The appearance of boiler installations varies dramatically, and a major reason for these differences isn’t necessarily the boiler itself, but rather the type of property being served. Bristol is a city with a very diverse housing stock; from narrow Victorian terrace houses tightly packed together on sites like the one pictured, through the new harbour side flat, all the way to the bigger family homes nearer the city outskirts in areas such as Westbury on Trym. Many specific issues have a bearing on how boiler installation in Bristol proceeds; for example, restricted access for pipe runs, limitations to where a boiler flue may be fitted, additional work for listed building owners, and the like.

This article outlines how boiler installations commonly vary according to the style of house being served and outlines specific areas like flue locations, moving house boiler, installing new gas boiler in oil heated houses etc.

It also points out the differences between boiler installation on old pipe work and in good condition, soundproofing on boiler, expected installation times and so forth depending on whether a straight-forward boiler switch or a major boiler overhaul is being undertaken. Reading this article beforehand can help to ensure you are fully aware of the expected duration of the installation project and potential complications for the specific building type in which you live.

Installing a Boiler in a Victorian Terrace

Houses like Victorian terraces make up a large proportion of the housing on many estates in the Easton, Southville and St Werburghs area and their solid brick construction, limited access through narrow hallways and original chimney breasts influence boiler installation. Many of these houses had original fire places in all or most rooms and when in existence it is occasionally possible to utilize a previously installed chimney as a potential flue route, subject to strict building regulations, if the original chimney breast remains. It can occasionally take an installer more time than it would on a modern property to remove an old cast iron radiator or large cylinder through a narrow staircase or hallway.

When drilling for a new flue there are also other considerations due to many Victorian terraces not having a cavity in their walls, so installers may have to test the strength of the wall prior to finally installing the flue.

One final consideration on an unmodernized terrace installation would also depend on where, if at all, the flue can be installed in relation to original, single glazed windows.

Installation Considerations for Flats and Conversions

Flats of any size, whether a large converted Victorian/Edwardian house or a new-build block, raise a number of practical concerns before the new boiler can be fitted. If you own or rent under a shared freehold or leasehold, you may need to obtain consent from a management company or freeholder before any installation that affect the outer walls, such as a new flue outlet, as is required of certain boiler installation types and their positioning. For Flats on upper-floor levels, it’s crucial to know where windows, vents, or air vents belonging to neighbour ingproperties are in close proximity as this can limit the position where the boiler can effectively be installed. Finally, physical access will be another issue – remember, carrying an old boiler downstairs and a large, new unit up several flights is far from impossible; it just needs to be a consideration during installation planning.

Fitting a Boiler in a New Build Property

It’s usually simpler to work with newer properties, in the same way it would be with new builds in particular locations such asBristol’s harbourside or out on the city’s fringes, as pipes, the flue route and the boiler’s initial location were all incorporated into the build itself and not retro-fitted later. This doesn’t mean that installation of a new system is not without its own issues – in some modern homes the pipework has to be smaller and boiler cupboards are so small it’s difficult to find new boilers that actually fit (especially if someone wantsto move up to a larger or different type of model). The warranties that came with the initial build work will also have to be consulted to know what changes to make to the house, if any, won’t void cover on other areas of the home..

Rules Around Flue Position and External Walls

Wherever you fit a boiler, flue positioning must provide sufficient clearance from any windows, doors, air vents or adjacent property boundaries. The distances involved are not down to the installer’s best judgement; rather, they’re determined in accordance with building regulations. Placing a flue too near to an opening window means that fumes from the boiler can blow into the building and if a flue is too near a boundary line it can lead to a dispute between neighbours, even if the flue itself is sited so as not to contravene building regulations.

In terraced streets such as you find all over Bristol where houses crowd together this requirement often dictates whether a boiler can really be mounted on a given wall.

This sometimes means that your ideal location will actually be the wrong one. A corner property, or those in a narrow alley-way where you find multiple windows and/or boundaries to contend with in a very small space, are the most difficult to get right. Your installer should calculate the appropriate minimum distances during the survey stage before any installation work is commenced.

