Are British Gas Boiler Costs worth it or a rip-off? Read on for some basic insights to simplify your boiler-buying journey.
British Gas is probably the UK’s most recognisable name in the energy sector. It offers both domestic energy and gas boiler installation.
The company installs the most boilers compared to any other company, fitting over 200,000 boilers annually across the UK.
Many people choose British Gas entirely due to its recognisable brand and household name.
The company promises all-around value that no one can beat on every boiler installation. But what are the British Gas boiler costs, and are they worth it?
This guide explores everything you need to know about British Gas boiler costs, including factors impacting the prices. You’ll also learn how their new boiler installation services compare to those of other market leaders, including BOXT and Homeserve.
British Gas Boiler Costs Quick Takeaways:
- British Gas is one of the UK’s most popular boiler installers.
- It has a team of 6,500 expert engineers who are Gas Safe registered.
- British Gas has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on TrustPilot.
- The company installs boiler brands from all major manufacturers
- However, we recommend other installers due to their superior reviews, pricing, and other options.
Who Is British Gas?
British Gas began life in 1812 as a public utility company. It has cared for Britain’s homes for over 200 years.
Improving lives through innovation is at the heart of the company, and it continually seeks new ways to keep homes running smoothly.
Heating engineers from British Gas have been installing new boilers for over 50 years and have developed a wealth of skills and experience over the years.
British Gas has a team of 6,500 expert engineers who are Gas Safe registered and ready to install your new boiler.
They’re well-trained to assess your home’s needs, expertly install or replace your boiler, and perform maintenance.
British Gas also offers free consultations. This can help you decide on the best boiler for your home from its range of leading boiler brands and models.
British Gas New Boiler Costs & Price Guide
If you need your boiler replaced fast, you are probably frantically trying to find out which online boiler installer offers the best price and service.
British Gas is by far the most popular choice, followed closely by Eon, BOXT, and Homeserve.
Traditionally, it was the norm to call several local plumbers to get a boiler quote, in which case they would attend your property and carry out a survey and afterward would provide the itemised quote in full.
British Gas offers a similar service, where a British Gas sales representative will visit your home, carry out a survey, and then offer a quote.
However, British Gas also offers an online estimate on their website before you book the survey so you can get an indicative price.
As you can appreciate, this survey process is quite intensive and requires commitment in terms of time. The at-home surveys can roughly take an hour, so British Gas will have already laid out substantial costs before they’ve even provided a quote.
In addition, British Gas is a huge company with thousands of employees and customer service staff, so this is a huge overhead for them to recoup.
Important note: Most other online boiler installation companies, like BOXT and Heatable, do not require an in-person visit. Instead, they rely on photographs and, in some cases, video footage. The entire fixed-price boiler quote is provided entirely over the Internet.
Wondering how much a new boiler costs? Check out our guide on options available if you need a new boiler but can’t afford it, as well as boilers on finance and government boiler grants here.
Check out our video on how to vet boiler brands/models in the UK:
How Much Are New British Gas Boilers?
Are British Gas the cheapest when it comes to their new boiler installation services?
The reality is that it is quite difficult to make a like-for-like comparison between different boiler installation companies. This is because they will typically have slightly different offerings, like different boiler brands, models, and warranties.
However, with that in mind, we have made a comparison between two identical types of gas boiler installation:
- A standard combi boiler swap, using the Worcester Bosch swapping a combi boiler for a new Worcester Bosch Greenstar 4000 combi boiler, installed in the same location, including a horizontal flue and a smart thermostat.
British Gas Boiler Costs
In this specific example and on the specific date, British Gas charges £2,964 for the boiler installation and includes a Hive smart thermostat, as well as a 12-year warranty.
British Gas also offers boilers on finance, in which case you can pay for your new boiler in easy installments with a 0% APR for the first three years.
However, if you opt to order the job using the British Gas Online method, you can save substantially, indicating that they are adding the additional cost of the home survey into the price.
Therefore, if possible, it is better to go the online route if you want to maximise savings, but unfortunately, this service is only currently available for the most straightforward types of boiler installs.
HomeServe Boiler Costs
HomeServe offered the same type of installation and boiler model for £2,727, which is £237 (-8%) less than British Gas.
In terms of finance, they also offer the same terms and include a home survey. The major difference between the two brands is the types of smart thermostats offered – British Gas uses its own Hive model, while HomeServe uses the Netatmo.
Boxt Boiler Costs
BOXT is a newer arrival to the boiler installation company market, but they do offer competitive pricing and extremely long boiler warranties, making them even more appealing.
For example, for the same type of install, BOXT offered to do it for £2,120, a significant saving of £844 (-29%) versus the British Gas home survey price.
