As winter fades into spring, many of the early annual boiler service appointments are starting to be booked, to ensure your boiler is safe, working normally and making any tweaks needed to keep it running efficiently and save you money where possible on your heating bills.
Near the end of a boiler’s operational lifespan, as the boiler begins to break down more and require more frequent repairs, your gas safe engineer may recommend that you upgrade your boiler to a newer, better model.
Often, this simply involves a like-for-like swap, taking out the old unit and replacing it with a new one in the same place. Most simple replacements take less than a day to complete.
However, what if you want to move the boiler away from where it is at the moment and house it in a more appropriate place in your home?
This is usually doable, but it may require additional planning and work in order to safely move your boiler across your system and adjust the pipework to match.
Here is what you need to know about moving a boiler, from the reasons why you may need to alter its position, the process for moving a boiler and top tips on what to look out for when an engineer moves your boiler.
Why Would You Want To Move A Boiler?
Typically, if your boiler is out of mind or you do not feel like it is in the way of anything you want to do with your home, it can be difficult to think of why you would want to go through the hassle of moving your boiler around.
Conversely, if you have a problem with your boiler’s location, moving it would often be a solution, even if it can sometimes be drastic.
In general, you can separate the reasons for moving a boiler into wants and needs.
Here is why you might need to move your boiler:
- Improving The Efficiency Of Your Heating System – Depending on where your boiler is located, it can sometimes lose more heat than you expect due to poor insulation and long journeys to the back of the house. Relocating closer to the centre can fix this.
- Reducing Noise – Most boilers are extremely quiet, but if your boiler is in an airing cupboard near a bedroom, home office, study or living room, it can be loud enough to be disruptive.
- As Part Of Necessary Renovations – If you have a boiler in your kitchen but need to install new equipment, moving your boiler might be a necessity.
Alongside this, there are also some very good reasons to move your boiler:
- Aesthetic Improvements – Whilst modern boilers look very tidy, they stand out in a kitchen or bathroom. Whilst there always needs to be space for an engineer to work on the boiler, moving it into a functional loft or an airing cupboard can look a lot tidier.
- Frees Up Extra Space – A boiler needs to be relatively centrally located, but there are often unused small spaces in your home where you can place the boiler, saving your room elsewhere.
- Extensions, Remodelling, And Renovations – If your boiler is in the kitchen and you want to remodel it to create a more open plan space, you will often need to move the boiler away in order to make it worthwhile.
When Should You Move Your Boiler?
Generally, if your boiler needs replacing anyway or you already have vital works scheduled, arranging your boiler relocation can save you valuable time and money, as well as avoid your personal life and time being disrupted through constant work.
How Is A Boiler Moved Around Your Home?
- Planning, Assessment And Quotation – An engineer will consult you about your plans, look at the layout of your home and propose a new location, arranging for changes to electrical connections and pipework to ensure that it works.
- Preparation And Isolation – The engineer will then isolate and shut down the natural gas and electricity supply to avoid it causing any danger.
- Disconnection And Drainage – The boiler is disconnected, and any residual water in the system is drained to avoid any leaks.
- Reinstallation – The boiler is moved, screwed into place, and the gas, water and electrical lines are reconnected.
- Testing – The system is tested to make sure there are no leaks, the boiler pressure is normal, and the system is working as intended.
- Gas Safe Certificate – You will receive a record of work and a certificate that gives you assurances that the work meets UK safety regulations and requirements.
Where Should You Move Your Boiler To?
- Airing cupboards.
- Loft spaces.
- Utility rooms.
- Bathroom cupboards.