When money is tight, regular maintenance and repair services can be the last thing on your mind. Unless it’s an emergency or something you constantly rely on, a fault in the heating or plumbing systems can end up being tolerated for months.
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DIY – is it worth it?
When something goes wrong the first temptation is to try and fix it yourself. DIY is always worth a try if you’ve got the skills and time, but time is a precious commodity, especially if you only have weekends to attempt fixing things yourself. Wouldn’t you rather spend it relaxing in-between exhausting weeks?
There are of course things you can’t do yourself and need a professional with the right qualifications for. For instance, you’ll need a Gas Safe Engineer if you’re looking at any boiler issues, otherwise, you risk gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.
DIY is often seen as the cheaper alternative – but is it really? Think of the supplies, tools, and equipment you’ll need, and the space it’ll take up in your house. So step away from the DIY toolkits for now and read on for common questions, problems and what they cost.
Independent Tradesperson vs Company
People put off calling out for repair services in fear of high costs, but they may not be as bad as you think.
Depending on who you go through, costs can vary, and unless you can get good recommendations from friends, it can be tough to find the right person for the job.
A local independent tradesperson may offer a good deal but there could be the risk of them not doing the job to your satisfaction, whilst going through a company can give you the extra reassurance you need and not be as pricey as you’d assume.
Whether you decide to go for an independent tradesperson or a company, this guide will look at the costs of various services, such as boiler repairs and plumbing maintenance, to give you an idea of what to expect if you need some work done on your property.
Boilers – Servicing
Boilers should be serviced every 12 months, doing so will keep the warranty valid and protect you from a high emergency repair cost. Some warranties last between 1-5 years with others competitively going up to 10 years, so check your boiler’s age and paperwork.
The average cost of a boiler service is between £70 and £80, so search for a boiler service near me online and look for somewhere charging this amount. Servicing takes between 30 minutes and an hour.
Boilers – Repair
Boiler repairs can cost anywhere from around £100 to £500, so it’s definitely worth regular servicing and staying in-warranty to potentially protect you from this cost. The average boiler repair cost is around £300, with emergency repairs starting from over £200.
If you want to opt for boiler insurance, the average cost is £12 a month but can go as high as £20.
Boilers – Installation
Installation for a new boiler can cost between £500 and £2000 with boilers themselves costing from £1500 to £3500, so you’ll want to consider servicing, insuring, and doing all you can to keep your boiler from needing a replacement. Boilers should last between 10 and 15 years.
Plumbing – Installations
In 2021, the average cost of an entirely new bathroom suite is around £4500. Separately, you’ll be looking at an average of £150 for a toilet, £175 for a basin, £350 for a bath, £500 for a shower (£400 for shower enclosure), and £250 for a heated towel rail or a radiator.
There’s also extra costs and tasks involved such as ripping out and removing the old suite and waste (£250-500), electrical work (£300), wall tiling (£750), and vinyl flooring costing from £250 to £950 depending on the size of the bathroom.
Of course, this is if you need replacements and not repairs, but handy to know if you only need to replace one or two features in your bathroom.
Emergency Plumbing
The average cost for an emergency plumber is around £200-£400, with a callout charge costing in the range of £75. Able Group, who cover 7 different trades in repair and maintenance, offer emergency repair nationwide with no callout fee and a free quote, so consider giving them a call.
Find the Right Price
The average homeowner spends almost £900 on property maintenance every year, with 30% needing emergency repairs. This varies with house age and location, so make sure you find a price that’s right for you.
