boiler type, and ventilation must be correct for safe operation of the boiler, we suggest you contact Worcester Bosch direct to ask what parts they sell to remedy this situation.
Worcester Bosch technical help can be contacted on 08705 266241
If afterwards you require British Gas to complete any work on your boiler you can telephone 0808 178 2098 for a fixed price quote.
Hi,
I have a Glow worm Compact 100e combi boiler. The hot water operation seems to have stopped. Just before, it used to work when tap was opened at the lower level in bath. can you please tell me the solution for the problem…guess need to set some pressure switches.
Thanks,
Shetty
Combi boilers can be impacted by the water pressure to your property although that can not be diagnosed online and requires a home visit. There can be other reasons but they would be a guess on the information provided. If you want British Gas to investigate the problem for you we suggest you call the emergency heating repairs telephone number 0808 178 2098 where you can receive a fixed price quotation for any work you request.
my vokera 24he maxin boiler has a leak. How much would it cost to have someone to come out to look at it
The cost of a boiler repair varies by region and as we do not know your postcode we are unable to give a quote in this comment. British Gas do have a heating repair service which could help you and if you telephone 0808 178 2098 you will be given a fixed price quote for the repair.
If you want any further information on the emergency heating service there are details at http://britishgas.home-maintenance.info/british-gas-emergency-heating-repairs/
I have a Vokera Linea28 combi-boiler. I have hot water but no central heating.
The timer (lcd) clock is on but is not incrementing in time so is probably from a back-up battery (?).
The override doesn’t work so I’m presuming it is an internal electrical fault ? the wall thermostat clicks when passing the line but the boiler does not ignite for the pumping through the radiators, do you have any idea what the problem may be ?
Sorry to hear that you are having a problem.
The wall thermostat clicks when the room temperature is low and gives permission to the boiler to fire if the timer / programmer is on. From your description it sounds that the programmer has stopped. This could be a simple fault such as the electrical supply is off or a more complex one such as the programmer has failed.
British Gas have a heating repairs service which you can telephone to see how much a fix would cost. If you telephone you will be given a fixed price quote so you know the cost before anyone comes to visit. The number is 0808 178 2098
How do I relight the pilot on a Glowworm Hideawy FF boiler??
That exact boiler designation is not a current boiler we are familiar with. The manufacturer should be able to supply you with a manual with the instructions although often the pilot lighting is automatic.
Look at the manufacturer web site at http://www.glow-worm.co.uk/service/documentation_noncurrent.asp for a set of manuals which may be the one for your specific boiler otherwise telephone them on 01773 828100
I live in a victorian terraced house and my neighbour had a new combi boiler fitted about 6 month ago, however, instead of it being fitted on the outer wall as before, it is attached to the party wall with my bedroom and all I can hear is the noise it makes when it is used or at night when it cools and hums all the time.
Is there anything I can do about it? It is driving my mad and I will have to move if not.
We are sorry to read of the problem you are having.
You could try fitting sound deadening materials to you adjoining wall but that disrupts your home and does not tackle the source of the problem. We must ask, have you discussed the problem with your neighbour and are they aware of the problem? Once they are aware, and if they are friendly, you can then start to explore the feasibility of amending their boiler installation to reduce the noise level.
I have a Heatline combi condensor boiler which is about 14 months old. The pressure is reading 2.4 bar which should not be a problem due to the built in safety features.
I would like to know how to re-ignite the pilot light as the boiler is not firing up when the hot water tap is on.
There are no instructions in the manual to guide me.
We are sorry but we do not maintain a library of technical manuals for each boiler system.
If you telephone the technical helpline of the manufacturer of your boiler they should be able to answer your question.
I have just bought a new house and I need to have a corgi engineer inspect the boiler and gas in the property. Does british gas offer this service and how much will it cost for a three bedroom terrace house?
We are pleased to advise you that British Gas engineers can help you. The price varies by region and hence we cannot advise you of the exact cost in this email but if you would like to call 0808 178 2098 we will be pleased to provide you with a fixed price quote.
