Frequently Asked Questions: Everything you need to know about Smart Plumbing and gas boilers
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Our FAQs aim to answer any questions you may have about the process of having your boiler replaced, as well as defining and explaining some of the key technical terms you may hear in relation to boilers.
If our FAQs don’t yet answer your question, please contact us and we will be happy to help.
Browse our selection of boilers to find the make and model most suitable for your property and budget. We’ve made it easy for you to search for boilers by property size, brand, warranty length and more. Our website prices are accurate for 95% of properties (assuming a combi for combi swap with horizontal flue and retaining the same location).
2. Contact Us
To get your free bespoke, no obligation, fixed-price quotation either call us on 01484 940930, complete our quick and easy online Smart Quote form using your mobile phone or tablet, or visit us in store. However you prefer to contact us, our friendly and knowledgeable engineers are here to help you make the right selection and answer any questions you may have. If we require any further information we will arrange a convenient time to come and visit your property.
3. Book Your Installation
Once you’re happy with your quote, simply select your preferred installation date. We will confirm all the details by email and text message, and our engineer will see you at 8:30am on installation day.
There’s nothing worse than waking up in the morning to a freezing house or a cold shower. Look out for the warning signs of a faulty boiler and seek professional help (from the manufacturer if your boiler is under warranty, or a Gas Safe registered engineer if not) before your boiler breaks down.
Signs of a Faulty Boiler
1. Leaking or Dripping
Leaks are most often caused by the failure of an internal boiler component, possibly due to damage or simply wear and tear from using the boiler over time. Finding the source of the leak is essential to be able to identify the exact issue.
System pipes may also leak or drip, often due to corrosion.
Seeking professional help is recommended to ensure the issue is accurately diagnosed and to provide advice on the best course of action. Never open your boiler; this should only be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
2. Repeated Low Pressure
All boilers come complete with a built-in pressure gauge; either a dial with green and red sections that indicate whether the pressure is too low, too high or just right, or a digital screen that usually flashes a warning if the pressure is outside the correct range. Most boilers run at a pressure of between 1 and 1.5 bar.
Drops in pressure can have various causes. Bleeding radiators releases air from your heating system, lowering the pressure. Water leaks in the system, a failed pressure valve or expansion vessel can also lead to a drop in pressure.
It may be possible to re-pressurise your boiler yourself; check your boiler manual or boiler manufacturer’s website for instructions. However, seeking professional help is recommended if you are in any doubt about the re-pressurisation process, or if pressure is being lost quickly or repeatedly.
3. Excessive Noise
Air, low water pressure or pump failure can all lead to a change in the noises coming from your heating system.
Often, identifying the type of sound being made and where it is coming from can help diagnose what the issue may be.
Gurgling:A small amount of gurgling coming from the heating system is common and usually no cause for concern. However, noise that is persistent or loud enough to catch your attention may indicate that action is required.
Gurgling is often caused by air in the system, which can be rectified by bleeding the radiators. Low water pressure can also lead to gurgling; this can be remedied by re-pressurising the system to the correct level. Issues with the circulation pump can also cause gurgling.
If you are in any doubt about how to bleed a radiator or re-pressurise the system, or if the noise persists after you have performed these actions and pump issues are suspected, seeking professional help is recommended.
Whooshing or Vibrating: Loud whooshing or excessive vibration are most frequently caused by blockages either to the air intake or air filter. The air intake can be checked for obstructions by locating the external boiler flue pipe and removing any debris. Some boiler filters can be cleaned by the user, however if you are in any doubt about the process or if the noise persists after you have performed these actions, seeking professional help is recommended.
Whining or Buzzing: These types of noises are most often caused by issues with internal boiler components such as worn pump bearings, vibrating fans or a fault with the heating elements. If allowed to persist, these issues can cause further damage. Contact a Gas Safe engineer as soon as possible to diagnose and rectify the cause of noises of this type.
Repair or replace?
Boiler technology progresses rapidly, with parts and materials constantly evolving, as well as significant improvements to energy efficiency and environmental friendliness in recent years.
