A Guide to Commercial Boiler Installation
Installing a commercial boiler can be a daunting process. However, with careful planning and the right steps in place, it can be done safely and efficiently. Here is a step-by-step guide to walk you through the commercial boiler installation process.
Surveying the Existing Boiler
It is important that a competent person looks at the existing boiler before going any further with a design to replace it. Cowley Group has got a team that can assist you with this. You need to know the size of your existing boiler or boilers, what they are feeding (heating zones, hot water cylinder, and what type of emitters your heating zones have), possible flue routes ( you can find out more about this in our blog post on understanding commercial flues), the nearest suitable drain for condensate waste and how much space you have to ensure the new boilers will fit. We like to draw up a layout of the plant room as this allows us to play around with positioning and ensure the manufacturer’s clearances can be met. This is important as when it comes to servicing the boiler you need to be able to access it easily.
Selecting the Right Commercial Boiler For Your Property
When it comes to selecting the right boiler for your property, there are a lot of factors to consider. Capacity, energy efficiency, warranties, availability of spare parts, and price all need to be weighed up against each of your heating needs. At Cowley Group we always choose from the best manufacturers and select a commercial boiler that aligns with your needs. We always choose boilers with a good warranty or guarantee, high efficiency, and good after-sales service. We hate boilers that break down as much as everyone so we can assure you of a quality selection. It is important that your new boiler matches the output of your existing boiler/s so that it will meet the heat loss of your building. With the detail from the survey, we can then choose whether your boiler needs to be floor-standing or wall mounted, how many boilers you need (particularly where the backup is a requirement), and put forward a suitable selection.
Locating Your New Commercial Boiler
Once you have selected your new boiler it’s time to choose where best to locate it. Going back to the same position isn’t always the best option. if you want to avoid downtime it can be a good idea to locate it somewhere else and get it installed and ready for a quick changeover. This means the changeover is simply cutting off two pipes and reconnecting them so the heating is only down for approximately half an hour. The configuration of the flue system and accessibility to a drain can also affect the location. By locating the boiler in a different place you could avoid a costly relining of a chimney and simply install a flue kit that goes straight out the wall.
Select any Associated Equipment Your New Boiler May Require
If your changing your boiler, now may be the best time to look at the rest of your equipment. upgrading your plant in one go can save you a lot of money than lots of individual callouts to replace pumps, heat exchangers, motorised valves, etc. It is a good opportunity to look at your control system and possibly even rethink your control strategy. We provide a free survey where we can look at your entire system and make recommendations on what we think is best including a quotation to upgrade it all. Simply book up an appointment with us here, tell us your details and address and we will do the rest.
Hire a Commercial Gas Safe Registered Installer
Once you have selected the boiler you want and know where you want it it’s time to appoint someone to install it. please not that they must be registered gas-safe installers with a commercial certificate. it is illegal for anyone to install a commercial boiler without their commercial gas safe certificate so it’s always a good idea to check that your installer has this. All our engineers at Cowley Group are registered. You can always check an installer at gassaferegister.co.uk
Commission and Register Your boiler
This is something most commercial boiler installers will do for you, but not all of them do so it’s important you double-check. unlike domestic boilers that need to be registered with gas safe, commercial boilers are usually just registered with the manufacturer and they sort the rest. Some manufacturers insist that the boiler is commissioned by themselves. In which case they will register it when the come to commission. Others simply ask for a commissioning certificate from your installer. If your boiler is not commissioned then the warranty or guarantee will be null and void so this is of uttermost importance.
Get a Service Contract in Place
Congratulations, your new commercial boiler is installed and commissioned, and ready to go. All there is left to do is get a service contract in place. Your warranty will require that you have this. Having invested your money in a new efficient boiler the last thing you want is for it to go wrong. An annual service at the very minimum will pick up any problems before they become an issue. A proper service will also include cleaning the heat exchanger which will prolong the life of your new boiler.
