We surveyed recommended boiler and central heating engineers around the country to find out how much you should spend on boiler emergencies, repairs and maintenance.
We asked Which? Local-recommended plumbers to complete a survey about the cost and completion time for 13 standard boiler and central heating jobs.
Armed with this information, you'll know what questions to ask, roughly what price you can expect to pay and how long jobs should take when hiring a boiler or heating engineer.
Boiler and central heating engineer prices and completion times
All of our prices include labour and materials but exclude VAT.
Servicing and maintenance
| Job | Details | Typical price | Price range | Typical time to comlete job |
|---|
| Power flush standard gas central heating system | Based on a three-bed semi-detached house with 10 radiators. Includes labour and all chemicals and equipment needed. | £375 | £330-£450 | 1 day |
| Carry out an annual service on a standard combi gas boiler | n/a | £60 | £53-£72 | 1–1.5 hours |
| Carry out an annual service on a living room gas fire | n/a | £60 | £50-£68 | 1–1.5 hours |
Good to know
Some unscrupulous traders will have you believe that a power flush cures everything! It's not always the answer. Power flushing is good for removing sludge that has built up throughout the central heating system. But, if it’s just one localised blockage, it can usually be removed quickly on its own.
Time taken depends on how dirty the system is. But a good power flush should take approximately one day. If a trader says they can do it in an hour or two, be wary.
Installing and connecting appliances
| Job | Details | Typical price quoted | Price range | Typical time to complete job |
|---|
| Install and connect a standard gas oven into a kitchen | Customer supplying new gas oven. Assuming all necessary pipework is in the right place. | £80 | £65-£95 | 1–2 hours |
Repairs, replacements and upgrades
| Job | Details | Typical price quoted | Price range | Typical time to complete job |
|---|
| Survey conducted in July 2012 |
| Fit new TRVs – small two-bed house | Supply and fit new thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) in a small two-bed terraced house with eight radiators. | £275 | £220-£330 | 4-6 hours |
| Fit new TRVs – medium three-bed house | Supply and fit new thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) in a medium three-bed semi-detached house with 10 radiators. | £333 | £269-£400 | 5-8 hours |
| Fit new TRVs – large four-bed house | Supply and fit new thermostatic radiator valves in a large four-bed detached house with 14 radiators. | £420 | £350-£520 | 6–10 hours |
| Install a replacement fan for standard combi gas boiler | Supply and fit a replacement fan for a standard combi gas boiler. | £240 | £200-£270 | 1–2 hours |
| Install magnetic filters on a standard combi gas boiler | n/a | £198 | £158-£240 | 2–3 hours |
| Supply and fit new room thermostat | Supply and fit a new wireless room thermostat. | £160 | £125-£190 | 1–2 hours |
| Supply and fit one radiator | Remove existing radiator. Supply and fit a new radiator – 600mm x 1000mm double panel. Assuming all pipework is the correct size and in the right place. | £180 | £150-£228 | 1.5–3 hours |
| Supply and fit new boiler | Supply and fit a new boiler (Which? Best Buy Vaillant ecoTEC plus 831 or similar) with new timer and regulator. Assuming that the gas pipe is of adequate size and boiler flue in same place. | £1,800 | £1,600-£2,008 | 1-2 days |
| Supply and fit a new central heating pump | Trader to recommend a standard pump of a reliable brand. Assuming that replacement is like for like and no modifications are needed. | £150 | £130-£165 | 1-2 hours |
Good to know
Boiler replacement
Replacing a boiling (like for like) should take around one day. But most manufacturers recommend power flushing the system when fitting a new boiler. This is likely to take an additional day.
Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)
It's a false economy to use cheap TRVs. Check that your trader is supplying good quality products (expect to pay around £10-£15 per TRV).
If your system needs draining and refilling this may add to the time and the cost.
Replacement fan for combi boiler
This will usually involve two visits. The first to diagnose the problem and a second to return with correct part and fit.
Research methodology
In July 2012, we sent a survey to all Which? Local traders in the Central heating, boiler and gas installers category with a rating of three stars or more and an email address.
209 traders responded to the survey. Using their experience and expertise, they answered questions about the cost of popular jobs, and how long they should take to complete.
Read more about the methodology