ENERGY TIPS
A hot water heater that has been professionally sized by a Gas Safe Registered engineer will run more efficiently than an incorrectly sized one
domestic services
Hot water heater step by step installation
Our expert Home Advisor can help you choose the right boiler for your home and family
domestic services
Hot water heater step by step installation
Our expert Home Advisor can help you choose the right boiler for your home and family
Is it time for a new hot water heater installation?
If you’re reading this, then your hot water heater may well have run into trouble. Some issues can be repaired, but others signal that it’s time to replace your hot water heater. Even the most reliable hot water heater won’t last forever, which is why the time for a new hot water heater installation arrives for everyone at one time or another. Keeping hot water heater installation costs to a minimum is a high priority for most, and we can help.
We will take you through everything you need to know about hot water heater installation, from how to find the most suitable hot water heater for your home right through to what happens on hot water heater installation day.
If you’re still on the hunt for your next hot water heater, visit hot water heater buying guide.
ENERGY TIPS
A hot water heater that has been professionally sized by a Gas Safe Registered engineer will run more efficiently than an incorrectly sized one
What happens on the day of installation?
Help your engineer make a quick start by clearing the space around the hot water heater, giving them easy access. If your hot water heater is installed in the loft, it should be accessible via a set of stairs, a safe walkway and be sufficiently well lit.
A like-for-like hot water heater replacement is the most straightforward hot water heater installation and can be completed within one day.
Replacing your existing hot water heater with a different hot water heater type is much more complex and can take up to 3 days to complete. This is because new pipework will need to be fitted depending on the hot water heater types involved in the replacement.
If you’re planning to have a completely new heating system installed – replacing a combi with a system boiler, for example – then the hot water heater installation costs will inevitably be higher. Take a look at what’s involved when having a completely new hot water heater installed:
If a combi boiler hasn't been able to meet your home's demand for hot water, then a unvented hot water cylinder would make a suitable replacement. This is because unvented hot water cylinder stores your hot water rather than delivering it on demand as and when needed.
- Swap the combi boiler for an unvented cylinder
- Install the unvented hot water cylinder (a cupboard or loft space are ideal locations)
- Connect the unvented cylinder to the hot and cold water supplies
Replacing a combi with a unvented hot water cylinder can take 2-3 days. And, in addition to the cost of the system boiler and unvented cylinder installation, you will also need to factor in the cost of additional pipework
Replacing a vented cylinder with a combi boiler is one of the more complex hot water installations. This is because they have multiple external parts, while combi boilers don't need any additional tanks or cylinders. Having a conventional boiler and vented cylinder replaced with a combi can take 2-3 days as there's plenty of work involved:
- Swapping out the boiler itself
- Removal of tanks and the vented hot water cylinder
- New pipework has to be fitted as, unlike conventional boilers, and vented cylinder combi boiler heat water directly from the mains and deliver it straight to the hot water outlet
Replacing a conventional boiler and vented hot water cylinder with a combi would help to save space around the home. However, it's worth remembering that combi boilers are best suited to homes with 1-2 bathrooms (depending on the unit's domestic hot water output rating). So, if you have multiple bathrooms and a higher demand for hot water, a system boiler would be the better option.
With an Unvented cylinder, there are times where you'll need to wait for the cylinder to fill with warm water before you can get hot water from the tap. If you don't want to wait any longer then combi boilers deliver instant hot water on demand. Note of caution, this variety of boiler will struggle to meet a high demand for water. For instance, if three people simultaneously turn on taps in different rooms, the water pressure will dramatically reduce
- Replace the unvented with a combi boiler
- Remove the unvented hot water cylinder
- Fit new pipework
This can take 3 days and once completed will free up some space around your home.
Vented hot water cylinder and unvented hot water cylinder are similar as they both store hot water in a cylinder. Where they differ is that vented hot water cylinder are open-vent and unvented hot water cylinder are sealed. This means that vented hot water cylinder take their water supply from a tank while unvented hot water cylinder take water from the mains.
- Swap the vented hot water cylinder with an unvented hot water cylinder
- Remove the tanks in the loft
- New pipework
The process of replacing a vented hot water cylinder with a unvented hot water cylinder can take 2-3 days and a new boiler may be needed which will add to the costs.
Frequently asked Questions
Can I speak to someone if I have a question about my new hot water heater installation?
