Back Boiler Replacement: Our Simple Guide

Why would a house have a back boiler?

Back boilers are essentially smaller and cheaper boilers, or they were by the standard when they were initially created. 

They were easy to buy and could be hidden behind a fireplace, which kept them out of sight and made them ideal for smaller homes. 

What is the difference between back boilers and modern boilers?

The key difference between back boilers and modern boilers is the way in which they work. Back boilers are 70% less efficient than modern boilers, which results in the generation of useless heat. 

Back boilers are also really difficult to repair since they are no longer being produced and fresh parts are near impossible to find. 

It is very rare to find a back boiler that isn’t placed behind a fireplace, which can make it incredibly hard to change where they are installed. This can mean that they take up a considerable amount of space if you don’t use the fire. 

Can a back boiler be replaced?

Under the condensing efficiency standards, back boilers no longer meet the minimum efficiency and so it is not possible to install a new back boiler. However, it is possible to repair them if you can find a specialist. 

You can replace your back boiler with a new, efficient boiler, and there are many reasons why you should do so, including:

• Modern boilers can be as much as 30% more energy efficient, lowering your energy bills.
• Old gas boilers can be dangerous, with reports of explosions not being uncommon.
• Gas back boilers are no longer installed.
• The constant expanding and contracting of back boilers can cause structural issues to your home that are more costly to fix than a new boiler.

What is included in replacing a back boiler?

Typically, the process of replacing your back boiler will include:

• Removing the fireplace 
• Removing the back boiler system 
• Reconstructing the mantle space
• Installing the new boiler in an alternative location
• New pipework installed to fit with the new boiler
• Work done on the flue system to suit the new boiler 

If your boiler is going to be relocated, you’ll need experts to do this for you to ensure that the pipework is re-routed properly and certain pipework is capped off.

You will need expert, gas-safe registered heating engineers to replace a back boiler. The team at Lacey Plumbing & Heating are highly experienced and can help you to update your heating system to increase efficiency, safety and keep costs down.

Get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss your heating needs.

How much does it cost to remove a back boiler?

Replacing a back boiler with a new modern boiler is not cheap, but it will save you money in the long run. A lot of the costs will be as a result of the process we’ve outlined above. 

It’s not a small job, and it can cost anywhere from £3500 upwards, depending on the boiler installed. 

How long does it take to replace a back boiler?

Replacing a back boiler can take a few days depending on what the job entails. Your installer should be able to give you an indication of timescale when you agree to the work.

If you are putting the new boiler in a different location, this can take slightly longer as it will require additional work, such as rerouting the pipework and installing flue for the new boiler. 

Should you replace a back boiler with a gas boiler?

Back boilers only have one long-term benefit: the small size. The lower price doesn’t matter anymore since they’re more expensive to run and will cost you more than a modern, regular boiler. Rather than a gas boiler, you may be better off looking at the below options.

Should you replace a back boiler with a combi boiler?

Yes, a combi boiler is the most compact modern boiler and it is extremely easy to install. They are perfect for those with smaller homes who want to remove their back boiler, yet still save some space. 

Combi boilers are the most popular type of boiler in the UK, without the need for an external hot water storage tank or feed tank in the loft.  They are ideal for small to medium sized properties with one bathroom.

Decommissioning a back boiler vs removing a back boiler

When you replace your old back boiler, you will need to work out what to do with the old boiler. 

There are two main options:

• Have your old boiler removed
• Have the boiler decommissioned 

When you replace your boiler, it is fully removed and replaced by a newer and more efficient model. Decommissioning a boiler effectively however, means that it will be disconnected from the gas source and power. 

Having your back boiler decommissioned could potentially save you up to £1000, since you don’t have to pay the cost of removing the back boiler and opening the fireplace. 

Advantages of back boilers

One advantage of having a back boiler is that it doesn’t take up as much space as it is located behind the fire. 

They are also quite easy to install, and you can usually find a specialist who knows how to do it without much trouble. 

In addition, back boilers can be used to heat more than one room in your room in your home as they circulate hot water through a wet central heating system. 

Disadvantages of back boilers

Back boilers can be extremely expensive to run as you need to keep the fire going in order to generate heat. In addition, if the fire goes out, you will need to wait for it to cool down before you can restart it. 

Gas-fired back boilers also require regular maintenance and servicing in order to work safely and efficiently. 

Most parts for back boilers are now obsolete, so if your back boiler breaks down, you have no choice other than to have it replaced. It is best to start planning for this scenario now before you end up in a situation where you have no heating and hot water in the winter and it becomes a real emergency.