If your boiler is around 10 years old or out of warranty, it may be more cost-effective to invest in a new model rather than continuously replacing small parts on the old one. Although this may seem expensive, you will soon see long-term savings, particularly to your energy bill.
All Smart Plumbing boilers come complete with a manufacturer’s warranty of between 5 and 14 years. We will activate this for you on completion of your installation.
The warranty of all our boilers is clearly stated in the green information bubbles alongside the boiler image. View all our boilers.
With Smart Plumbing, you will never be asked for any deposit or upfront payment. Once your installation is complete and you are happy with the results, we will send your invoice via email and text message. We are happy to accept payment by bank transfer, cash, cheque, Visa or Mastercard.
We feel that heating companies who ask for a deposit do so for two reasons. Either they are selling overpriced goods and are committing you to the sale before you find a better value alternative, or they need the funds to buy materials for the job.
With Smart Plumbing, you will never be asked to pay a deposit. Once work is complete and you are happy with the result, we will issue you with an invoice which you can pay by bank transfer, cash, cheque, Visa or Mastercard.
The Gas Safe register is the official list of UK gas engineers who are qualified and accredited to legally work on gas appliances such as boilers. It replaced the CORGI register in 2009.
As the name suggests, combination boilers combine the functions of a highly efficient water heater and a central heating boiler into one compact unit. Combi boilers deliver strong water pressure by taking their water supply from the mains and heating this directly to produce hot water on demand (for example when a tap is turned on), so there is no need for a separate hot water cylinder, cold water storage tank or separate pump to ensure a powerful shower.
Identifying Features
Usually five copper pipes extending out from the underside of your boiler
No external pump
No hot water cylinder
Advantages
No need for separate hot water cylinder or cold water storage tank; free up additional living space
Compact size opens up more options of where to position the boiler in the property
Cost-effective and energy-efficient to help reduce your carbon footprint and reduce your energy bills
Hot water on demand: Only heat the water you need when you need it rather than waste energy heating a full cylinder of water and keeping it warm, plus no waiting for the tank to refill in times of heavy usage
Powerful shower pressure with no need for an external pump
No loft pipework removes the risk of freezing
Quicker installation with lower costs
Disadvantages
May not be suitable for homes where multiple bathrooms are likely to be in use at once as the water flow is split making it weaker
May not be suitable for properties with weak mains water pressure
Incompatible with power showers
Combination boilers are highly energy efficient, convenient and compact. They continue to increase in popularity, and currently account for well over half of all new boilers installed in UK homes each year.
Whereas combi boilers heat water directly from the mains supply, system boilers heat water in a separate storage tank often found in an airing cupboard. This stored hot water can then be supplied to multiple bathrooms with no loss of pressure or heat, making system boilers most suitable for homes with a high requirement for hot water.
Identifying Features
Three copper pipes extending out from the underside of your boiler
No external pump
Separate hot water cylinder, often located in an airing cupboard
Advantages
Ideal for homes with multiple bathrooms and a high demand for hot water; supply a constant flow of hot water even if multiple taps are used at the same time
May be more suitable for properties with low mains water pressure
Disadvantages
Two components (boiler and separate cylinder) can lead to installations taking longer and costing more
Large storage tank; not suitable for flats or smaller homes
Require time to heat the water in the storage cylinder
Hot water limited to the capacity of the storage tank; once this is used up there will be a wait before more hot water is available
Regular boiler systems are also known as conventional, traditional, heat-only or open-vent boilers. This type of system includes both hot and cold water storage tanks plus an expansion vessel in addition to the boiler itself.
Identifying Features
Two copper pipes extending out from the top of the boiler, and another one extending out from the underside
Hot water cylinder, often in an airing cupboard
Cold water storage tank, often in the loft
External pump
Advantages
Ideal for homes with multiple bathrooms and a high demand for hot water; supply a constant flow of hot water even if multiple taps are used at the same time
May be more suitable for properties with low mains water pressure
An immersion heater can be fitted to the hot water tank to provide hot water even in the event of a boiler breakdown
Disadvantages
Multiple large components take up a large amount of space; impractical especially for flats or smaller homes
Require time to heat the water in the storage cylinder
Hot water limited to the capacity of the storage tank; once this is used up there will be a wait before more hot water is available
Only suitable as a replacement for an existing regular boiler system
The flue is the pipe that leads from the boiler to the exterior of your property, which allows any waste gases produced by the boiler to be safely released outside.
