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Central heating systems help and advice

Find out how your central heating works along with some helpful information.

Issues with your central heating?

To trouble shooting central heating problems, we're here to help. Heating and hot water are vital parts of a happy home. Now that we're spending more time than ever indoors, it's never been more important to have a central heating system that suits your needs. If you have an issue with your current system, our articles below can help.

Central heating leaking? Here's what to do

Understand your options if your system has a leak, whether you need to use sealer or require professional support.

How to bleed your radiators and keep cosy

Our step-by-step guide will make sure your radiators stay nice and warm.

Why it's so important to get your boiler serviced

We reccomend getting your boiler serviced every 12 months to help avoid breakdowns or leaks.

Fixing a frozen condensate pipe

We can help you get your boiler working again if you have a frozen condensate pipe.

Help setting your boiler timer controls

Using your boiler timer controls can help make you more energy efficient and reduce your energy bills.

Need help keeping your home warm?

We have lots of helpful tips that can keep your home warm in winter.

How does central heating work?

The boiler uses gas to heat up water.
An electric pump in the boiler pushes the heated water around your radiators and to your hot water tank, if you have one.
As the water flows through the central heating radiators, it gives off some of its heat to warm up your rooms.
The heated water also flows to your taps and showers when you switch them on.
A thermostat monitors the temperature and switches the gas-powered wet system off when it's hot enough.

What types of central heating boilers are there?

There are three main types of central heating boilers – regular, system and combi:

Regular boilers are linked to a cold water storage tank in the loft – water is heated by a heat exchanger and pumped to a hot water cylinder ready for you to use
System boilers contain a built-in heat exchanger, where water is heated and then stored in a cylinder, often found in an airing cupboard
Combi boilers are not linked to a cylinder or a tank in the loft, water is taken directly from the mains and heated on demand i.e. when you switch your tap on

How much is installation of a new central heating system?

The system installation depends on how many central heating radiators are needed to heat your home, as well as the type and size of central heating boiler and whether you want to move this. For example a like-for-like central heating replacement will cost less than replacing your central heating, moving your boiler and adding five more radiators. This is because the cost of this will include additional pipework to move the central heating boiler and add new radiators.