BOXT also offers a 10-year warranty.
Here is a summary of the cost comparison and other key metrics between each brand
British Gas Boiler Prices Comparison Table:
| British Gas Home Survey | British Gas Online | Saving on BG Home Survey vs Online | HomeServe | Saving vs BG Home Survey | BOXT | Saving vs BG Home Survey | |
| Cost of a Worcester Bosch Greenstar 4000 Installation | £2,964 | £2,578 | -£386 | -£237 | -£844 | ||
| Boiler Finance | 24 month 0% APR | 24 month 0% APR | 24 month 0% APR | 120 month 10.9% APR | |||
| Type of smart thermostat included | Hive | Hive | Netatmo | Nest | |||
| Warranty Period | 5 years | 5 years | 7 years | 10 years | |||
| Next Day Installation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The information in the table above is correct for the particular type of installation – combi boiler, horizontal flue, smart thermostat, and a Worcester Bosch 4000 model.
Important note: please be aware that the above table is for illustrative purposes only and in order to get an accurate price for your specific circumstances, you will need to request a personalised quote from each of the providers listed.
New boiler cost guides:
- System boiler prices UK.
- Hydrogen boiler costs.
- Costs to replace a conventional boiler with a combi boiler.
- Combi boiler prices UK.
- Back boiler removal costs.
British Gas Customer Reviews
When it comes to choosing any type of service for your home, checking out previous customer reviews is a real way to look beyond the marketing and get a real feel for how the company truly performs.
A great platform to check reviews is the third-party review platform Trustpilot, where customers can leave both negative and positive feedback and score customers out of 5.
So how did the British Gas boiler perform?
As of June 2024, British Gas had an overall score of 4.1 out of 5 from 200,359 reviews.
In comparison, HomeServe UK has an average score of 4.4 for the same period, while BOXT has an average score of 4.9.
These reviews give you an indication of how customers feel about the service received, which many people do indeed find helpful.
What Boilers Do British Gas Install?
British Gas doesn’t manufacture any of its own boilers.
Rather, the company installs boiler brands from all major manufacturers. These include:
- Worcester Bosch
- Viessmann
- Baxi
- Ideal Heating
- Vaillant
- Glow Worm
- Vokera
What Are The Advantages of Buying A Boiler from British Gas?
Extensive Network of Engineers
British Gas operates across the UK, and you can easily find a qualified heating engineer close to your area.
You don’t have to worry about finding an engineer to install your boiler or service it when facing an emergency situation.
Efficient Boilers
British Gas only installs A-rated, efficient boilers. They undergo strict testing by qualified experts to ensure they meet industry standards and can save you money on fuel costs.
Boilers on Finance and Flexible Payment Options
If you don’t have the cash to pay for the upfront costs of installing a boiler, you can benefit from the flexible payment plan option.
This allows you to get the boiler installed and make affordable monthly payments that don’t leave a dent in your pocket.
British Gas also offers a fixed-price guarantee on the quoted amount with no surcharges or hidden fees.
Boilers on finance feature a 0% APR for the first three years. You only need to make a 10% deposit and pay the balance after installation.
Aftercare and Support
British Gas offers a 12-year warranty on its boilers. If anything goes wrong with the boiler within this period, they’ll repair it or replace it for free.
This shows British Gas is confident in the product and its services. It gives you peace of mind knowing you’re covered for over a decade if any faults or issues develop.
What Are The Costs of A British Gas Boiler Service?
The cost of a boiler service can vary depending on factors like the type of boiler you have, how old it is, and where in the country you live.
British Gas allows you to choose how to get a boiler service.
You can book a standalone single boiler service, sign up for an annual boiler service, or take out a boiler cover. The cover includes an annual boiler service at no extra cost.
Charges include:
- £99 for a one-off boiler service with no ongoing commitment.
- £7.75 a month for an annual boiler service contract.
- From £21 a month for a boiler cover.
British Gas Boiler Costs Verdict
In our experience of seeking a quote, if you are buying your boiler from a household name like British Gas you can expect to pay more than other installation companies.
If you don’t like the idea of purchasing a boiler without a home survey, then you may want to try HomeServe.
However, if you don’t mind carrying out the entire boiler buying process online, then BOXT is a superb option.
Again, please be aware that the boiler quote examples provided are not representative of all types of boiler installations and are for illustrative purposes only.
Therefore, it’s always advised that you seek your own quote from all providers using your own details and choices to get an accurate and current price.
Sources and References
- https://www.britishgas.co.uk/the-source/making-a-difference/our-story.html#:~:text=Britain’s%20leading%20supplier%20of%20energy,to%20keep%20homes%20running%20smoothly.