Where Is The Best Place To Put A Boiler? Reasons, Rules & Costs!

Where is the best place to put a boiler in my home?

You might be considering moving your current boiler to another area or thinking of buying a new boiler, but figuring out the best spot in your home to install the boiler can be tricky, considering the complex nature of the appliance and the legal regulations guiding the positioning of boilers.

Installing a boiler may require changing your system, especially if you have an old back boiler and unfortunately these are inefficient and are illegal to replace in the UK, so it is necessary to change an old back boiler to something like a system boiler if you have more than four bedrooms or a top combi boiler if you have up to four bedrooms. 

Best place to install a boiler in your home?

Whatever the case, the big question is: where is the best place to put a new boiler in your home? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question because it all comes down to what’s most convenient for you.

Most people love to put their combi boiler in a kitchen cupboard, and arguably this is the most common and best place as it is hidden, keeps noise down, and is easily accessible if anything goes wrong, however, this guide will help you figure out the perfect spot to install a boiler in your home, so keep reading.

Best rooms to install a boiler

The most suitable and convenient boiler location in most homes is to put a boiler near where most of the water in the household will be heating. These are all personal preferences but we’re going off our most popular installation types. These areas include:

#1 Best Place for a boiler – The Kitchen

The kitchen has got to be the most popular place and arguably the best place for a boiler in most homes in the UK due to space being at a premium. Most gas boilers are designed to fit in kitchen cupboards for this exact reason and are a selling point for most brands.

Like one of these great options, a compact or small combi boiler will fit nicely into your kitchen cupboard. These options save you additional costs of cylinders or tanks. Simply have a professional hide your boiler away inside one of your kitchen cupboards.

With your dishwasher, taps, and several other water-using appliances in the kitchen, installing your boiler in this location makes sense. However, a reasonably large boiler might not fit into a small kitchen. Consider choosing a small boiler if you have a relatively small kitchen.

#2 – Utility Room

Do you have a utility room in your home? If yes, you probably have the answer to the question, “Where is the best place to put a boiler?”

If your bathroom and kitchen are too small to house your boiler, the utility room might be an excellent alternative for the appliance. Installing the boiler here ensures that the appliance is out of your way.

There may not be too many water-using products in your utility room. But if you’re like most people, the space will include some large household appliances like a washing machine and steam compression clothes dryer, among others, making the utility room a good location to install your boiler.

#3. Airing Cupboard

If you are changing out an old vent boiler with a combi boiler, housing the new appliance in an airing cupboard makes plenty of sense. The cold and hot water supplies are already in place, so it is preferable to put a boiler in many homes.

Read more here about airing cupboards and the regulations for putting a boiler in one.

#4. Bathroom

The bathroom works great for many homes for installing a boiler. Most of the hot water in the home goes to the bathroom, so having a boiler installed in this location means that the water in the house will heat very quickly. It’s the ideal boiler location.

Another good reason to put a boiler in the bathroom is the pipework. It is easier to fit the flue with the bathroom’s existing pipework. Also, it is more convenient to connect the bathroom’s waste to the boiler’s waste.

However, electrical installations in the bathroom can pose a significant risk. If you choose this location, the new boiler installation must be within an airing cupboard outside the bathroom or housed inside a box inside the bathroom (if you have a spacious bathroom).

The boiler’s electrical spur must be located where water cannot reach, preferably outside the bathroom. The goal is to prevent water from getting the boiler’s electrical system.

#5. Bedroom

A less common but equally good location to put your boiler is in the bedroom. However, installing a boiler in the bedroom is one major downside. You’ll have to put up with the noise from the appliance.

Thankfully, many modern boilers like the Viessmann Vitodens boiler operate very quietly. And even if you are a light sleeper, you can mitigate any noise by installing the boiler in a purpose-built cupboard or wardrobe.

Other possible places to fit a boiler

If you decide you can move your boiler and if the above locations in your home aren’t quite convenient for a boiler, perhaps because they are too small or non-existent, there are still other less popular spots where you can install the appliance.

