Central heating types and costs
If you’re thinking of upgrading, replacing or installing a new central heating system it can be daunting to understand the different types of systems on offer, and how to calculate the cost of an install. Below you can find information about the different types of systems available and also actual prices paid by WhatPrice users for installed systems.
The most common type of installation is a like-for-like upgrade of an existing system where the boiler, radiators, and controls are changed to more efficient (and often quieter) models. Based on actual figures submitted to us by homeowners for this type of system, we can see that a typical central heating installation consisting of a new combi boiler and radiators but reusing existing pipework will cost, on average, £5,072.
If a full central heating system is needed from scratch, or if there is a change to a different type of system (e.g., from an open-vented to a sealed system), then you would be paying between £7,000 and £8,500 for a typical 3-bedroom house with a gas combi boiler, controls, pipework, and radiators.
Open vented systems
These are perhaps the most traditional method of central heating and still found in most UK homes. If your property has a couple of water tanks in the loft the chances are you have an open vented system. Here the water is heated by the boiler (usually on the ground floor) and sent through the pipes to the radiators via a pump. Once the water has flowed through the system it returns (at a lower temperature) to the boiler to be reheated. The level of water in the system is maintained via a feed and expansion tank in the loft which adds water if the level is low or removes it if its too high – for example if the system is overheating. This type of system uses a heat-only boiler alongside a hot water cylinder.
Sealed systems
Many newer homes have these central heating systems in place. Instead of the system being topped up or vented through an expansion tank in the loft there is a pressurised expansion vessel (near or in the boiler) which has a ‘diaphragm’ in it that can expand or contract as the water temperature changes. If required more water can be let into the system via a valve in a part of the heating circuit called a filling loop. If the water pressure gets too great then there are two safety valves – one near the boiler and one for hot water. This type of system uses either a combi boiler (most popular) or if you’ve a larger household with greater demands for showers and baths then a system boiler alongside an unvented cylinder to store domestic hot water could be be a better option.
Boilers
Whilst also shown on this page for completeness you can find out more info here on how much a boiler replacement costs and how to get the best deal, if you’re looking for the best combi boiler to install with your central heating system you won’t go far wrong with a Worcester Bosch, Vaillant or Ideal boiler.
Hot water cylinder
In a many central heating systems the hot water you get out of your taps has usually been heated indirectly and stored in a cylinder in the airing cupboard. There are two main types of cylinder depending on whether you have a open vented or unvented system. The price you pay depends on the brand and size of cylinder you choose/need. Cylinders may be measured in height and diameter or volume. For an open vented system the cylinders materials costs range from about £200-350. In an unvented system they can range from £350 to well over £1000 per cylinder incl VAT. Note this does not include installation costs, just the cylinder. You can find out more information here on real world hot water cylinder replacement costs including installation.
Pump
This pumps the water around the central heating system from the boiler to the radiators. They can vary in price by quite a lot depending on the size of heating circuit they are pumping and whether they are fixed speed, variable or digital. Prices for pumps. The latest prices can be found here for supply and fitting of a central heating pump.
Radiators
Radiators are the final part of the heating circuit and are heat exchangers for transferring the energy in the hot water to the air in the room. Radiators are available in numerous sizes, designs and now available in many different colours, deviating away from the ‘standard’ white radiator will inevitably cost more. The exact number of radiators and size per room will be calculated by your heating engineer.
It is important to shop around for quotations for central heating and especially, for some reason, boiler installs. The price quoted can vary hugely. You should always check whether a plumber is registered to do gas work at Gas Safe.
