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 · Shirley CR0
Back boiler replacement in Shirley
Shirley’s 1930s semis are Croydon’s classic back boiler territory. If yours is still behind the living-room fire, it’s worth planning the replacement before it fails. We take out the old boiler, make the fireplace safe and fit a modern boiler where it’s more use.
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Shirley semis
What’s behind the fire in a 1930s Shirley semi
A back boiler sits in the chimney breast behind a gas fire, usually in the living room. It heats a hot water cylinder upstairs, normally in the airing cupboard, which is fed from a cold water tank in the loft. A second, smaller tank up there keeps the heating topped up. So there are 4 parts to deal with, not one.
Replacing it means taking the back boiler and the fire in front of it out, capping the gas safely, and fitting a new boiler somewhere else with its own flue through an outside wall or the roof. Whether the cylinder and tanks go too depends on which boiler you choose.
Our Shirley area page covers repairs and servicing locally. For what the job involves wherever you are, see back boiler replacement.
Your options
Where a Shirley back boiler usually goes next
In a semi with one bathroom, most people choose a combi. In the bigger houses towards Shirley Hills and Spring Park, a system boiler and cylinder is often the better answer.
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 →System boiler
Heats a hot water cylinder, usually in an airing cupboard. Mains-fed, so no loft tanks.
Best for: Bigger homes with two or more bathrooms in use at the same time.
Read more →Placement
Where the new boiler can go
The kitchen
The usual choice in a semi. Close to an outside wall for the flue and a drain for the condensate.
The old airing cupboard
With a combi, the cylinder comes out and the space it leaves can take the boiler, if there’s a route for the flue.
A garage or utility room
Possible where the flue and condensate can be routed. Pipes in a cold space need protecting from frost.
The loft
Possible with safe access, a floor and a light. Useful if the loft tanks are coming out anyway.
The work
What comes out and what goes in
Back boiler and gas fire out
Both removed from the fireplace and the gas supply capped safely. A new gas fire can be fitted if you want one: mention it in the quote.
Cylinder and tanks out (for a combi)
The cylinder and both loft tanks are drained and taken away. With a system boiler, the cylinder is kept or replaced and the heating tank goes.
New pipework
Old back boiler pipe runs rarely suit a new boiler’s position, so the flow and return are re-routed and redundant pipes capped or removed.
Gas supply checked
A modern boiler can need more gas than the old one. The pipe from the meter is checked and upgraded if needed.
System sealed and cleaned
The old open-vented system becomes a sealed, pressurised one, so we flush it and pressure-test the radiators before it goes live.
Before you choose anyone
Six questions to ask any boiler installer
Including us. A good installer will be glad you asked.
- 01
“Can I see your Gas Safe ID card?”
Check the card is current and covers gas boilers. It’s on the back.
- 02
“How have you sized the boiler?”
A good answer mentions your bathrooms, hot water use and water flow, not just bedrooms.
- 03
“Is the price fixed, and what isn’t included?”
You want a written price that lists the work, not an estimate that grows on the day.
- 04
“Will you clean the system first?”
Fitting a new boiler to dirty water shortens its life and can affect the warranty.
- 05
“Who registers the warranty and notifies Building Control?”
Both should be done for you, in your name.
- 06
“What happens if something goes wrong after you leave?”
Know who to call, and how the warranty works with the installer.
Back boiler replacement nearby
FAQ
Back boiler questions from Shirley
How long does a back boiler replacement take?
Usually 2 to 3 days, because the cylinder and loft tanks come out and the new boiler moves to a different room. Your quote will say how long.
Is my water pressure good enough for a combi?
Most of Shirley is fine, but we measure your flow before recommending a combi rather than assume.
Can I take the chimney breast out afterwards?
That’s a building job, not a heating one, and it can need structural advice. What we do is remove the boiler and fire and leave the gas capped safely, so your builder starts with a clear fireplace.
We have 2 bathrooms. Is a combi still right?
If both are often in use at once, probably not. A system boiler with a cylinder keeps up better. We’ll tell you which suits your house.
Do you cover Spring Park and Monks Orchard?
Yes. Put your postcode in the quote form to confirm. We also replace back boilers in Addiscombe and Selsdon.
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 boilerShould you repair or replace your boiler?Should you repair your boiler or replace it? An honest way to decide, looking at age, parts, repair history, efficiency and warranty, without the sales pitch.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
Everything we do
New boilers
Conversions
Repairs & servicing
Price your Shirley back boiler replacement
Choose “Back boiler” in the form and add a photo of the fireplace and the airing cupboard.