Can You Install A Boiler Yourself? 

Attempting to pull off a boiler installation yourself poses many risks. Things can easily go wrong and cost you twice as much as a professional installation would have. While hiring a heating or Gas Safe registered engineer to install your boiler is not cheap, it is worth it.

Read on and find out why installing a boiler yourself is not a good idea. This article will also discuss the advantages of using a professional boiler installer. Finally, we will look at what work on your boiler you can safely do yourself, without the need for expert assistance.

Why You Should Not Install A Boiler Yourself

Let’s discuss in detail why performing your own boiler installation is not a good idea.

You void your warranty

Your boiler’s warranty is directly tied to its installation. The warranty will be void if the device is not installed by a certified professional. For the manufacturer to fulfil its warranty, they would want to know who installed the new boiler unit and ask for the applicable paperwork the installer provided.

You lose out on insurance claims

As with the warranty, a home insurer would expect the applicable paperwork to be provided whenever you claim for a boiler issue. If you perform a boiler installation yourself and something goes wrong, you will not be able to make a full insurance claim, if any.

Property and personal safety

By performing a new boiler installation yourself, you put your home and your life in danger. Potential gas leaks and electrical shocks from an improper installation are a reality for anybody who attempts to fit their own boiler.

You also run the risk of water leaks that can destroy walls, floors and ceilings. Even simpler installations like combi boilers could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning if improperly fitted by someone not on the UK’s Gas Safe Register.

Electrical regulatory requirements

Electrical regulations are set out by the government and need to be met. These regulations cover rules regarding proper waterproof insulation or the correct power supply for an electric boiler.

They don’t only apply to electric boilers, but rather to any kind of boiler installed in your home.

It is so easy to miss just one of the many regulatory requirements, which can have major repercussions.

Gas safety requirements

As with electric regulatory requirements, gas regulations are just as essential for a safe and efficient boiler. Both methane gas leaks and carbon monoxide leaks can be deadly. Gas leaks can occur due to improper boiler installation, but also from poor connections to gas appliances.

Performing a DIY installation of a gas boiler without Gas Safe registered engineers is incredibly dangerous due to the risk of an explosion or gas leak. You want both skills and experience when it comes to the heating engineer managing your boiler installation. Do not cut corners when it comes to properly fitting a gas boiler.

Building regulation requirements

Building regulations include a variety of standards that need to be met for a safe boiler installation. When it comes to boilers that mix water, electricity, and gas, there are strict codes to adhere to.

These codes cover proper structural mounting of your boiler, along with adequate ventilation requirements.

Whenever you need to do a heating installation or repair, it’s best to contact us at Eco Happy to find the best quotes. All our heating and Gas Safe registered engineers are skilled in performing boiler installations that are up to the UK’s regulatory standards.

Advantages Of Using A Professional Installer

We have discussed that heating and Gas Safe registered engineers have the necessary skills and experience to install a boiler. There are a few other benefits to using professionals:

• The UK regulatory body, the Gas Safe Register, allows you to make claims or lodge complaints if any professional registered company causes damage or loss due to their negligent actions. The installation company and staff must be registered on the Gas Safe Register.
• Experts help you pick the right size and model boiler for your needs. This will prevent you from wasting money on a unit that’s too large or small for your home.
• You will get advice on proper home insulation. The more energy efficient your home is, the more money you will save on energy bills.
• With years of experience working with a variety of customers using many makes and models of boilers, heating and Gas Safe registered engineers provide invaluable guidance on getting the best from your gas, oil, or electric boiler.

If you want to learn more about boiler installations, have a look at our helpful articles. You can get advice on the best boiler installers, find a list of Vaillant boiler prices or get a rundown of the cost of a combi boiler.

Getting Hands-On With Your Boiler 

While performing boiler installations yourself is not a good idea, there are still many tasks you can complete on your own – none of which require a Gas Safe registered engineer.

Let’s look at a few tasks any homeowner can complete.

Maintaining boiler pressure

Check your boiler pressure gauge regularly to ensure that the unit is performing optimally. All boilers naturally lose pressure over time.

You can fix this yourself. You simply need to use your unit’s filling loop to top up the water in your system to increase the pressure. You can find the full details on how to perform this re-pressurisation in our article on how to fix a boiler losing pressure.

Bleeding your radiators

If you experience any cold spots in your home or hear your radiators make gurgling sounds, the problem could be air trapped in your central heating system. You can troubleshoot and resolve this by bleeding and balancing your radiators.

This is a simple task to do. Check out our article on how to bleed your radiators and then how to balance them.

This will eliminate uneven heating in your home due to trapped air in the radiators.

Regular visual maintenance

Spot-checking around your boiler and gas appliances is an excellent way to find minor issues before they become serious problems. Check for leaks, burns, or strange smells around your main boiler unit.

Then, check along your pipework and around every join, gasket, and seal that you can see. Make sure there are no puddles or black deposits that could indicate a water or gas leak.

Rebooting your boiler

Rebooting your boiler is not something that should be part of regular maintenance of your unit. It can, however, resolve programmer or thermostat issues related to user errors.

You may also find that if an error code pops up on your boiler display, a quick reboot will resolve the issue and return the unit to normal performance.

Cleaning your boiler and its parts

Boilers collect a lot of dust and grime over time, but you can clean the exposed areas of your unit yourself. Before you do any work, always switch off your boiler and give it at least 30 minutes to cool down to avoid burns.

Using a cloth, sponge, or soft brush, clean the boiler’s exterior. You can also locate the vents and clean them to keep them free of dust and debris.

Do not attempt to clean any internal components unless your boiler manual provides specific instructions that it is safe to do so.

Managing pipework insulation

Keeping your boiler pipes insulated will prevent heat loss and make your unit more efficient. You do not need to hire a technician to do this work for you.

All you need are some foam insulation sleeves, insulation tape and a cutting tool from your local hardware store. For more details, check out our full article on boiler maintenance.

FAQs

Can I replace a boiler myself?

Replacing a boiler requires the same work as installing a new boiler. While it is technically possible for you to replace a boiler, it is definitely not recommended.

The gas, electrical, and plumbing skills necessary for a safe and functional installation are the domain of professionals.

How hard is it to install a boiler?

Doing your own boiler installation is hard – and doing your own gas boiler installation is even harder. You need a diverse set of technical skills, along with a broad regulatory knowledge.

It is not enough to know how to connect the different gas boiler or electric boiler parts physically. You also need to know the legal and safety requirements for a particular boiler installation to be considered up to spec of UK standards.

Conclusion

It is tempting to attempt a boiler installation yourself, especially if you are a fan of DIY or think it will save money. As discussed, however, there are too many risks involved for anyone, regardless of your technical know-how, to attempt a DIY boiler installation, especially when it comes to gas boilers.

Without a professional’s involvement, you risk losing your manufacturer’s warranty and may void insurance claims on a unit malfunction. You will also run afoul of the law for not meeting electrical and gas safety standards during the installation process.

It is best to visit Eco Happy before you even consider a DIY installation. We’ll help you find the right boiler installers and Gas Safe engineers for the job at the most affordable rates.