Does the installation quote include removing the old boiler?
A boiler installation quote should state clearly whether it includes disconnecting, removing and disposing of the old boiler; don’t assume it does. We set this out in our written quotation before work starts, including any charges, so you know what will happen to the old appliance.
In a standard replacement, removing the old boiler is normally part of the installation work, but taking it away and disposing of it may be listed separately. Check all three stages before comparing prices: disconnection, physical removal and lawful disposal.
The amount of work depends on the existing system. A wall-mounted gas boiler may come down once the gas, water, electrical supply and flue connections have been safely isolated. An oil boiler can involve the oil line, burner and flue, while an older system may also have a hot-water cylinder, feed-and-expansion tank or redundant pumps. Those extra components should be identified during the survey rather than appearing as an unexpected charge on installation day.
Access can affect the work too. A boiler in a loft, cupboard or outbuilding may need more preparation than one in an accessible utility room. We look at the route from the boiler to the outside of the property, the condition of the flue and the space available for the replacement. If the old flue passes through a wall or roof, we explain whether it will be removed, capped or replaced.
Your old boiler must be disconnected safely before it is moved. Gas boilers must be handled by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Oil-fired equipment needs an engineer registered with OFTEC. We also isolate the electrical supply and drain or disconnect the relevant water and heating connections before taking the appliance out.
Disposal is more than leaving the boiler beside the driveway. The appliance contains metal and other components that need to enter the correct waste stream. If removal and disposal are included in the quotation, we load the old boiler and arrange its removal as part of the job. If you want to keep a cylinder, tank or other component, tell us before work starts so the quote reflects that decision.
A clear quotation should show:
- disconnection of the existing boiler and associated services;
- removal from its current position;
- removal of the old flue, cylinder, tank or other redundant parts, where applicable;
- transport away from the property; and
- disposal or recycling of the removed equipment.
Some quotes include only the boiler itself. Others include all redundant heating components, making the difference important when you compare totals. If a quote says “remove old boiler” without explaining disposal, ask who will take it away and whether any disposal charge remains.
We record these details in the written quotation before work starts. If the survey finds restricted access, damaged connections or extra equipment that was not visible, we explain the effect on the price before carrying out additional work. That leaves you with a replacement system and a clear understanding of what happened to the old one, rather than an appliance or disposal charge left for you to deal with.
Removing the old boiler can leave fixing holes or an opening where the flue passed through the wall. Check whether the quotation includes basic making good, and whether you’ll need to arrange any plastering or decoration afterwards.
We explain what the installation will leave behind before work starts. If the replacement uses a different flue position or footprint, we point out any visible changes so the final price does not leave you planning extra work unexpectedly.
