Combi boiler swap.....how long?

[ISM]

Just wanting to hear people's thoughts on how long you take/quote to carryout a straight forward combi swap.

I am currently quoting one day and I must admit it can be a struggle, especially when there is more than average amount radiators to flush.

Basically, my wife thinks it should be a day and a half, as I'm always absolutely shattered and stressed when I've done one.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I am

In short a 3 days to a week eg just a conversion to new rads and a conversion

 

[Harvest Fields]

I was on the card once. I still took 2 days.

 

[Riley]

So to all those saying 2 days when was the last time you were employed?

Pretty much most companies I've worked for over the last 10-12 years maybe longer has been a combi swap 1 day. If you had a long gas run etc that would be 2 days.

How long do you take to do something like a bbu out and a combi in airing cupboard?

It’s not a race and if your customer is happy with the slower approach then who is it harming. I’m not saying you don’t take care in a day but the perception to the customer is that you don’t. Also if the system is proper dirty then you’re knackered if you’ve only got a day. A proper flush is a must these days

 

[Millsy 82]

I'm starting to feel that most of my working life I've been stitched up. Off the top of my head the last company that gave me over a day to do a combi swap would of been a good 14 years ago.

 

[Millsy 82]

It’s not a race and if your customer is happy with the slower approach then who is it harming. I’m not saying you don’t take care in a day but the perception to the customer is that you don’t. Also if the system is proper dirty then you’re knackered if you’ve only got a day. A proper flush is a must these days

I fully see your point but if I priced for 2 days I dont think I'd win that many. I always leave the next morning free just in case something like a dirty system or other problems and if there is no problems happy days a morning surfing, sorry I meant paper work just incase my other half reads it. Lol.

Also as far as I know all my customers are more than happy with my work and my approach as most of them come back for more work.

 

[Gasmk1]

not been an employee for 14 years but when employed i didnt do many install i was mainly breakdown and servicing. but at BG industrial and commercial i was on the meter installation van for 10 years but supplemented when quiet with servicing and breakdowns. i give 2 days becasue i dont normally work past 4 o'clock.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Some people are rapid and some are slow. PAl of mine laughs at me when I suggest a day is not enough. I must be slow!! Lol.

 

[Millsy 82]

Some people are rapid and some are slow. PAl of mine laughs at me when I suggest a day is not enough. I must be slow!! Lol.

I always thought I was slow. I've worked with a few blokes 1 in particular I had to go and help him do a full central heating system I got to him about 3pm as I had loads of breakdowns to do before hand and by the time I got there he had the boiler on the wall piped up and all the rads on the wall (I say all the rads it was a 6 rad system) and piped into the roof space then he was running the pipework in the loft. I was literally gobsmacked and couldn't believe how much he had done in a day and it was really neat as well.

 

[Deleted member 32524]

Just like my mate. He is rapid. He does installs all the time though. I am mostly reactive maintenance, would tank him for time on a repair though. I found that as my pipe bending skill increased my time reduced and it looked way neater. Solder as you go too. Still about a day and a half for full flush and install, with some or short gas upgrades and condy run. Used to take me 2 days. Still could. Went to one years ago and thought 2 days, but took 4 with all the issues I found once I got started.

 

[Last Plumber]

So to all those saying 2 days when was the last time you were employed?

Pretty much most companies I've worked for over the last 10-12 years maybe longer has been a combi swap 1 day. If you had a long gas run etc that would be 2 days.

How long do you take to do something like a bbu out and a combi in airing cupboard?

Been working over 30 years now.

The job takes as long as it takes to do it well in my opinion. I've never been short of work and have no complaints or bad debtors.
I'm by no means saying that you do not do the job well, I have never seen your work obviously. If you're fast and good then that's great.

I do know some are a lot faster than me but if people recommend me and keep coming back themselves, there cannot be much wrong?

As far as BBU and airing cupboard job goes, you know yourself it depends on a lot of different things. Each needs pricing on its own merits.

 

[hammers4spanner]

It's not that you can't do it in a day it's covering the possibility of a warranty call back imho.
2 days buttons and braces the install and gives little chance of a call back where they can turn repair down

 

[firemant]

Just wanting to hear people's thoughts on how long you take/quote to carryout a straight forward combi swap.

I am currently quoting one day and I must admit it can be a struggle, especially when there is more than average amount radiators to flush.

Basically, my wife thinks it should be a day and a half, as I'm always absolutely shattered and stressed when I've done one.

Are you charging a rate that financialy demands that you complete in one day, or is it a case of you wishing to make maximum profit by killing yourself?