Why is gas boiler installation so costly?

[Anteaus]

Friend was quoted around £2500-3000 to replace a gas combi boiler. This actually seems to be a typical price for the job.

Yet, gas combis with concentric flues range from £400 to £800 at wholesalers, depending on quality and output.

The job hardly looks that difficult, the only major issue being if the flue needed relocating such that a new hole has to be made in the wall. I'm told that a day should be the most it would take. In fact, if it wasn't gas I'd gladly do the job but I'm not a gasfitter.

Even allowing for a markup on sourcing the boiler, it seems that the labour rates being charged here are way in excess of those charged by that most expensive of professions, a solicitor. Or, am I missing some other costs?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Or, am I missing some other costs?

Did you know a pint of coke in a pub costs around 0.7 pence to make?

 

[ljrgas]

is the gas pipe the right size?
does the system need a powerflush.
whats the price of the boiler.

did he go to college to work for peanuts

if you dont like hes price why not get other quotes from people

 

[sunnie]

sounds like a london quote.

 

[ALEC1]

wow what a question...last year about 7 people died of CO poisoning, and several houses were blown up by substandard gas work...

And you want us to work for less despite the responsability

Its about knowledge skill and responsability, coupled with the stress of self employment and the challanges of running a business in the UK, a country that until recently excelled in financial engineering, but trivialises real engineering...

 

[ALEC1]

and you might like atao reflect on the following, 25 years ago as a rule of thumb a heating installation cost 10% of house value, now more like 1%, at least in London, and probably Aberdeen

 

[petit_pablo]

Theres more than just the price of a boiler to consider.

A gas fitter has to be registered to work on gas. Each year they must register and pay the fee. Then every 5 years has to retake exams, this costs around £1k plus the lost trade.

Then there is the cost of buying and running a van. Fuel, tax, insurance etc

Next you have the running around after work, giving free quotes, chasing due monies, sourcing parts and materials.

Once you get to the job, theres all those tools that had to be bought, some need yearly recalibrating, again at a cost.

Once you start work consumable items are used, ptfe, solder, fittings etc

Once the boiler is installed and commissioned it needs registering. So paperwork and more time spent.

Oh and theres the waste to get rid of too, most dont fly tip so more costs.

Once you have been paid the tax man will want a cut and so will the accountant.

So in summary, Yes you are missing some other costs

 

[dcawkwell]

Around here I will rip an old combi off the wall and put you a nice
new 30kw combi on the wall for £900 all in.

A quote for £2000 around where I live would be shown the door
straight away. They are all broke around here.

 

[ALEC1]

but you don't pay £33.00 a day for parking, or £9 to visit a client in the centre of town, or have to contend with a bevy of parking wardens hovering outside the plumbers merchants, and a £80 fine every time you make minor errors on a scratch off parking voucher...

 

[mcmoby69]

Good or bad, solicitors will be billing you from anywhere between £180.00 - £350.00 per hour depending where solicitors are located in the country.but no one dies when a solicitor makes a mistake,

an RGI who charges decent money is not in a rush to get to the next job, therefore is less likely to make mistakes. i wonder what price you put on your kids heads?

 

[ub7rm]

Aberdeen and shire has so far been almost immune to the recession and the cost of living in general is high is part of it. That sort of money for a simple swap does sound high. I had a full system including radiators and like installed in a one bed flat in Aberdeen a few years ago for not much more than that (by BG).

 

[misterdubya]

Friend was quoted around £2500-3000 to replace a gas combi boiler. This actually seems to be a typical price for the job.

Yet, gas combis with concentric flues range from £400 to £800 at wholesalers, depending on quality and output.

The job hardly looks that difficult, the only major issue being if the flue needed relocating such that a new hole has to be made in the wall. I'm told that a day should be the most it would take. In fact, if it wasn't gas I'd gladly do the job but I'm not a gasfitter.

Even allowing for a markup on sourcing the boiler, it seems that the labour rates being charged here are way in excess of those charged by that most expensive of professions, a solicitor. Or, am I missing some other costs?

When you (or your friend ) bring your house to me, I'll cut the cost.

Oh, and if your confused, your missing other costs. Send me a link for a £400 combi (including the VAT) with a flue included please.

Mr. W.

 

[ALEC1]

using BG just takes the profit to London, and shareholders...with out seeing the two installs no judgement can be made of the prices quoted there could be mitigating factors..

 

[Anteaus]

wow what a question...last year about 7 people died of CO poisoning

I didn't realize it was so few. From the panicky publicity you would think it was a couple of thousand a year.

In any event, most tradespersons have to shoulder some degree of responsibility, and need some specialist tools, but don't charge several times more than the local brothel per hour just because of that. Plus it's hardly rocket science, the electronics of a boiler involve far more knowledge.

Or, is the real reason a mountain of paperwork with every job? Let me guess...

 

[Steady]

gas combis with concentric flues range from £400 to £800 at wholesalers, depending on quality and output.

Am sure some people think a boiler is just a box you run a couple of pipes to as this question comes up all the time.

Two things to say about that.

1) You're down the **** end of the market with those boiler prices and I actually don't think you can get a boiler and flue for £400.Think £700 as a mimimum.

2) Now add on the price of the following:

3)External controls -timer,room stat.-up to £200

4)supply and fit maganclean filter or similar- £80-£100(BG charge over double that)

5)Copper tube,fittings,electrical parts,pipe lagging, cleanser and inhibitor chemicals and other misc. consumables- indeterminate cost but likely to be a minimum of £150.

6)Installer's overheads as previously mentioned.

So £1500 to £1600 as an ABSOULTE minimum for the cheapest sh*ttiest job- we've all probably seen this figure on the back of a small van somewhere.
'Cept he won't be including a Magnaclean, or any controls.Maybe some £4.99 inhibitor and one drain down if you're lucky.Gas rate it?Inlet pressure test? Gas pipe sizing corrected? Nah,too busy and not at that price.

Pay cheap,pay twice.