Most domestic dwellings, as well as commercial and industrial buildings, will require a boiler to be fitted in order to provide hot water and central heating. In today’s blog, I’ll explain what is involved in installing a new boiler from scratch.

The Process

There’s a lot more to the process than simply screwing a boiler onto a wall and connecting it to your water feed and radiators - so it’s good to be prepared and aware of what’s required.  That way you can avoid making any mistakes, and ensure the installation goes as smoothly as possible.

Initial Survey and Assessment

There’s no point in simply buying the cheapest boiler you can find, or even the biggest you can afford.

The boiler you install must meet the demands you put on it, and the best way to ensure the right specification of boiler is to start by assessing the building itself.

Engage with a building surveyor to evaluate the size and layout of the building and an energy expert to advise on the insulation present, as both of these will influence the boiler being specified.

A larger building, with several rooms and storeys for example, will require a higher capacity boiler, or perhaps additional storage tanks.

In these early stages of installing a new boiler, you should also seek advice on any local laws or regulations that may affect your project.

A building inspector will be able to give you this advice, and also advise on any permits that may be required.

If the new boiler is for your home then a boiler installation expert, such as Blackpool Boiler installations will be able to advise.

Consultation and Planning

Whoever is going to install your new boiler should consult with you to determine your heating and hot water requirements.

They’ll need to know how long the hot water will be required for, the temperatures, in how many rooms at once, and whether you’re interested in a basic but bulletproof setup or perhaps a more sophisticated smart system with features to make your life a little easier.

It’s crucial that your boiler specifier also knows the type of fuel available for your boiler. If there’s no mains gas supply for example, you’ll be limited to electric or oil-fired boilers, or utilising cylinder gas.

Once this background information has been verified, your boiler installer can design the overall system.

They’ll plan the boiler position, placement of radiators, and any supporting pipework to connect these elements. The design and diameter of the pipes will also need to be decided at this point, to ensure efficient delivery of hot water throughout the system.

Installing the New Boiler

Once all the prep work has been completed, (trust me, it’s worthwhile) and the boiler has been specified, comes the fun part – the installation. This will need to be carried out by a qualified heating engineer, who is on the Gas Safe Register.

When installing a new boiler, the position in the building may require holes to be drilled in external walls to allow flues, pipework, and ventilation ducts to exit the building.

Ideally the boiler will be installed before any walls, floors or ceilings are finished as this will eliminate the need to hack into plaster, or lift floorboards.

If retrofitting the new boiler however, it’s likely that walls will need to opened up, and sections of floors lifted to allow water, gas and electricity services to be neatly installed (in some industrial settings it may be acceptable to have surface mounted pipework and cabling, however, this is an unsightly mess in most domestic buildings).

Testing and Commissioning

Once you have installed a new boiler, it will need to be fully tested to ensure it is functioning properly and that there are no issues.

First, a pressure test is carried out to ensure the pipework to identify any leaks and allow them to be rectified.

Next, the system may be flushed in order to remove any debris that may be in the pipes or radiators. You don’t want these to work their way into the boiler.

After these pre-use tests are carried out, the boiler can be switched on to test that it is functioning properly, and to programme any features such as thermostats, timers, and connect to peripherals such as smart metres.

A final safety check is also performed, to ensure the new boiler installation does not present any risks to occupant health or building safety.

Client Handover

After installing a new boiler, testing for functionality and making sure it’s not going to explode the moment you run a hot bath, the installer will provide you with all the information that you’ll need to manage day-to-day running and operation.

This will include familiarisation with basic controls, as well as instructions on how to program the thermostat, identify any issues (troubleshooting) and basic maintenance such as topping up the system.

You’ll also be given a pack of paperwork that you will want to keep somewhere safe; it’ll contain the user manual, manufacturers’ warranty information, and any relevant certifications.

Follow-Up Planning

Any conscientious boiler installer will arrange some sort of follow up.

This could be in the form of a call to address any concerns you may have but is more likely to be a service and health check, which will be scheduled at a time that works for you.

Ensuring the boiler is serviced will keep it in good condition, as well as maintain the manufacturers’ warranty.

Is Installing A New Boiler Complicated?

Some home improvement or development tasks are simple and may require a straightforward wiring up of a plug or drilling some holes in a wall.

Installing a new boiler, however, is a fairly complicated project which requires a lot of careful planning to ensure that the boiler itself is fit for purpose, the overall central heating design will function properly, and that the installation is a comprehensive and safe one.

This is normally too much to handle for the majority of property owners, and liaising with each individual professional or contractor can consume a lot of time.

Luckily though, my team and I at Blackpool Boiler Installations are happy to do all the prep work for you - you just tell us what you want from your boiler, and where it will ideally be sited - and we’ll do the rest.

Give us a call today to see how we can make installing a new boiler as simple as possible.

01253 422323