TL;DR — Boiler Repair Cost At A Glance
- Most boiler repairs cost £150 – £400 (inc VAT) across the UK, rising to £200 – £500 in London and the South East.
- Simple fixes such as a faulty thermostat, sensor or valve start around £120 – £250, while a heat exchanger or major fault can reach £400 – £700 or more.
- The biggest price drivers are the fault type and part needed, the boiler type, your location, and whether it is an emergency call-out.
- Any repair to a gas boiler must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer — it is illegal (and dangerous) for anyone else to work on it.
- If a boiler is over 10–15 years old and a costly part fails, a replacement can be the better-value choice.
- An annual service and boiler cover (£3 – £25 a month) both help keep unexpected repair bills down.
Get a fast, fixed price for a boiler repair from a Gas Safe registered engineer — check prices and book online or call to describe the fault and arrange a visit.
How Much Does Boiler Repair Cost In 2026?
A boiler repair in the UK typically costs £150 – £400 inc VAT, with prices climbing to £200 – £500 in London and the South East. That range covers the most common jobs a heating engineer sees day to day — a failed fan, a stuck pump, a faulty circuit board or a pressure problem. At the cheaper end sit quick fixes like a replacement thermostat or sensor; at the top end sit heavy jobs such as a heat exchanger, which involves stripping down much of the boiler.
Across the full spread, prices range from as little as a £3 washer or seal (fitted during a call-out) up to £1,000 for a serious repair on a premium or oil boiler. The single biggest factor is which part has failed, because labour time and part cost move together. Most engineers charge a call-out or diagnostic fee that includes the first hour on site, then quote for parts and any extra labour once the fault is confirmed.
Here is what boiler repair typically costs across the UK in 2026:
| Repair band | Rest of UK | London & South East |
|---|---|---|
| Minor fix (thermostat, sensor, valve, seal) | £120 – £250 | £150 – £300 |
| Average repair (fan, pump, PCB, diverter valve) | £150 – £400 | £200 – £500 |
| Major/complex repair (heat exchanger, major leak) | £350 – £700+ | £450 – £850+ |
| Emergency / out-of-hours call-out | £120 – £300 + parts | £150 – £400 + parts |
Figures include VAT and reflect 2026 market rates. The exact price depends on the fault, your boiler and your postcode — get a fixed quote here.
Boiler Repair Cost By Fault
Because the part is usually the biggest variable, it helps to see typical all-in prices by the fault itself. The figures below cover parts and labour for a standard domestic gas boiler; complex or premium models sit at the higher end.
| Fault / common repair | What it involves | Typical all-in price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Thermostat or sensor fault | Diagnose and swap a faulty room/boiler thermostat or temperature sensor | £120 – £250 |
| Ignition or pilot light fault | Clean or replace ignition leads/electrodes; relight and test | £150 – £300 |
| Faulty fan | Replace the flue fan so the boiler can fire safely | £200 – £400 |
| Pump replacement | Fit a new circulation pump when heat is not moving round the system | £250 – £450 |
| Diverter valve | Replace the valve that switches between heating and hot water | £250 – £450 |
| Expansion vessel / low pressure | Re-pressurise or replace the expansion vessel to hold pressure | £150 – £350 |
| PCB (printed circuit board) | Replace the boiler's "brain" — one of the pricier common faults | £300 – £550 |
| Heat exchanger | Strip down and replace a leaking or blocked exchanger | £400 – £700+ |
| Frozen or leaking condensate pipe | Thaw, re-route or replace the condensate pipe | £80 – £200 |
Most quotes bundle the diagnostic visit into the final bill when the repair goes ahead. Always confirm whether the call-out fee is included or added on top.
What Affects The Cost Of Boiler Repair?
Several things decide where a job lands in the ranges above.
1. The Fault And Part Needed
This is the main driver. A £30 sensor fitted in under an hour is a world away from a heat exchanger or circuit board, which cost more to buy and take far longer to fit. Diagnosis matters too — an intermittent fault that takes time to trace adds labour.
2. Your Boiler Type
Combi boilers are the most common and generally the cheapest to repair, with parts widely stocked. System and heat-only (conventional) boilers can cost a little more because faults may involve the cylinder, motorised valves or feed tanks. Oil boilers are usually the priciest to fix (£200 – £600+), while electric boilers avoid gas-specific faults but can still need heating elements or wiring work.
3. Your Location
London and the South East run roughly 15–30% higher than the North of England, Wales and Scotland, reflecting higher labour and travel costs. A £250 repair in the Midlands can be £320 – £350 for the same work in the capital.
4. Boiler Age And Parts Availability
Older and discontinued boilers are slower and dearer to repair because parts are harder to source. When a manufacturer has stopped making a part, an engineer may have to fit a universal alternative or advise replacement.
5. Emergency And Out-Of-Hours Work
No heating or hot water in mid-winter often means an emergency visit. Evening, weekend and bank-holiday call-outs carry a premium — expect to pay noticeably more than a booked weekday appointment for the same fault.