Yes, you can call us on 0207-183-2727. Our lines are open Monday to Saturday, 8am-6pm. We have limited opening hours over public holidays. We want to improve our service for you, so we may record your call to help.
How long does the new hot water heater installation last?
New hot water heater installation appointments last around 1-5 day see above
Are you still installing hot water heater in light of the Covid-19 outbreak?
Yes, we are currently installing hot water heater. You’ll find details of how we will work in a Covid-19 Secure way in our
Before work begins
Before work begins your Pace Gas Safe engineer will want to check a few things with you first. Such as how many hot water taps you have, your water pressure, the number of bathrooms in your home and the positioning of the current hot water heater and flue if applicable.
What happens on the day of the installation?
On the day if it’s a straightforward swap — e.g. combi for combi — you should expect the engineer to be done and dusted within the day. It’s worth bearing in mind though, that if it’s a much older hot water heater system or you’re changing boiler type, there may be complications which prolong the installation. You’ll need to be around to have a run-through of the new hot water heater controls once it’s fitted.
Getting the right documentation
Getting the right documentation to comply with Building Regulations and Gas Safe rules, Pace Heating & Plumbing will notify the local authorities on your behalf when we have completed your new installation we will also give you a Building Regulations Certificate to prove compliance
What happens after the installation?
Unlike most other company Pace Heating & Plumbing will offer you a guarantee on our services. If you’ve hired Pace Heating & Plumbing there is no need to worry, you can call us on 0207-183-2727. Our lines are open Monday to Saturday, 8am-6pm. We want to improve our service for you, so we may record your call to help.
perform a flush of the old pipe work
In some cases before the hot water heater cylinder and new boiler is fitted the Pace heating engineer will need to perform a flush of the old system pipe work. Over the years, sludge and other debris can build up within the pipes and lead to blockages. These blockages will prevent the water from circulating properly, reducing the performance of the new hot water heater system. A chemical flush or powerflush involve chemicals being flushed through the pipe network to clear out the debris.
Boiler Protection Plans
- Service from our friendly, gas safe registered engineers
- Unlimited service calls
- No excess, no annual claims limit
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After your hot water heater has been installed...
Once your new hot water heater has been installed, the heating engineer will take you through how to use the controls. Taking the time to hear about the hot water heater’s features will help you use your new hotwater system efficiently. The heating engineer will also provide you with a Building Regulations Compliance certificate which confirms the unit has been installed safely.
With the installation complete, it’s time to register the installation with the manufacturer to validate the warranty. Most manufacturers request that this happens within 30 days of installation.
To keep your warranty valid, you will need to have your hot water heater serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The Pace Protection Plan involves our heating engineer inspecting the hot water heater, checking the flue pipe if applicable, ensuring that the gas pressure is correct and how the hot water heater boiler and cylinder performs during operation.
Not only will an annual service keep your warranty valid, but they will also ensure that your hot water heater is performing safely and to its full potential in terms of efficiency and reliability. Plus, it could bring a potential issue to the attention of our heating engineer before it turns into a fault and you need to pay for a repair.
Annual services ensure that your hot water heater can heat your home for as many years as possible. And as we mentioned earlier, it’s time to consider a new hot water heater installation after around 10 years. As technology has developed, the warranty length offered by some manufacturers has extended. In some cases, you can get a warranty of up to 12 years, so you wouldn’t need to consider a replacement until after that warranty has come to an end.
Scheduling your Appointment
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What our customer are saying
Prompt, Thorough and Professional, Pace Heating & Plumbing recently completed the installation of a new condensing boiler and an un-vented hot water tank in our new GP surgery. GREAT JOB they showed up when they said they would. Had everything with them, none of this “have to go back to the shop…”. They did a very neat and clean installation one of the best we have seen (and this is our 4th surgery), filed all of the necessary paperwork for the units we had installed.
“We recently undertook a large project. The project turned out great and was done efficiently and in a timely manner. As always, any service work needing done at our office is promptly looked after with a common sense approach. They are a skilled company who look after their customers”
We have used Pace Heating & Plumbing for many years. They have worked on our own equipment and on equipment at rental properties we own, doing service work and full boiler, water heater, and plumbing installs. Recently at a project we had a new boiler installed for under floor heating along with a new radiator. They are always prompt, friendly and professional, always cleaning up the job site when completed. We highly recommend the Pace crew.
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