User submitted prices
These are example prices for a plumber to come and upgrade or install a new central heating system into a house. The price will include materials e.g. boiler, radiators, cylinders and tanks plus any pipe work and chemicals that are required and of course the time that is required to put a new system in. So, these are prices for supply and fitting of a central heating system.
| Job type | Description | Price | Units | Region | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gas Central heating installation | Decommission and remove existing Boiler and Flue, make good all electrics, Gas and plumbing. | £6,780 | Total price | East Midlands | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Fitting regular worcester 24 boiler, moved from bedroom to kitchen, magnaclean, hot water cylinder ,12 radiators and trvs and disposal of rubbish | £6,215 | Total price | North East | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Replace storage heaters with ideal combi boiler, fit all new pipe work and flue, fit six radiators and one large chrome towel rail. Fit pipe work in preparation for extension. Job took 6.5 days. | £4,890 | Total price | East of England | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Replace old gas fired cylinder system with new condensing boiler. All new rads fitted in 3 bedroom house. Boilers and rads supplied and fitted | £3,570 | Total price | Scotland | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Supply and fit new central heating system valiant boiler and seven rads to an end terraced house including removal of old storage heating. | £4,700 | Total price | Scotland | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Six radiators. New gas combi boiler. Two bedrooms, one lounge. | £3,355 | Total price | South East | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | 6 rads and combi boiler plus take out old system | £6,200 | Total price | South West | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | just had a full central heating system installed, old system out and 7 radiators, and a worcester 28kw boiler with wireless room thermostat installed. new gas line and system cleaned | £4,130 | Total price | North West | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | remove old tank in upstairs cupboard and loft and back boiler downstairs. fit small radiator in kitchen larger one in dining room,boiler in upstairs bedroom adjacent to outside wall,plus five radiator valves and wireless thermostat, worcester greenstar 28cdi high efficiency combi boiler. | £5,370 | Total price | South East | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | I had my hot water cylinder removed from my 1st floor bathroom. Old conventional boiler was removed from 1st floor bedroom. I had a full system – conversion, where I had a Worcester Bosch Combi (7 year warranty parts & Labour) Install in Bedroom. All pipework was re-routed, new gas line to boiler upgraded and condensate pipe was externally terminated / insulated neatly. A wireless 7 day programmer was installed and replacement of 1 new radiator with new valves. MagnaClean filter was installed. House was a fully occupied dwelling. | £3,300 | Total price | West Midlands | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Had a firm in to fit heating in my mother’s house, picked them out of the paper, didn’t do a really good job and now wish I would have looked for recommendations first. Combi boiler and 8 radiators. | £5,100 | Total price | North West | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Supply and installation of Vaillant EcoTec Pro 30kw. Including vertical flue (and associated roof slating etc), MagnaClean, 5 Thermostatic Radiator Valves, Wireless thermostat. Removal of original boiler and vent flue. | £4,600 | Total price | Scotland | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | 6 Rads, Worcester 28cdi boiler, all new valves, new gas supply in 22mm pipe, 5 year warranty , excellent work, reliable and clean, | £3,680 | Total price | South West | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Whole new pressurised system including, tank, boiler, 10 rads, pipework and 5 days Install | £9,200 | Total price | South West | 2024 |
Electric Central heating installation | Install megaflo and replace micro bore pipes with flow and return pipes to 4 new radiators | £9,470 | Total price | London | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | New ferolli boiler, digital clock, flue, 6 rads plus 1 chrome towel rail, new pipework as no heating before, gas safe certificate with 5 yr parts and labour warranty. | £3,700 | Total price | West Midlands | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Remove Water Cylinder, Cistern, Back Boiler, Bathroom Suite & old pipe work. Install All new hot & cold pipework, new gas line for boiler, cooker & Gas fire. Alter 4″ soil pipe & drainage for waste. Install Vaillant Pro Combi 24 with Magnaclean Filter to new heating circuit. Install 7 New Rads. Install TRV’s & Room Stat. Full Commissioning of Boiler & Central Heating with all signed Paperwork. Property was Unoccupied Dwelling. All Pipework hidden. | £5,290 | Total price | West Midlands | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | New Worcester bosch radiator and 9 rads with TRVs, programmer and thermostat. All supplied and fitted. | £3,320 | Total price | Scotland | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Install Worcester Bosch Greenstar 18RI boiler in new location, replace Cylinder with High Efficiency type, fit new Tank Stats, Biflow valve, controller and Magna Clean unit. Remove old boiler and made good brickwork. | £4,140 | Total price | East Midlands | 2024 |
Gas Central heating installation | Full gas heating system. Worcester 28cdi boiler, 8 radiators and thermostatic valves. Normal three bed house in carlisle. | £4,430 | Total price | North West | 2024 |