IN OUR EXPERIENCE,
THE AVERAGE COST OF REPAIRING
A BOILER IS AROUND £300
With over 40 years in the plumbing and heating business under our belts, boiler repair does not faze us in the slightest. We have repaired and replaced thousands of boilers in our time, and we are familiar with all the major gas boiler manufacturers which makes identifying and addressing issues a breeze. Scheduling in an annual boiler service can really help prevent any issues escalating into bigger, more expensive problems later down the line however, complications can still occur between services – typically at the most inconvenient of times – so having an idea of repair costs to help budget for those unexpected call outs, is always a smart move.
While there is no one-sized-fits-all repair cost that we can provide you, we are able to take a look at some common boiler problems and influencing factors that can affect the figures to provide you with some average costs. Let us break down the details…
What factors can affect boiler repair costs?
The most common factors which influence a boilers’ repair cost are:
The make, model and age of a boiler
The type and model of your boiler can influence more than you think. Generally speaking, conventional old-style boilers can be expensive in terms of fuel expenses, but their repair costs tend to be less in comparison to a modern style, more complex boiler, which can be cost effective to run but, expensive to repair. However, modern models are less likely to breakdown.
The position and accessibility of the boiler within a property
Ideally, boilers are installed in a location close to one of the sources where they will be heating the majority of the water in a home, such as a kitchen or bathroom. This will speed up the heating of water and reduce the amount of pipework needed to connect everything up to the pipework already in place. However, in some properties it may not be possible to house the boiler in the most convenient place which might make it tricky to service or fix your boiler.
For example, a boiler housed under the stairs will prove challenging for an engineer to access. Similarly, a boiler located in the loft would need to be boarded or have some kind of flooring to ensure that access is permitted and space for any repair work or servicing would be required, along with adequate lighting and a ladder for access. In short, the more challenging your boiler is to reach, the longer the repairs are likely to take. If your engineer charges by the hour, you are likely to notice a difference in price.
General condition and age of a boiler
If your boiler has not undergone regular servicing, the lack of TLC could unearth other problems that may need addressing sooner rather than later. The age of your boiler can also impact repair bills – a recently purchased one will be more efficient and less susceptible to breakdown, but when it does, you will have to loosen your purse strings. Alternatively, older boilers typically require more frequent repairs but the cost to do so will be less. If your boiler is past a certain age, it may no longer be in production, which will make finding the boiler parts needed to fix it near impossible.
The three most common faults reported by boiler engineers
In our line of work, we witness a lot of boiler fault codes but the three most common problems that we come across that require our repair services are:
Low heating system pressure
Your boiler and central heating system needs to maintain a constant and stable pressure in order for it to work effectively at heating your home and supplying hot water. If your boiler pressure falls below the minimum safe pressure, your boiler and heating system will not function as well as it should, and you will end up spending more energy trying to heat your house with low pressure. In short, a drop in pressure means your system has to work harder to heat your home. The harder it works, the more energy it uses and the higher your bills will creep. On top of that, your rooms will take an age to heat up. Low boiler pressure can indicate a drop in the amount of water circulating in your system.
Causes and what to look out for: There tend to be two main causes behind low boiler pressure – a water leak in the system or air in the system. Therefore, the warning signs to look out for are:
- The pressure gauge on the system has dropped
- The boiler and heating system becomes noisy
- Radiators are not heating up fully
How do you correct low system pressure? To correct low system pressure, we would typically carry out the following:
- Re-fill and pressurise the heating system
- Vent the heating system
- Re-charge the expansion vessel
- Check for any leaks from the boiler and heating system
Approximately £100, assuming that there are no leaks or complications refilling the system.
Reduced hot water temperature
If you start to notice that your water is not as hot as it used to be then it is a sure sign your boiler needs looking at. Nobody appreciates a lukewarm shower or radiator, particularly during those dark, chilly winter mornings.
Causes and what to look out for: You will notice that your hot water temperature fluctuates, sometimes it is hot, sometimes its lukewarm, sometimes there is none at all. Plus, boilers tend to get noisy when they are not working efficiently, so look out for strange gurgling noises coming from it. You may also notice that one or all of your radiators are warming up when the hot water is running.
How do you correct a drop in hot water temperature? If your hot water temperature has reduced, we would look at:
- Replacing the motorised valve/diverter valve
- Descaling or replacing the heat exchanger
- Repair the leak if the cause is pressure related
Average prices would be between £200 and £500.
Leaking boiler
If you have water running down the wall the boiler is fixed to or from a small pipe passing though the external wall near the boiler, then it is a sure sign you have a leaky boiler. There may also be water leaking from the boiler casing too. Sometimes, a small boiler leak shows up as mould, damp or staining near the boiler. A boiler leak may even present itself via warped skirting boards or countertops nearby. You are also likely to notice that the pressure gauge on your heating system has dropped.
What can cause a boiler to leak?
There are several reasons to explain why your boiler is leaking including pressure issues, loose joints, damage to the seals, corroded heat exchanger and a damaged valve, to name but a few.
How do you fix a leaking boiler? The solution will depend on the cause. For example, if the valve is damaged, we would replace the motorised valve/diverter valve. If the heat exchanger is to blame, we would descale or replace it, and we would repair or replace the leaking part or connection if it is pressure related.
Average prices would fall between £150 and £1000 depending on the cause.
Emergency boiler repair
A central heating boiler is one of the essential commodities for any home today. Sudden breakdown of the system can be a real worry particularly for the elderly and those with young children. If you find yourself in this situation, you will want to get your boiler repaired immediately so normal day to day life can resume as quickly as possible and major disruptions are avoided.
Our emergency boiler repair service ensures that our Gas Safe registered heating engineers react quickly to boiler breakdowns, emergencies, and major issues throughout our London coverage area. Drawing on their experience, they will be able to quickly identify issues and undertake repairs within a noticeably short timescale, no matter the size, type or age of your boiler. They will also be able to consider and advise on any further necessary repairs to provide a long term or permanent solution if required.
From the moment we answer the phone, you will be dealing directly with one of our heating engineers, this way we can immediately start diagnosing the problem and we can ensure that you and your property safe and secure while one of our engineers makes their way to your home.
Out of hours charges will often apply. Emergencies do not always fall between 9am-5pm and therefore, if suppliers are closed then we will be reliant on stocked spare parts only. In this scenario, temporary repairs are sometimes necessary.
In our experience, the average cost of an emergency boiler repair can fall anywhere between £140 and £600.
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
Boiler servicing
Like most things in life, you get out what you put in. A well-maintained boiler is no different. Having your boiler serviced annually ensures it is more efficient to run, making it easier to heat your home and using less fuel in the process. You will not only be keeping British gas and the environment happy, but you will also be saving money on your energy bills too.
A regular service carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer grants the opportunity for any issues to be caught early on. They can be addressed before total breakdown occurs, sparing you the likelihood of a heftier bill alongside the inconvenience caused. Plus, as with most things that are well looked after, the lifespan of your heating system is more likely to last longer.
Many boiler manufacturers now require their systems to be serviced annually so that their boiler cover guarantees remain valid making a yearly service a worthwhile investment for homeowners. Plus, most importantly of all, a yearly service will keep your boiler operating correctly and safely to protect everyone in your home from dangerous faults and potential gas leaks.
The average cost of a boiler service by a Maintracts Gas Safe registered engineer is approximately £100.
Whether you are in need of boiler repairs, boiler installation or boiler servicing, we would love to help you. We offer our services to domestic and commercial properties across London. Just give us a call, and the Maintracts team will happily do the rest.
Please note: All costs stated in this article exclude VAT.