6. Whether You Have Boiler Cover
If a repair is covered by a boiler-cover policy or manufacturer's warranty, the labour and parts may already be paid for. Cover typically costs £3 – £25 a month depending on the level and excess.
What's Included — And What's Not
Usually included in a boiler repair:
- A diagnostic inspection to confirm the fault
- Labour to carry out the agreed repair
- Fitting of the replacement part
- A safety check and function test before the engineer leaves
Usually charged separately or excluded:
- The replacement part itself (quoted once the fault is confirmed)
- A separate annual boiler service
- A full power flush or system clean if sludge is the root cause (see the power flush cost guide)
- Any additional faults found during diagnosis
- Out-of-hours premiums for emergency visits
Always get the quote in writing after diagnosis, so the final bill matches what was agreed.
Can You Do It Yourself?
For a gas boiler, the honest answer is no. Working on a gas appliance without Gas Safe registration is illegal in the UK, and mistakes risk gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning and fire. The only tasks a homeowner should attempt are the basics printed in the manual: re-pressurising the system using the filling loop, resetting the boiler, bleeding radiators, and thawing a frozen condensate pipe with warm (not boiling) water.
Anything involving internal components, the gas supply, the flue or electrical wiring must go to a qualified professional. Even for electric boilers, internal electrical work should be left to a competent, qualified engineer. Attempting a DIY fix can also void your warranty and any boiler-cover policy.
How To Save Money On Boiler Repair
- Book a repair promptly — a small fault left running can damage other parts and turn a £150 job into a £400 one.
- Service the boiler every year so problems are caught early; a service costs far less than a breakdown.
- Get the fault diagnosed before agreeing to parts, and ask for the part price separately so you can see the split.
- Avoid out-of-hours call-outs where safe to do so by booking the next available weekday slot.
- Weigh up boiler cover if the boiler is ageing — it can smooth repair costs into a predictable monthly figure.
- Keep proof of servicing to protect the manufacturer's warranty, which may cover parts for years after installation.
How To Hire A Good Heating Engineer
The most important check is simple: the engineer must be on the Gas Safe Register for any gas work. You can ask to see their Gas Safe ID card and check the licence number on the official register. Beyond that, confirm they are insured, ask for reviews or references, and get a written quote that separates labour from parts. For oil boilers, look for OFTEC registration instead of Gas Safe.
With Fantastic Services, you get Gas Safe registered engineers, transparent pricing and easy online booking — describe the fault, book a slot that suits you, and get the boiler back up and running safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does A Boiler Repair Cost In 2026?
A typical boiler repair costs £150 – £400 inc VAT across most of the UK and £200 – £500 in London. Simple fixes such as a faulty sensor or valve start nearer £120, while a heat exchanger or major fault can reach £700 or more.
How Much Does An Emergency Boiler Repair Cost?
Emergency and out-of-hours repairs carry a premium on top of the standard price. Expect a higher call-out charge for evening, weekend or bank-holiday visits, plus the cost of any parts once the fault is diagnosed.
When Is It Better To Replace A Boiler Than Repair It?
Replacement usually makes more sense when the boiler is over 10–15 years old, a costly part such as the heat exchanger or PCB has failed, or repairs are becoming frequent. As a rule of thumb, if a repair costs more than half the price of a new boiler, replacing it is often the smarter spend. See the boiler replacement cost guide.
How Long Does A Boiler Repair Take?
Many common repairs are completed within one to two hours once the fault is confirmed. Bigger jobs such as a heat exchanger, or repairs that need a part ordered in, can take longer or require a second visit.
Does A Boiler Have To Be Repaired By A Gas Safe Engineer?
Yes. By law, any work on a gas boiler in the UK must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer. For oil boilers the equivalent is OFTEC registration. Using an unregistered person is illegal and unsafe.
Is Boiler Cover Worth It?
Boiler cover, at £3 – £25 a month, can be worth it for older boilers or households that want predictable costs, as it spreads repair and often annual-service costs. For a newer boiler still under warranty, it may be less essential.
What Are The Signs A Boiler Needs Repairing?
Common warning signs include no heating or hot water, unusual banging or gurgling noises, a dropping pressure gauge, a persistent pilot light going out, leaks around the unit, or an error code on the display. A yellow rather than blue flame or any burning smell should be treated as urgent — turn the boiler off and call an engineer.
Boiler Repair Cost UK [2026]
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| Appointments | Monday - Saturday 8am - 4pm | Prices | Fantastic Club price | Standard price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiler Service | £98 | £128 | ||
| Boiler Service Plus | £105 | £135 | ||
| Landlord Gas Cert.(up to 2 appliances) | £91 | £121 | ||
| Landlord Gas Cert.(3 to 4 appliances) | £94 | £124 | ||
| Boiler Service & Landlord Gas Certificate | £186 | £216 | ||
Join the Fantastic Club and get:
- £300 in credits
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T&C and Minimum Charges apply. When we calculate the price, we also take into consideration the area's dimensions and the time of the appointment. All prices and deals are valid for areas within M25. Deals cannot be combined with any other deals and promotions. Prices are subject to availability. Congestion charges are excluded (when applicable).
