I’m a Huddersfield plumber and I specialise in Gas Boiler replacements in Huddersfield and Kirklees. I start off by carrying out a survey of the property and look at what type of system is in place already if there is a boiler in place, I check the flow rate and pressure of the incoming mains water. Where the customer would like the boiler to be sited and where it is possible with regards to gas regs. I have to check where the flue is to terminate, the route and its position as well as the boiler in relation to combustible materials, electrical supply and wiring and ventilation. There is a lot to consider and a survey can take between half an hour and a day depending on the requirements of the customer and the property in which the boiler is to be fitted.

Some of the questions I ask myself and the customer if installing a combi boiler

What hot water flow rate does the customer expect?
Will the existing taps be appropriate for the combi boiler (mains pressure)
Will the existing system if there is one need upgrading?
Will the existing radiators and or valves need replacing
What type of system flush will be required to clean the system (if fitting a boiler to an old system).

Once a decision has been made and agreed to I will work out the appropriate size of the boiler and the pipe work  size for the gas line to ensure the correct pressure and flow of gas for the boiler and any other gas appliances within the property. I won’t bore you with all the details of how i fit the boiler to the wall etc but once it is done, the commissioning of the boiler is carried out, this procedure often gets missed as it can take a while but if I’m being paid to do the job I will do it properly. The commissioning procedure is always within the manufacturer’s instructions but I will point out what is generally done on each new boiler installation by me.

I will visually inspect each boiler replacement for any visible signs of anything not quite right
I will turn on the water main and check for leaks on the domestic circuit
Then i will turn on the filling loop and fill the heating system, removing any air and filling to the correct pressure.
I will check for leaks and if all is well flush the system with cold water and leave it full.
I will check the electrical connections and carry out electrical safety tests.
The next job is to turn the gas on carry out a tightness test something I would do at the beginning of the job as well.
I would then purge the gas supply and fire up the boiler.
I would then take the working pressure, burner pressure and gas rate the boiler when at full rate and at maximum load.
I would then flush the system with some flushing agent and balance the radiators. Then it’s time to put in some inhibitor and recheck the pipe work and radiators.
Finally I would go through the controls with the customer and how to top up the pressure in the system when needed.
I would then tell the customer about the maintenance requirements of the system and fill in the bench mark properly.

If i’m just swapping one boiler for another with very little pipe work to move I could expect to take between four and twelve hours to complete the job and longer if there is other work to do.