How much does it cost to install central heating?

Central heating is a vital part of any home. If you want to keep yourself and your family warm, especially during the cold winter months, you’ll need to invest in some sort of heating system.

In this guide we share with you how much it costs to install a heating system based on numerous factors including: boiler types, fuel, and the size of the central heating system, as well as our tips for choosing the right option for you.

Before we begin...

It’s important to note that not all properties are the same and the cost of installing a central heating system depends on several factors:

• The size of the property
• The use of a property (i.e. domestic or commercial)
• The age of a property
• The accessibility to connect to Natural Gas, or other fuels such as LPG or Oil
• Environmental issues
• Your budget for an installation and running costs 

The total cost of a new central heating system also depends on what is needed for the installation such as:

• A complete system may require a new boiler, radiators, and potentially some re-plumbing
• A specialised system and installation to accompany a property’s specifications
• The cost of labour for a complete or partial installation

How much is it to install a boiler?

The boiler you choose can influence the central heating installation costs. We’ve highlighted some of the popular types of boilers used to supply properties in the UK.

Standard boiler

Price range: £1,800 to £3,200.

A standard central heating system consists of a boiler unit, separate pump, a hot water cylinder, and typically a feed and expansion tank in the loft. Cold water is moved from the tank, which is then heated by the boiler and sent to either the radiators if heating is required, or to the hot water cylinder ready for when you need hot water from your taps.

Heating systems with a standard boiler and hot water cylinder will take up significantly more space than other boilers which means they’re great for larger properties but can be laboursome to install.

Why should you install a standard boiler?

Here are a few reasons why you might decide to install a standard boiler:

• Can heat large properties
• Enough hot water for several taps
• Low maintenance
• Will still provide hot water if the mains water pressure drops

…and here’s why you shouldn’t:

• More expensive than other systems
• This system has more components and takes up a lot of space
• Not always reliable pressure
• You may run out of hot water if demand is too high

System boiler

Price range: £1,600 to £2,900

A system boiler is similar to a standard boiler but doesn’t require a feed and expansion tank to provide water to fill the system.These boilers also have a separate cylinder for storing hot water, and are sometimes referred to as closed-vent or sealed system boilers.

Why should you install a system boiler?

Here are a few reasons why you might decide to install a system boiler:

• They don’t require a feed and expansion tank which means they take up less space
• Can work with solar energy

…and here’s why you shouldn’t:

• It may take some time for your water to heat up
• The size of your tank will limit the amount of hot water

Combi boiler

Combi boilers are typically more effective than standard boilers, as they heat water from the mains water supply rather than filling a hot water tank. This means hot water is ready to use on-demand.

This is an excellent choice for households with one to two bathrooms and restricted space. However, this may not necessarily be a cost-effective or suitable solution for larger houses with several bathrooms.

Combi boilers can cost between £1,500 to £2,750.

Why should you install a combi boiler?

Here are a few reasons why you might decide to install a combi boiler:

• Energy efficient
• Low energy bills
• Requires less space than a system or standard
• Easy to install
• Get hot water on demand

…and here’s why you shouldn’t:

• Mainly suitable for properties with less than 2 bathrooms
• May not work well with old homes and pipework
• There needs to be strong mains water pressure in your home for it to work properly

Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) boilers

Price range: £2,000 and upwards

LPG boilers are typically found in homes that are not connected to the national gas grid - such as rural areas and remote villages.

An LPG boiler requires a supply of gas purchased from transportable gas suppliers, who deliver your gas directly to your property.

For those seeking a more environmentally friendly way to supply their home, LPG may not be the best option as LPG is a fossil fuel much like natural gas that emits carbon dioxide and other by-products. However, with the ever-growing need to seek a more environmentally friendly solution, some suppliers are opting to use a greener version of LPG, which derives from biofuel production.

Why should you install a LPG boiler?

Here are a few reasons why you might decide to install a LPG boiler:

• Cheaper than oil boilers
• Produces less carbon emissions
• Compact size
• Lots of choice: Worcester Bosch, Vaillant, Ideal and Baxi are all popular models

…and here’s why you shouldn’t:

• High fuel costs
• High maintenance
• Requires a storage tank

Can fuel impact installation costs?