Moving a Boiler to a Different Room

Some householders wish to relocate a boiler as part of a replacement exercise – perhaps to gain more storage space in their kitchen, or maybe to reduce the distances the hot water pipes have to travel when at a peak of demand. This work necessitates the installation of new gas, water and electricity supplies to the new position, and in many cases both time and costs will increase with a move rather than a simple ‘like for like’ swap. The position chosen to receive the appliance may have specific regulatory constraints placed on it concerning flue arrangements and ventilation, and what might initially appear to be an advantageous position may prove difficult or impossible in terms of regulatory compliance. For boiler installation in Bristol, owners should raise this requirement with an installer from the outset. A survey is advisable here to ascertain whether a proposed new location will actually be suitable before any pipe work is altered.

Converting From a Different Heating Fuel

Properties that had oil, electric storage or older solid fuel fired systems SometimesProperties that were using oil, old storage electric heaters, and older solid fuel fire systems, will transition into gas central heating installation, and this process require the whole process, to be more involved, as compared to simply replacing gas boiler. You need to consider gas supply – if one does not exist then arrange for the network operator of such a installation will have longer time-table than installation itself – depends on the distance your house stands from main supply-you need a whole installation including radiator-pipework system apart of the main boiler itself – Much more complex project than gas boiler replacements – We’re to account for old storage tank and heater in this process, for safe collection of them from site etc.

Installing in Listed or Period Buildings

In Clifton for example, but also other areas of city centre, some of Bristol’s building are listed and the process of boiler replacement or installation in them requires consent in advance of commencing work, at least in some areas. Where the exterior appearance of the building will change – for example, if a flues exit on the front elevation is needed – then listed building consent is required from the Local Authority. If you proceed with building works on listed building without consent from Local Authority it can result in further action at a later date. The works inside a home or older house might involve a longer install time, since period features, such as original coving, fireplaces and pipe work, require careful work so that they aren’t damaged, and these issues can usually raise raised with installer early when you first approach an installation company because not all companies have experience in this kind of work.

Pipework and First Fix Considerations

The condition and layout of the existing pipework will play a large role on how simple installation is. Older properties, with older pipework that often consists of different materials all joined over the course of many decades of earlier repairs, may find that sections of it need to be renewed or re-configured to successfully connect to the new boiler if it is supplied with a different size diameter than the original fitting. Homes which do not currently have pipework running to the point you want the new boiler fitted, as may occur when planning an extension on a new build or installing heating into a room which had never had it before, will necessitate a first fix by the installer that is running pipework in and amongst walls, flooring and under the boards, prior to the boiler connection being put into place.

Solid floors, which are prevalent in most lower-story rooms in Bristol and the wider region, may prolong this process, as the pipework must be chased into a wall rather than simply routed under a suspended floor.

This step will often take longer to complete than simply fitting the boiler and it should clearly reflect the estimated time in any quote; failure to accurately estimate the pipework is perhaps the most common cause of installation work exceeding the allocated timeframe..

Noise and Access Considerations During Installation

Some disruption and noise are an inevitable part of the installation process; the level will be dictated by the degree of drilling required, floorboards lifted, and external wall work. For terraced houses, drilling noises may prove noticeable to the neighbours, so it’s polite to inform them beforehand, especially where work is predicted to take longer than one day. For those with workers in the home or very young children who will need naps or pets who can be startled by loud noises, working round certain tasks may prove beneficial rather than having the intrusion part-way through. Accessible use of the property throughout the working day, together with van parking nearest to the property if applicable, will help keep the job running on time and more smoothly, especially for those on a street where parking may be restricted at certain hours.

Timeframes for Different Types of Installation

For a like for like swap on a property with existing usable pipework this can often be completed within one working day, whereas on houses involving property moves, fuel type changes or extensive new pipework this might take from two to four days to complete, depending on how much of the works will need to be completed. Properties requiring the relevant permissions for listed buildings or freeholder agreements will have time delay in advance of starting the job, this may be a matter of a few weeks which will need to be taken into consideration if you are working towards a certain completion date. A reasonable expectation of how long a job is likely to take on a particular type of property can avoid undue frustration when considering how long a more involved installation might actually take to complete as this time should be clearly outlined in the quote from your installation engineer.