Horizontal Flue
Most boilers have a standard horizontal flue which goes straight out through the external wall behind the boiler rather than upwards through the roof, without any additional pipework.
The cost of a horizontal flue is included in the prices quoted on this website.
Vertical Flue
In homes where the boiler is in the loft or not attached to an external wall, the flue often runs vertically upwards from the boiler and out through the roof.
If a vertical flue is required, we will need more information from you to be able to quote accurately.
Additional or Non-Standard Pipework
If your boiler is not located directly beside an external wall or roof, or your property is a more unusual shape, additional pipework may be required to extend the flue. This could include components such as additional section, bends, etc.
If additional or non-standard pipework is required, we will need more information from you to be able to quote accurately.
Over time, the water in your central heating system will accumulate contaminants such as rust particles from the metal parts of your heating system (such as radiators) and limescale from the water itself.
A system filter is designed to remove these magnetic and non-magnetic impurities from the system water to prevent them from accumulating or reaching the boiler, causing blockages or damage.
Boiler regulations recommend fitting a system filter to your heating system pipes before your boiler. All our boilers come with a system filter included in the prices shown on our website.
Flow rate is the number of litres of hot water that come out of a tap per minute.
The maximum flow rate you can achieve at your property is determined by the volume and pressure of the water entering from the mains. A more powerful boiler will be able to heat this water to the desired temperature more quickly, however it does not produce more water.
For example, if your have 10 litres of water per minute entering your property, and a boiler with a maximum flow rate of 15 litres per minute, you will still only receive 10 litres per minute of hot water at your taps.
Your boiler will be installed by one of our directly-employed heating engineers.
All our heating engineers are apprentice-trained, fully qualified and Gas Safe registered. Working in the heating industry since leaving school has enabled all our engineers to gain a wealth of experience, making them not only highly skilled but also extremely knowledgeable experts in their field.
We will remove your old boiler and all waste from your property. We recycle as much waste material as possible, and responsibly dispose of the remainder.
Our highly-skilled engineers will replace your boiler within one working day. We do not feel that it is acceptable to leave any customer without heating or hot water overnight.
We aim to start work around 8:30am; the exact length of time your installation takes will vary depending on the specific requirements. Your engineer will keep you informed of progress.
Your warranty covers all components of the boiler for the duration of the warranty, providing the boiler has been installed as per manufacturer installation requirements. Smart Plumbing recommend the use of manufacturer-approved installers to ensure that this condition is met.
As manufacturer-approved installers, Smart Plumbing can guarantee that your installation will comply with all requirements. Your boiler is covered in the unlikely event of a breakdown. This cover is provided by the manufacturer, who will repair your boiler free of charge. This includes both labour and materials.
One month before the anniversary of your boiler installation, we will contact you to remind you that your annual service is due and give you the opportunity to have your annual boiler service carried out by Smart Plumbing. If you prefer, your annual boiler service can be carried out by any Gas Safe accredited engineer.
No; Smart Plumbing will activate your warranty for you. Every boiler installed by Smart Plumbing is registered with the manufacturer to activate the warranty as part of the installation.
Smart Plumbing will also register your boiler with Gas Safe and your local council’s building control department, in compliance with part L of the building regulations.
No. Smart Plumbing feel that a home care plan is usually an unnecessary expense.
In the unlikely event of a breakdown, your boiler is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. The rest of your heating system has no moving parts and is therefore highly unlikely to break down. Should a pipe or radiator fail or leak, the cost of any repairs would most likely be compensated for by your home insurance.
You can rest assured that you are making the right choice when choosing our company to install your new boiler because we are one of only a few companies in the region that have an independently verified customer satisfaction score in excess of 99%.
Lowest Prices
in the UK
We buy and install more boilers than any other independent heating company in the region. This has enabled us to negotiate exclusively low prices with the manufacturers, which we share with all our customers.
