Install heating controls -cost

Does anyone know how much it would cost to do put in heating controls to have 3 zones for heating(upstairs, downstairs and water). House is 10 years old with oil boiler. I am going to get a plumber to call to give me a quote but wanted to have a ball park figure of what to expect.

Also would it be a huge/expensive job to change perfectly fine boiler to one of these newer more efficent ones or would it be mad.

3 zone clock 100 euro
zone valves 120
wiring and stats another 100

fitting depends on availability of pipes but should be straightforward.

Look up SEI scheme which offers a grant towards this work.

I always though you needed three seprate pumps for a system like this and that it would be really expensive. Can you really do it with valves?
I only have a timer on the boiler and its one of the old clock ones, I hate it. I have been thinking of getting a 7 day digital one, but I have no idea if I need and electrician or a plumber or both.

I was quoted 3 grand for a new boiler + fitting when we were having problems with ours. Its gas though. With bills of less than 1000 a year, it would need to save 25% of costs to be worth it over 12 years. Onl woth it if you are sure you are staying in the house in the long term.

More efficient controls and thermostats will save lots of money anyhow, and improve your lifestyle in the house. You will save money heating the water with oil in the summer too.

You can get automated controls that you can ring up and switch on the heat from the office (or the couch if you are really lazy). Might be worth asking about these too when you are getting a quote?

corkgal said:

I always though you needed three seprate pumps for a system like this and that it would be really expensive. Can you really do it with valves?
I only have a timer on the boiler and its one of the old clock ones, I hate it. I have been thinking of getting a 7 day digital one, but I have no idea if I need and electrician or a plumber or both.

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Zoning can be done with valves or pumps, valves usually as it is cheaper.

Adding a proper time clock (Digital) will require an electrician. Could be relatively expensive if you are starting out with just a clock in the gas boiler itself. Adding zones will require an electrician and plumber.

SEI are offering grants towards proper controls and efficent boilers so you should look that up before committing to any purchase.

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Thats brilliant. 500 euro grant to upgrade the controls. I must get someone out to price the job for me. I am sick of baking and freezing within 20 minutes in the same house.

Should cut down on gas costs too.

Three grand is very expensive.

I just got a quote from a plumber of €280 for valves, clock and stat , €1370 for new condensing boiler and €540 labour so after grant cost is about 1500. It should be worth doing for that price.

@irishrain: What sort of controls are you getting for that price? Is that 2 zone temp. control. Any chance those controls include facility to dial up via mobile?
Also, are they throwing in a few Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRV's) with that?

Waiting on someone to call and give me a quote...

Quote lists 2 zone valves, 3 channel time clock, upstairs room stat and 3 thermostatic radiator valves. No dial up via mobile though as I'd imagine that would be a lot of work to connect to phone lines etc.