Honest comparison
Not every installer is right for every home. Here is how the main ways of buying a new boiler or retrofit differ, and what to ask any installer before you sign, us included.
Start here
If you're comparing installers, the first number you'll see is the headline install price. That number is easy to compare, and it's the wrong one.
What matters is everything that sits around it: what the price actually includes, what the guarantee depends on, what servicing costs each year after, what happens if extra work turns up on the day, and who answers the phone in year three. Those answers are what the questions below are for.
Ask every installer the same questions, in writing. The one whose answers still hold on install day is the one to choose.
What to ask
Put these to everyone you are considering, and ask for the answers in writing. Our own answers sit beside each one, so you can hold us to them too.
Exactly what is in the price? A low headline can leave out the filter the guarantee depends on, the controls the Building Regulations require, the system flush or the flue.
Our answer
Every boiler price lists 18 inclusions, among them the manufacturer's own system filter, a Boiler Plus compliant smart control, a full chemical flush and a standard flue up to 1 metre.
Is the price the same at my address, or is there a regional premium added after I enter my postcode?
Our answer
The same price in London as everywhere else we work.
How many years is the manufacturer guarantee, and what does it depend on? Registration, a particular filter, yearly servicing and installer accreditation can all decide whether the term holds.
Our answer
Manufacturer guarantees depend on registration, the manufacturer's own system filter (fitted in every price) and a yearly service. Some longer terms also depend on installer accreditation, which we confirm in writing with your price.
What happens if you find work outside the price on the day? Do you stop and ask, or carry on and add it to the invoice?
Our answer
If we find work outside the price, we stop, price it in writing and wait for your approval. If you decline, we leave the system safe and refund your deposit, less the call-out.
When do I pay, how much up front, and is any credit agreement involved?
Our answer
You pay 25% when we confirm your price, and the balance when the boiler is working and you have seen it working. Debit card, credit card or bank transfer. We do not sell credit: the price you see is the whole price.
What does a yearly service cost after the install, and does keeping the guarantee depend on it?
Our answer
An annual service is £89. It keeps the manufacturer guarantee valid, and it is sold as a service only, never as breakdown or repair cover.
If something goes wrong in year three, who do I call, and is it the same business that fitted it?
Our answer
The same team that fitted it, on the same number. Our workmanship warranty is at least 2 years, 3 at Advanced and 5 at Signature.
What this actually says
Online-first installers can win on price and speed for a straightforward swap. If your home is simple and you are optimising for the lowest headline figure, an online-first installer may be the right choice for you.
What to check they will give you
If those things don't matter to you for this install, a simpler online installer may genuinely be the right option. If they do, we are.
Large national providers offer scale and a familiar name. Check whether the headline price includes the controls, the filter and the flush, and whether a service or cover contract is being bundled into the sale.
We're the right choice when
What about local tradespeople?
Most homeowners compare online-first and national installers, but good local tradespeople exist, and for many simple jobs they'll offer excellent value and personal service.
If after all of this you still think we're not right for you, we'd genuinely rather you went with the right installer than the wrong one.
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