Central Heating

Getting a new central heating system might seem easy right? Just choose the models you like and let the heating engineer get to work. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that. There are so many factors to consider before you decide on a heating system, and even more when you select an installer. By having a general idea of how central heating works, you’ll be better able to identify the right system for your situation. This means a better decision, saving plenty of headaches and money along the way.

Your system consists of these main parts: boiler, pipes, radiators, water storage tanks, and heating controls. The exact components needed will depend on the type of system you choose. The boiler takes water provided by your mains pipe and heats it. Burning gas or oil is the most common way to power the boiler. The heated water will either be pumped to a hot water storage vessel or directly to a water tap—this depends on whether it is a combination (combi) boiler or not.

The boiler also transports the water to radiators located throughout your home. The hot water travels through the radiators to release its heat energy, warming up the room. Once the heat transfer is completed, the now colder water circles back to your boiler for reheating once again.

If you decide to install a new central heating system for your home, you might be surprised about the number of factors that help determine your final bill. Since your system should match the characteristics of your home, it’ll be a bespoke heating solution—the price will reflect this.

There are so many different brands and models available, meaning that the prices will vary significantly. The most common scenario is that your central heating installer will design your system to ensure the best price for you; some homeowners may want to purchase the items themselves and whilst this may give them the impression that it can save them money, it mostly doesn't mean the case at all as often there are components purchased that are not needed and some that haven't been purchased that are needed resulting in higher labour costs and downtime.

Furthermore, whilst it might seem like a saving buying a new boiler "off the shelf" for around £350, the old saying must be remembered "you get what you pay for", there's always a reason why they are cheap, frequently with very short warranties. More often than not, boilers purchased on your behalf by a qualified Gas Safe Registered installer are more likely to carry a long manufacturer warranty of up to ten years which will include parts and labour.

Central heating installation costs will vary depending on the size of your home, your heating demand, and the type of system you choose. Households that require a high level of heating need a higher capacity boiler, as well as more radiators and piping, driving up costs. Certain boiler types, such as a conventional or system boiler, need expansion vessels and water storage tanks. This increases the supply and installation costs.

As you can see, all of these factors influence each other, making the whole process of pricing your new central heating system even more complicated. Luckily, you don’t have to work through this complexity on your own as we will discuss and take good care in providing you with the right system for you.

 

Is it time to get new central heating?

This is a question that you might be wondering about. Actually, there are many possible reasons why it might be time to switch to a new central heating system.

Age: Your entire system might be a few years old now and is in need of a revamp. Usually, you should replace your boiler after 10 to 15 years, and if the rest of your heating is reaching the end of their lifespan, it’s time to replace.

High repair cost: Occasionally, the price to fix a problem with your heating is much higher than it is to replace the whole system altogether. If this type of recommendation is coming from your heating engineer, you should consider installing a new system.

Low efficiency: Perhaps you have noticed that you are spending way too much on heating. This could be a result of an inefficient heating system. Upgrade to a modern, more efficient system to unlock savings for your energy bill.

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