Boiler Repair Costs: How Much Should You Be Paying?

✔ Half of the money we spend on energy goes on our boilers

✔ Repairs could cost you anywhere between £90 and £400

✔ To get a bespoke quote for an efficient boiler, fill in the form above

Boilers tend to catch people off-guard by breaking down out of the blue, rather than showing gradual signs of wear and tear. This can result in a highly unwelcome bill that may leave you counting out the pennies, or having to research new boiler costs.

But how much will it cost you to get your boiler repaired? The truth is that each situation is different, which results in fluctuating prices – so it’s a good job you have us here to guide you through it all.

Sometimes, we can patch up our boiler again and again, but the only real option left is to let go. If this situation sounds a little too familiar, pop your details on this form to receive and compare free quotes for a new boiler.

What’s on this page?

How much do boiler repairs cost?

Depending on which parts need fixing, getting your boiler repaired could end up costing you between £90 and £400. Minor faults, such as getting a replacement timer or air pressure switch, will cost you about £100 to £200. Meanwhile, more serious faults – such as a replacement diverter valve or heat exchanger – will cost closer to £400.

Sometimes, if your boiler’s repairs are too substantial or it’s just too old, you might need to get a new boiler. You can find out how much a new boiler might cost with our helpful guide.

Need something more specific? Check out the table below to see how much your boiler could end up costing you:

Prices sourced from www.boilerprices.co.uk

These figures might give you a bit of a fright but, in some instances, you might not actually need to replace the faulty part in question. It could be a case of the part just needing a good clean or recondition to get it back in tip-top condition – for example, an engineer may be able to fix a faulty fan by simply changing its motor. This will be much kinder on the purse strings.

We wish it were plain sailing from here, but the prices of parts can fluctuate. The averages above provide a guideline of the price of different parts, but there are a lot of factors that can affect it.

What can affect the cost of boiler repairs?

Boiler parts are pesky little things. They can sometimes end up costing you hundreds of pounds just to get a bit of a spruce up.

Furthermore, there are a number of additional factors that can either pile a few pounds onto the bill, or indeed knock them off. These factors can range from where you live, to the type and age of your boiler.

Check out the different factors that can affect the price of boiler parts below:

• The type of boiler you have – If you have a larger, more complex model, this will add a few more pounds onto your bill. For instance, a conventional boiler will cost substantially more than a combi boiler.

• The age of your boiler – The longer you keep your boiler, the more outdated the parts will be. If your boiler is over 15 years old, it’s likely that the engineer will struggle to find the parts required, or charge extra for them.

• The company that you use – Many people go for a national company to repair their boiler, usually because they are more familiar with the company. However, if you go for local companies, you can expect less of a hefty bill at the end of it.

• Your home’s location – Boiler engineers charge different rates depending on your location. If you live in London, prepare for engineers to charge double compared to engineers in northern England. Typical London life, eh?

• The cost of spare parts – If the part that needs repairing is crucial to the functioning of your boiler, it will cost more to fix. For example, a boiler’s circuit board will cost over twice as much to repair as its timer.

Fixed price boiler repair vs time-based boiler repair

When comparing different companies, you’ll notice that there are two types of prices – just to keep you on your toes. Companies typically offer both fixed price and time-based repairs.

A fixed price repair says what it does on the tin: you pay a fixed price for a one-off boiler repair. You’ll receive a straightforward quote, which includes the total cost of replacement parts and labour.

For time-based repairs, however, you pay by the amount of time it takes to repair the boiler. The longer a fault takes to fix, the more the engineer will charge you.

Want to compare different prices from big brand name companies? Check out the table below to find out more.

This prices have been sourced from each providers’ website

As you can see, your best bet is to go with the fixed price boiler repair option. Most boiler repairs can take 1-2 hours, and it may not be nice watching your bill rack up indefinitely.

Most big brands encourage people to invest in boiler cover to prevent any future emergency repairs. But is it worth it?