I have a combi boiler but when I turn on the hot taps, i get no hot water and the radiators do not heat up either when the heating is on. The bolier swicthes on and goes through the motions (as if it will heat the water) but nothing happens. What can I do?
It is very difficult to diagnose central heating systems remotely, particularly on the limited information available.
If you have taken out a British Gas Homecare service contract you should telephone the helpline number you have been provided with and an engineer will call to help remedy your problem. If you have not taken out any boiler service agreement British Gas have a heating repair service which could help. If you telephone 0808 178 2098 and explain your issue you will be provided with a no obligation fixed quote for fixing the problem.
My neighbour has installed a boiler in his upstairs bedroom and the outlet is near my daughters bedroom window, I am worried about how close it is. Is there a legal distance it can be from a window.
The minimum distance is 300mm.
We have a back boiler and it has started to make occasional big bang noises. We are due to have it serviced, but we were thinking about having it removed and replaced with a better boiler. Can you tell me approx how much this may cost at most and how do we arrange this.
Advising you on cost is difficult as there are a number of outstanding questions we have, as such a quote could be very inaccurate.
To ensure you receive an accurate quote British Gas are able to send a trained heating advisor to your home to review the installation options and help to select the right boiler for your home. This visit is free with no-obligations on your part and will also enable an accurate quotation to be developed for a new boiler.
We curently have a non working combi boiler and to be honest it was never upto much in the water supply department. We want to convert back to a standard boiler, but we do not have room for an airing cupboard. Is it possible to have a hot water tank in the loft space? and as all radiators are insitu will these need to be replaced or will this fact reduce the cost of installation?
You could have an unvented hot water cylinder fitted in the loft space as this is a sealed system and there are no need for tanks. It will also give you mains pressure hot water delivery to 2, 3 or 4 taps at any one time.
We are currently building a granny flat onto the side of our 3 bed house, for my elderly mother. Can you advise of a combi boiler that would allow us to heat the extension with having to heat the main house? Many thanks!
We installed a large Vaillant combi boiler two years ago. It works well and is adequate for the two of us Iin quite a large house). Now however two family members are moving in, with their own kitchen and bathroom. The plumber tells us that the capacity of the boiler is technically sufficient for the calls on it, but we might keep having a conflict if two hot taps are opened at the same time. He recommends a second small boiler for one of the kitchen + bathrooms. This sounds expensive, and there are problems in siting it. I thought of having an electric immersion heater for the new demand, but then I wondered if the existing boiler might not serve an indirect unvented cylinder to supply one kitchen + bathroom. No one seems to have heard of this being done. What do you say?
A combi boiler cannot supply a cylinder or any kind including unvented, the flow rate will not cope with it. You should contact Valliant direct to see if the boiler model you have can cope with two draw offs – but we suspect the answer will be no. You could have a multi point water heater fitted to help with the extra bathroom/kitchen problem.
British Gas are able to send a heating advisor to your home to review the installation options and help to select the right boiler for your home. This visit is free with no-obligations on your part and will also enable an accurate quotation to be developed for a new boiler.
I ahev got a potterton Performa 28 combi bolier, we have had a corgi registered guy in who has changed the fan and the pcb but still no joy, this has been going for nearly 10 weeks with no heating or hot water, could you advise on what the problem might be?
We are sorry but you have supplied us with little information and we are unable to provide a better diagnosis via the Internet than the CORGI registered engineer has provided through an on site visit.
If you want British Gas to attend to the breakdown please call 0808 178 2098 for a fixed price quotation.
My Baxi boiler is making a lot of noise, clicking, creaking and generally noisier than usual. The outside casing gets very hot and the hot water from the taps is much hotter than usual. Help please.
If you have taken out an appropriate British Gas Homecare service contract you should telephone the helpline number you have been provided with and an engineer will call to help remedy your problem. If you have not taken out any boiler service agreement British Gas have a heating repair service which could help. If you telephone 0808 178 2098 and explain your issue you will be provided with a no obligation fixed quote for fixing the problem.