It’s important not to have them near windows or composite doors for example, as they would get in the way.

Although these alternative places are not without a few complications, you might be able to find a good workaround solution and get your boiler up and running as it should.

These locations include:

#6. Garage

Installing a boiler in the garage usually works well, in most cases, since the system won’t get in the way of your living space.

That said, you might be losing a lot of energy if the boiler is installed in your garage because the location is usually far away from most of the products that will need it. And the energy loss is even greater if you have a detached garage.

Besides, connecting pipes from a detached garage to the main building can be a lot of work with additional expenses.

Another factor to consider if putting your boiler outside or in the garage is the possibility of the pipes freezing, especially during the colder months. Garages are usually unheated, so have pipe insulation and frost protection if you want to install a boiler in this location. 

#7. Loft or Attic

Like the garage, installing a boiler in the loft or attic means less interference with your living space. Most attics or lofts are spacious enough to accommodate boilers of various sizes. This was always a popular choice for old boilers such as conventional boilers.

However, there are a few important things to keep in mind if you choose this location. You need to provide a lift ladder or steps, adequate lighting, and some flooring in the attic to make the area easily accessible.

Like the garage, you will also need to provide pipe insulation and frost protection in the loft to protect the boiler since the area is known for colder temperatures.

Lastly, you want to factor in the structural design of the loft or attic. The wall must be strong enough to support the weight of the boiler.

#8. Under the Stairs

If other spots in your home are out of the question, under the stairs might be another location for installing a boiler.

However, the staircase has to be next to an external wall, or else it will be nearly impossible to install a boiler in this area. Also, the staircase should be spacious enough to allow access during installation and routine maintenance.

What is the cost of moving a boiler to another room?

Moving a new boiler is not cheap, so you should expect to spend anywhere from £300 to £800 on the cost of moving a boiler. The exact new boiler cost will depend on where you are moving the boiler to and the type of boiler in question.

Even if you are not buying a new boiler but only relocating an existing one, you will still have to spend extra money on rerouting and reconnecting the pipework. In many cases, this will involve pulling up floorboards or carpets.

You also have to factor in the labour cost of moving a boiler, whether installing a new boiler or relocating an existing one.

Regulations for installing a new boiler in a different place

There are several legal regulations to keep in mind when installing a replacement boiler in your home. You are not required to know many of these rules since any certified installer should already be familiar with them and advise you appropriately.

Nevertheless, here are a few important points that are worth noting:

• Gas boilers require time and temperature controls in keeping with the 2018 Boiler Plus policy.
• If you are installing a combi boiler, the appliance must be fitted with at least one safety or remote monitoring device, such as a weather compensation device, a smart thermostat, a flue gas recovery system, or a load compensation device.
• The installation must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• The boiler needs to be installed inside a building with a wall strong enough to support the weight of the appliance when filled with water to capacity.
• Do not install your boiler below the ground (such as in a basement) if the appliance runs on Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG).
• The flue must pass to the building’s exterior, whether through the roof or an outside wall. To comply with building regulations, check the boiler installation manual to ensure that the flue terminal is at the minimum distance away from other buildings, windows, etc.
• Only install energy-efficient boilers in your home. Boilers with a 92% ErP rating (A-rated) are recommended.
• Remember to follow the recommended zones outlined in the I.E.E. Wiring Regulations and Building Regulations if you are putting the boiler in your bathroom. These regulations specify safe areas in the bathroom to install a boiler and where it is not safe to put one.

Where is the best place to install a boiler? Conclusion

Where is the best place to put a boiler? The answer to that depends on the available space in your home and the type of structure you have. Generally, it is usually best to install your boiler near your water-using products, typically in the bathroom or kitchen.

Do not hesitate to get in touch if you need help deciding the most suitable location for your new boiler or if you are relocating your existing boiler. Our heating engineer experts will be more than happy to talk you through the various options that best suit your needs.