Your central heating system keeps you warm and comfortable and helps to make your house feel like a home.
By choosing the right central heating system for your property, you could lower your energy bills too.
Most households in the UK have mains gas central heating. This is a so-called ‘wet system’, which means a gas-fired boiler heats water to provide central heating through radiators and hot water through the taps in your home.
First, you need to decide which type of new boiler to go for. Here's what you should consider:
- Combination boiler - This boiler provides central heating and instant hot water. A combi (or combination) boiler provides heat for central heating and heats water instantly whenever a hot tap or shower is turned on. Water is fed from the mains, so the water pressure is generally better than with traditional boilers and there’s no need for a tank in the loft. These boilers are the most popular type of boiler in the UK.
- Conventional boiler - This boiler is the most basic type, it just burns fuel to make heat for central heating or hot water.
- System boiler - This boiler provides central heating only or heating and a store of hot water in a hot water cylinder (tank).
- Condensing -This boiler uses the heat in the gases given off when the fuel is burnt; this reusing of normally wasted heat makes some of the steam in the waste gases condense into water giving this boiler its name.
Since 2005 Building Regulations have required all that newly installed domestic central heating boilers are ‘A’ Rated (on a scale of A to G) for energy efficiency. This means that they need to be at least 90% efficient at converting the type of energy they use (gas, oil or LPG) into heat energy.
The traditional heating method of choice for most homes and businesses has been radiators. But in recent years they’ve got competition in the form of underfloor heating. Whilst underfloor heating is a larger initial outlay, it does repay in the long run with high energy savings. Particularly when paired with a renewable energy source, underfloor heating can prove to be extremely cost effective.
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Approximate boiler and central heating engineer prices and completion times:
| Job | Details | Price range | Typical time to comlete job |
| Power flush standard gas central heating system | Based on a three-bed semi-detached house with 10 radiators. Includes labour and all chemicals and equipment needed. | £330-£450 | 1 day |
| Carry out an annual service on a standard combi gas boiler | n/a | £53-£72 | 1–1.5 hours |
| Carry out an annual service on a living room gas fire | n/a | £50-£68 | 1–1.5 hours |
| Fit new TRVs – small two-bed house | Supply and fit new thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) in a small two-bed terraced house with eight radiators. | £220-£330 | 4-6 hours |
| Fit new TRVs – medium three-bed house | Supply and fit new thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) in a medium three-bed semi-detached house with 10 radiators. | £269-£400 | 5-8 hours |
| Fit new TRVs – large four-bed house | Supply and fit new thermostatic radiator valves in a large four-bed detached house with 14 radiators. | £350-£520 | 6–10 hours |
| Install a replacement fan for standard combi gas boiler | Supply and fit a replacement fan for a standard combi gas boiler. | £200-£270 | 1–2 hours |
| Install magnetic filters on a standard combi gas boiler | n/a | £158-£240 | 2–3 hours |
| Supply and fit new room thermostat | Supply and fit a new wireless room thermostat. | £125-£190 | 1–2 hours |
| Supply and fit one radiator | Remove existing radiator. Supply and fit a new radiator – 600mm x 1000mm double panel. Assuming all pipework is the correct size and in the right place. | £150-£228 | 1.5–3 hours |
| Supply and fit new boiler | Supply and fit a new boiler (Which? Best Buy Vaillant ecoTEC plus 831 or similar) with new timer and regulator. Assuming that the gas pipe is of adequate size and boiler flue in same place. | £1,600-£2,008 | 1-2 days |
| Supply and fit a new central heating pump | Trader to recommend a standard pump of a reliable brand. Assuming that replacement is like for like and no modifications are needed. | £130-£165 | 1-2 hours |
