Back boiler
Sits behind a gas fire in the chimney breast. No longer made, and parts are hard to find.
Best for: Nobody, now. Replacing one is a common job in Croydon’s 1930s semis.
Read more →Back boilers · Addiscombe CR0
Back boiler replacement in Addiscombe
Most homes in Addiscombe have moved on to combis, but some older semis still have a back boiler behind the fire. Replacing it frees up the chimney breast and the airing cupboard, and gives you a boiler that parts are still made for.
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Older semis
One of the last back boilers on the street?
Addiscombe’s Victorian and Edwardian terraces and semis are mostly on combis now. Some older semis still have a back boiler, often because it has simply kept going. It may still work, but back boilers aren’t made any more and parts are getting harder to find.
In these houses the usual replacement is a combi, often in the kitchen. The cylinder and loft tanks come out, and the hot water comes straight from the mains, if the incoming flow is strong enough. We measure it before recommending one.
Our Addiscombe area page covers repairs and servicing. If you already have a combi and just need a new one, see combi installation in Addiscombe. For the job in general, see back boiler replacement.
Before and after
From back boiler to combi
Left: the fireplace boiler, cylinder and tanks you have now. Right: one boiler on the wall that does heating and hot water.
Combi boiler
Heats water on demand, straight from the mains. No hot water cylinder, no tanks in the loft.
Best for: Flats and most 1 to 3 bedroom homes with one bathroom, or two with a larger model.
Read more →What you gain
Space back in a house where space is tight
The chimney breast
The boiler and fire come out and the gas is capped. Leave the opening, board it, or fit a new fire.
The airing cupboard
No cylinder with a combi, so the cupboard is free for storage, or for the new boiler if a flue route works.
The loft
Both tanks come out, which matters if you’re thinking about a loft conversion later.
Mains-pressure showers
With decent mains flow, showers are often stronger than on the old gravity-fed system.
The job
How a back boiler replacement runs
- 1
Quote from photos
Choose “Back boiler” in the form and send photos of the fireplace and the airing cupboard.
- 2
Survey
We measure mains flow, check the gas pipe from the meter and agree where the new boiler and flue go.
- 3
Fit
Usually 2 to 3 days. The old system comes out, new pipework and the new boiler go in.
- 4
Sign off
Cleaned, tested and commissioned. Building Control notified and the warranty registered for you.
Installation day
What happens while we’re there
A like-for-like replacement is usually done in a day. Conversions and moving the boiler add a day or two, and we’ll tell you the plan in advance.
- 01 · Arrival
Dust sheets down, water and gas off
We protect floors and the route to the boiler, then isolate the gas, water and power.
- 02 · Morning
Old boiler out
The old boiler is drained and removed. If tanks or a cylinder are going too, they come out now.
- 03 · Midday
System cleaned
The radiators and pipes are flushed so the new boiler starts on clean water.
- 04 · Afternoon
New boiler, flue and filter in
The new boiler goes up with its flue, filter, condensate drain and controls, and the pipework is tidied.
- 05 · Commissioning
Tested and set up
Gas tightness and combustion are checked with an analyser, inhibitor is added and the flow temperature set for efficiency.
- 06 · Before we leave
Shown how it works
A walk-through of the boiler and controls, the Benchmark checklist handed over, and the warranty and Building Control paperwork underway.
Back boiler replacement nearby
FAQ
Back boiler questions from Addiscombe
Is it worth replacing a back boiler that still works?
Usually, yes, on your own terms. Back boilers are no longer made and parts are scarce, so a breakdown can mean a conversion in a hurry. Planning it lets you choose the date and the layout.
Where will the new boiler go?
Most often the kitchen, where there’s an outside wall for the flue and a drain for the condensate. The old airing cupboard can work too. Pick “Not sure” in the form and we’ll advise.
Will my old radiators be OK?
Most are. The new system runs sealed and pressurised, which can show up a weak valve or a pinhole in an old radiator. We pressure-test it and tell you about anything before we finish.
I own a flat with a back boiler. Is it different?
The work is much the same, but a new flue position may need your freeholder’s or managing agent’s agreement. We’ll give you the details to send them.
Guides
Read before you decide
- Choosing a boilerWhat is a back boiler?What a back boiler is, how to tell if you have one, why they were fitted in 1930s and post-war homes, and what replacing one with a modern boiler involves.Read the guide
- InstallationHow long does a boiler installation take?How long does a new boiler installation take? Like-for-like swaps are usually done in a day, moves and conversions take 1 to 3 days. What makes a job longer.Read the guide
- Rules and paperworkBoiler warranties explainedHow boiler warranties work: registration, annual servicing, the Benchmark checklist, what can void a warranty, and the difference from an installer’s guarantee.Read the guide
Everything we do
New boilers
Conversions
Repairs & servicing
Price your Addiscombe back boiler swap
Choose “Back boiler” in the form and tell us about parking. Photos help us price it.