It’s a heart-sinking moment when your boiler stops working. It feels as though everything is on hold; bathing, washing up, cleaning. So getting an engineer in quickly is a must. However, when you then receive the news that your boiler actually needs to be replaced, and can’t just be fixed, your heart can sink even further.
But we’d like to give you a little boost at this moment and reassure you that this doesn’t need to take as long as you think it will. When you choose a plumbing and heating company that deals with this stuff day in, day out, you can take heart that a new one will be up and running as soon as is possible.
What happens when you need to replace your boiler?
Well, your heating engineer will go through a few details with you first. For example, he/she will check how many bathrooms you have – or intend to have – and check your water pressure. They’ll also be keen to understand your usage levels and timings etc. as well. Once that’s established, you can then start your new boiler journey…
Step-by-Step: The Boiler Replacement Process
Step 1 – Choose your new boiler. You’ll need knowledgeable advice to pick the right replacement, so we recommend you choose your adviser carefully. A qualified and experienced plumbing and heating engineer is your best bet.
Step 2 – The old boiler needs to be removed. Every job is different, but nothing can happen until that beast is out.
Step 3 – Your system then needs to be flushed and cleaned. It’s a requirement of British Standards, but the type of system you have will dictate what happens. You may just need a chemical flush, or you may need a power flush. And this is not a stage to miss, because a clean system will help to avoid damage to your new boiler in the future.
Step 4 – There may be upgrades to your pipework. Your installer may have recommended that your new boiler is sited in a different place, in which case you need adjustments made to your pipework. Plus, your new boiler may need adjustments and changes to be made to your pipework anyway. It’s likely boiler technology has improved significantly since your last boiler was installed.
Step 5 – Your boiler is fitted. This is when you start to feel real progress is being made.
Step 6 – Additional accessories are fitted. You may need a system filter, for example, to protect your boiler from any debris in your system. Plus you may need new controls. But all these things should have been agreed at the point of specification, so you shouldn’t be in for any surprises.
Step 7 – Testing. Once everything is installed, the engineer will commission the system by checking all aspects are working correctly. Combustion analysis is also undertaken to ensure the boiler is operating safely
Step 8 – Handover training. Once the engineer is happy the system is fine, he/she will take you through how the controls work, how to operate your new boiler, and any basic maintenance actions you should take.
Step 9 – Guarantee registration. One final step we recommend is that you then register your product with the manufacturer and ensure the guarantee is in place.
Step 10 – Enjoy your warm home with oodles of hot water!
To speak to someone about replacing your boiler, or to find out more about the boiler replacement process, please call us on 01908 103034.