The fireplace
Leave it, board it or fit a new fire. The choice is yours once the boiler is out.
Back boilers · Selsdon CR2
Back boiler replacement in Selsdon
Selsdon grew up in the 1920s and 1930s, and many of its interwar semis still have a back boiler behind the living-room fire and tanks in the loft. If yours is still going, plan the replacement on your own terms. Parts are getting scarce, and a winter breakdown is the worst time to do it.
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Prefer to talk? Call 020 3856 8293
- About 2 minutes
- No obligation
- Used only for your quote
Fixed written price
- Gas Safe No. 567789Check us on the register
- Fixed written quoteThe price you agree is the price
- City & Guilds certifiedTrained and qualified
- Fully insuredPublic liability cover
Why now
Plan it before winter does
Back boilers were built to last, and many in Selsdon have. But they aren’t made any more, and parts are getting harder to find. When one fails in January, the repair may not be possible, and you end up doing a 2 to 3 day conversion with no heating, on whatever date an installer can manage.
Planned in spring or summer, the same job happens when it suits you, with time to choose where the new boiler goes and which type you want. That’s the main reason to act while the old one still works.
See our Selsdon area page for repairs and servicing, or back boiler replacement for the job in general.
How it works
From first photo to first hot shower
- 1
Photos and the quote form
Choose “Back boiler” and add photos of the fireplace, the airing cupboard and, if you can reach them safely, the loft tanks.
- 2
Survey and recommendation
We check your mains flow, gas supply and where the new boiler and flue can go, then give you a fixed written quote.
- 3
Strip out and refit
The back boiler, fire, cylinder and tanks come out, new pipework goes in, and the new boiler is fitted with its flue.
- 4
Commissioned and signed off
Cleaned, tested and set up, Benchmark completed, Building Control notified and the warranty registered.
The 2 to 3 days
What each stage means for you
| Stage | What happens | At home |
|---|---|---|
| Strip out | Back boiler and fire removed, gas capped, cylinder and loft tanks drained and taken away | Heating and hot water off. Dust sheets down in the living room, on the landing and under the loft hatch |
| New system | Pipework re-routed, new boiler and flue fitted, gas pipe upgraded if needed | Most of the noise and drilling happens now |
| Commission | System flushed, pressure-tested, inhibitor added, controls set up | Heating and hot water back on, and we show you how it all works |
Your quote gives the number of days for your home.
What you get back
Space and comfort a back boiler takes up
The airing cupboard
With a combi, the cylinder goes and the cupboard becomes storage, or a home for the new boiler.
The loft
Both tanks come out with a combi, which frees up space for storage or a conversion.
Proper controls
Time and temperature control as standard, with an extra energy-saving measure on a combi to meet Boiler Plus.
Comparing quotes
What your back boiler quote should include
Use this to compare any two quotes. If one is cheaper, check it isn’t simply missing something on this list.
A proper installation includesWhy it mattersAsk on any quote
A survey of flue, gas supply and water flow
Decides the boiler size and whether a combi will give decent showers.
“How did you size the boiler?”
System cleaned to BS 7593, with inhibitor
Sludge from the old system is the main killer of new boilers.
“Is a full system clean included?”
Magnetic system filter
Keeps catching debris for the life of the boiler.
“Which filter, and where will it go?”
Controls that meet Boiler Plus
A legal requirement in England, and it saves gas.
“Which controls are included?”
New flue kit, positioned to the rules
Reusing an old flue or a bad position can fail inspection.
“Is the flue new, and where will it exit?”
Condensate pipe protected from frost
A frozen condensate pipe is the most common winter breakdown.
“Where will the condensate drain?”
Old boiler, tanks and cylinder removed
Disposal costs money. Make sure it’s not an extra on the day.
“Is removal and disposal included?”
Building Control notified, warranty registered
Without them, selling the house and claiming on the warranty get harder.
“Who notifies, and who registers the warranty?”
Who you’re dealing with
Don’t take our word for it. Check us.
Anyone working on gas in your home must be on the Gas Safe Register. It takes thirty seconds to check, and you should check whoever you use.
- 1Go to the Gas Safe Register’s “Find an engineer” page.
- 2Enter our registration number, 567789.
- 3On the day, ask to see the engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. The back lists the work they’re qualified to do.
Gas Safe registered
Registration number 567789. Required by law for anyone working on gas appliances.
City & Guilds certified
Formally trained and qualified in plumbing and heating.
Fully insured
Public liability cover for work in your home.
On Track Plumbing & Heating Ltd
A registered limited company, not a one-off trader. Your quote and paperwork come from the company.
Back boiler replacement nearby
FAQ
Back boiler questions from Selsdon
How long does a back boiler conversion take?
Usually 2 to 3 days, as the cylinder and loft tanks come out and the new boiler often moves to the kitchen.
My back boiler still works. Why replace it?
Because it’s easier to plan than to rush. Back boilers are no longer made and parts are getting scarce, so when one fails the fix may be a full conversion in the cold. Replacing it now means you choose the date.
Will my old radiators cope?
Most do. A new boiler runs the system sealed and pressurised, which can show up a weak valve or an old radiator with a pinhole. We pressure-test before we finish and tell you about anything that needs attention.
Do you cover Forestdale?
Yes. Most homes on later estates such as Forestdale already have a combi in the kitchen, and we replace those too. Put your postcode in the quote form to confirm.
What happens to the fireplace?
The back boiler and gas fire come out and the gas is capped safely. You can leave the opening, have it boarded or fit a new fire. If you want a new gas fire, mention it in the quote.
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
- Choosing a boilerSigns you need a new boilerThe signs a boiler is reaching the end of its life: age, repeat breakdowns, obsolete parts, leaks, noise, soot or a yellow flame, and what to do.Read the guide
- InstallationWhat happens on boiler installation day?What happens when a new boiler is fitted, stage by stage, from dust sheets to handover. Plus how to prepare: access, parking, pets and finding your stopcock.Read the guide
Everything we do
New boilers
Conversions
Repairs & servicing
Plan your Selsdon back boiler replacement
Choose “Back boiler” in the form. Photos of the fireplace and airing cupboard help us price it.