Boiler cover: Is it worth it?

In short, yes. Since over half of the money spent on your energy bills come from your boiler, it’s important to look after it as well as you can.
The name is fairly self-explanatory – boiler cover is a type of insurance that covers repairs for your boiler. Certain boiler cover deals also include your annual boiler service, while some can even include boiler replacement. Depending on how much you’d like to splash out, there are a few options you can go with:

• Basic boiler cover – This option covers your boiler, as well as providing the option for annual maintenance checks. If you’re lucky, the company will usually have a 24/7 call centre, so you can arrange a call-out if your boiler breaks down.

• Boiler and central heating cover – This has all the benefits of basic boiler cover, with additional cover for radiators, pumps, and flue.

• Boiler central heating and wiring cover – Again, this option has all the same features as basic boiler cover. It has additional options to cover your plumbing and drains, electrical wiring, or both.

Check out the different prices you can expect to see for all three different types of boiler cover below. Remember, although price is important to consider, cheaper isn’t always better.

Here are some examples of how much boiler cover costs per month with well-known companies in the UK:

*for the first 6 months, then up to £17.50

All prices above have been sourced from each company’s website

When should you replace your boiler?

Replacing your boiler should be a last resort. That said, if your boiler needs a lot of serious repair work, it might be more cost efficient to take the plunge and get a replacement.

Deciding whether to replace your boiler can be a difficult decision for many reasons. After all, you know this specific boiler, you’re familiar with the brand, and you really don’t want to fork out a couple of thousand pounds – but sometimes it’s necessary.

If you’re unsure of when to replace your boiler, there are eight tell-tale signs you need to look out for:

If you spot any of these signs, replacing your boiler might be on the table. Remember to compare your options before buying — each boiler is different, and will suit different homes. You can compare different boiler quotes by getting in contact with our professional boiler installers.

To find out more about replacing your boiler, visit our guide on when to replace your boiler.

Top tips:

• Always get at least three quotes, and make sure they include all costs

• Don’t let any headline figures draw you in — look at the total price of the boiler and labour charges. They all mount up!

• If you can, try not to go straight to the cheapest boiler without considering more expensive options. After six years, you’re almost twice as likely to have experienced a fault with the worst brand than the best.

FAQs

How long does it take to repair a boiler?

A simple boiler repair usually takes about 1–2 hours to carry out. More complex boiler repairs, such as replacing the heat exchanger, can take several days to complete.

Who should repair a boiler?

Never attempt to repair a boiler yourself – it can be dangerous and make your boiler unsafe. Always use a fully qualified boiler engineer. If you have a gas boiler, make sure you hire a Gas Safe registered engineer; if you have an oil boiler, you should use an OFTEC registered engineer.

What is a boiler service?

A boiler service is an examination of your boiler. A qualified engineer carries out certain checks to ensure that everything is working safely and properly. These checks can include testing your boiler’s parts and controls and looking for any signs of corrosion or leaks. A boiler service should be carried out once a year and will take about 30 minutes to complete.

What is the cost of a boiler service?

A boiler service can cost anywhere from £60 to over £100. The price will depend on the age and model of your boiler, and who carries out the service.

How much does it cost to replace a boiler?

It costs anywhere from £580 to over £6,000 for a replacement boiler, with installation costing around £500 to £1,500 on top.

The price will depend on what type of replacement boiler you need, where it’s being installed, its size and efficiency, and what brand it’s made by.

Typically, you can expect to pay £4,000.

What next?

We know that getting your boiler repaired can seem like a hassle. But hopefully after reading this, you feel like you know your boiler better than ever. This guide should also have given you an idea of what steps you need to take to get your boiler in tip-top condition.

So, if you’re considering getting a replacement boiler, why not get in contact with our local professionals? Once you’ve filled in your details, our installers will be in touch shortly, and you can get started with comparing your quotes. Happy heating!