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
Josh Wrigley
Read More
Brilliant initial installation, very professional & offers peace of mind with 10 Year warranty. Just had my 1st year annual service, received an email reminder on the Wednesday, booked in for the following Tuesday (as requested by myself) & service documentation provided via email whilst technician was on site. Couldn’t recommend Ian & the team highly enough. Great work Smart Plumbing.
Claire Bell
Read More
Ian and Tom did a fantastic job on our full boiler fitting..a full day of hard work along with great customer care and understanding. They both went out of their way to ensure the work was to the highest standard and above and beyond to source any equipment needed. The price I was quoted I paid and at a fantastic rate.
Thankyou so much to both Ian and Tom.
To any new customers ...I highly recommend Smart Plumbing as the team to choose for your next boiler!
Steve Ebbage
Read More
Smart Plumbing have been great to deal with. Having had my boiler installed by them a year ago, it's recently had its first year service done by them also. I've found them to be very reliable, efficient and trustworthy, which I feel are all important qualities these days. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. Excellent!
Janet Dawson
Read More
Thank you Ian and Tom at Smart Plumbing. You were hard working and very efficient. Not only did you replace my boiler you had to move it up into my bathroom. I give you 5 stars. You made it look so easy. To all of you reading this post , if you want to be smart Choose Smart Plumbing . Hard working and very efficient and friendly .👍👍👍
Diane Taylor
Read More
We contacted Ian after a tenant reported a non-working boiler late on a Friday. Communication was fantastic, the boiler was replaced on the Sunday and all warranty paperwork emailed to our office the next day! Not used Smart Plumbing before this job but will definitely be adding Ian to our contractors list!
COVID-Secure Contractor
We have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment to keep our customers and engineers safe. We have comprehensive PPE, cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures in place, and will take all reasonable steps to maintain social distancing at all times.
Price-Match
Promise
We guarantee we will not be beaten on price. In the unlikely event that you receive a lower quote from any other Gas Safe registered installer, we will match their quote and provide you with your first year service free of charge.
COVID-Secure Contractor
We have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment to keep our customers and engineers safe. We have comprehensive PPE, cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures in place, and will take all reasonable steps to maintain social distancing at all times.
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
Josh Wrigley
Read More
Brilliant initial installation, very professional & offers peace of mind with 10 Year warranty. Just had my 1st year annual service, received an email reminder on the Wednesday, booked in for the following Tuesday (as requested by myself) & service documentation provided via email whilst technician was on site. Couldn’t recommend Ian & the team highly enough. Great work Smart Plumbing.
Claire Bell
Read More
Ian and Tom did a fantastic job on our full boiler fitting..a full day of hard work along with great customer care and understanding. They both went out of their way to ensure the work was to the highest standard and above and beyond to source any equipment needed. The price I was quoted I paid and at a fantastic rate.
Thankyou so much to both Ian and Tom.
To any new customers ...I highly recommend Smart Plumbing as the team to choose for your next boiler!
Steve Ebbage
Read More
Smart Plumbing have been great to deal with. Having had my boiler installed by them a year ago, it's recently had its first year service done by them also. I've found them to be very reliable, efficient and trustworthy, which I feel are all important qualities these days. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. Excellent!
Janet Dawson
Read More
Thank you Ian and Tom at Smart Plumbing. You were hard working and very efficient. Not only did you replace my boiler you had to move it up into my bathroom. I give you 5 stars. You made it look so easy. To all of you reading this post , if you want to be smart Choose Smart Plumbing . Hard working and very efficient and friendly .👍👍👍
Diane Taylor
Read More
We contacted Ian after a tenant reported a non-working boiler late on a Friday. Communication was fantastic, the boiler was replaced on the Sunday and all warranty paperwork emailed to our office the next day! Not used Smart Plumbing before this job but will definitely be adding Ian to our contractors list!
Price-Match
Promise
We guarantee we will not be beaten on price. In the unlikely event that you receive a lower quote from any other Gas Safe registered installer, we will match their quote and provide you with your first year service free of charge.
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