Cost of upgrading your heating system

Collaborative Post | Whether you’re considering having a new boiler installed, replacing your radiators or both, this blog is for you. Today, we’ll be discussing the average price of different types of boilers and the cost of replacing radiators based on the number of units and the type of radiators in question. Let’s dive in!

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

New boiler prices

On average, when factoring in both the labour and supply only costs, it is approximately around £1,400 to £2,000 to have a new gas boiler installed, £1,600 to £2,200 for a new oil boiler or £1,200 to £1,800 in the case of an electric boiler.
 
The above figures are just approximations, as the type of boiler in terms of its design/functioning (i.e. heat-only, combi or system boiler), quality/brand and even the price of labour near you can all have an impact on the total cost. 
 
As for the design/function, combi boilers are usually the most affordable, followed by system boilers and heat-only (i.e. conventional) boilers. 
 
Looking a bit more at the quality/brand, Alpha, Ideal and Glow Worm are among the top budget-friendly brands on the market. Alpha is a standout example, known for providing high-end products at an affordable price in a way that low-cost boiler manufacturers do not in general.
 
Worcester Bosch, Vaillant and Viessmann are arguably the three best boiler companies selling in the UK, although their products can be quite expensive. Another notable brand, Baxi, is more of a mid-range option price-wise, while still being among the top 10-or-so boiler brands available in the UK.
 
Lastly, it’s also worth noting that a like-for-like replacement will generally cost quite a bit less than replacing one type of boiler with another type.

Cost of new radiators

You may instead (or additionally) want to have your radiators replaced. Radiators generally last about 15-20 years before they need replacing. That said, they may need replacing sooner or later depending on factors like how well they were maintained.
 
Ultimately, whether or not your radiators need replacing because they are beyond economical repair, worn-down in general or you simply feel it's time to opt for more efficient and more modern alternatives, you’ll want to have an idea of how much this might cost.
 
How much a given radiator costs and how much replacing all radiators in a home might cost can vary depending on a range of factors, including the type and quality/brand of the radiators and the price of labour in your area. 
 
Below, we look at the average cost of having all radiators replaced in different sized homes, broken up into the pricing for different types of radiator replacements in each case.
 
Here are the average costs to have all radiators replaced in a bungalow:
●      Replace all radiators with single radiators - £280 to £660
●      Replace all radiators with double radiators - £360 to £750
●      Replace all radiators with electric radiators - £340 to £2,100
 
Here are the average costs to have all radiators replaced in a terraced house:
●      Install single radiators in place on all radiators - £320 to £1,140
●      Install double radiators in place on all radiators - £440 to £1,275
●      Install electric radiators in place on all radiators - £410 to £3,300
 
Here are the average costs to have all radiators replaced in a semi-detached house:
●      Replacing every radiator with a single radiator - £580 to £1,620
●      Replacing every radiator with a double radiator - £760 to £1,800
●      Replacing every radiator with an electric radiator - £715 to £4,500
 
Here are the average costs to have all radiators replaced in a detached house:
●      Adding single radiators to replace each existing radiator - £1,440 to £2,460
●      Adding double radiators to replace each existing radiator - £1,680 to £2,700
●      Adding electric radiators to replace each existing radiator - £1,620 to £6,300

Cost of full heating system upgrade

Of course, if you want to have your boiler replaced along with all radiators swapped out for newer alternatives, you’ll need to consider the cost of both tasks.
 
Depending on the type of boiler and size/type and number of radiators being replaced, you’re looking at spending approximately £1,700 to £4,200 in total. That said, the price could rise significantly higher in some cases. 
 
For example, as laid out in the previous section, having all radiators in a home replaced with electric radiators can end up very costly. If, for instance, you have a detached home and want to have a new gas combi boiler installed and all radiators swapped out for electric radiators, the total price could end up being around £6,000 to £8,000 or more, particularly if you opt for premium quality electric radiators.

Finding the right professional in your area

When looking for a suitable professional near you, it’s best to secure quotes from 3+ contractors/companies before deciding who to opt for.
 
Of course, if you want to have a gas boiler replaced with a new gas boiler, you could hire a Gas Safe register engineer to replace your boiler and radiators. That said, for replacing an oil boiler, an OFTEC technician is required, while in the case of an electric boiler, a regular heating engineer should be suited for most of the job (if not all), although an electrician may also be required.
 
Ultimately, the professional(s) needed for the work at hand will depend on the type of work involved. Moreover, you may simply want to have a boiler replaced or only have your radiators replaced. Either way, ensure you opt for the right type of professional(s) for the work required.
 

Disclaimer: this is a collaborative post.