The type of fuel your boiler runs on can determine how much it will cost to install. This is because some fuels are either more dangerous or complex to handle than others. Making a mistake could cause a lot of damage later down the line.

But even the least complex fuel type may not be the most efficient for your home. Here are a few fuel types that could influence the cost of installation:

Natural Gas

The majority of British homes use natural gas as their primary fuel. Natural gas is significantly more convenient since it can be carried in liquid and gas form. Since it’s such a common fuel type, natural gas can also be provided directly to your home via a gas provider.

All that being said, the government are trying to phase out the use of gas boilers due to their impact on the environment. This could also be a contributing factor as to why installation prices may be higher. 

Electric

Since electricity doesn’t require burning oil or gas, not only is it a lot more sustainable but it also costs less to install. This quiet boiler type is relatively easy to install and maintain but you’ll need a lot of electricity to heat up your home.

Purchasing an electric boiler unit, however, will be more expensive considering how complex it is to build. Check out our guide to compare electric boilers and gas boilers!

Solid fuels

Although this type of fuel may be the least expensive, it causes the most pollution. Examples of solid fuels include anthracite, coal, long lasting ovals, coke, peat, charcoal, firewood and wood pellets.
These fuels are being phased out in favour of renewable energy sources, however, this might be your property's only option if you are located in a rural area, far from the nearest National Gas Supply.

Renewable energy sources

Despite renewable energy sources being great for the environment, it may cost you a lot more than other fuel types.

Solar panels, for example, can cost around £4,000 to £5,000 to install, however, once this process is over, your energy bills might lower as time goes on.

As more and more energy suppliers seek more  environmentally friendly alternatives, they can offer reduced operating expenses and cheaper energy unit prices.

Oil

Heating systems fueled by oil may offer lower operating costs than electricity. Oil is currently comparable to natural gas when it comes to cost of installation.

An oil tank, for example, can cost as much as £1,000 to install alone. Oil boilers can give your home a lot of heat for a little amount of energy, so it’s worth considering if you own a larger property. 

Other factors that can impact installation costs

Boiler size

Boiler size can determine how much power is needed for a boiler to run and provide heat for the home.

For example, combi boilers generally won’t be able to produce enough hot water for large properties. But if you lived somewhere small, it might not be necessary for you to spend more money on a bigger boiler. 

Radiators

The cost to install your central heating system also depends on your preferences for radiators.

Factors to consider when budgeting include:

• The number of radiators required in your property
• The aesthetic/style of the radiators
• Are you replacing all or some radiators?
• The location of radiators
• The energy efficiency of your radiators

Designer radiators vary in price from £150 to £1000, whereas conventional central heating radiators can vary between £20 and £120.

To adequately heat larger rooms, you may require more than one radiator. Heating engineers will be able to determine the required heat output for each room to appropriately size your radiators.

Pipework

The cost of pipework will vary based on the size of your house and if the pipework is being partially or fully replaced.

Generally speaking, the older the home, the more recommended it is to replace old pipework in conjunction with the installation of a new boiler and/or radiators. Replacing your pipework when you install a new system could help to preserve the longevity and efficiency of your boiler and radiators.

However, a chemical flush of the system or alternatively a powerflush can be more cost effective than replacing pipework entirely.

The average cost to replace all the pipes can cost upwards of £800. As a reminder, installation costs depend on your home's size, the number of rooms and if the residence has two stories or more.

Hot water cylinder

If you're getting a new system or standard boiler, you may require a new hot water cylinder. Combi boilers heat water immediately, so they don't need a separate water heater or water storage normally.

Most of the time, replacing a cylinder costs less than putting in a whole new system. When a cylinder is changed, you have pre-existing pipes. However, installing a cylinder from scratch would need new plumbing, which may raise installation costs. You can expect to pay between £600 to £800 for installation.

Vented and unvented hot water cylinders are available. Which cylinder is best for your system is dependent on the size and demands of the property and also depends on how good your mains water pressure is.

• Vented cylinders need cold water from a tank in the loft. This tops up the cylinder as water is used
• Unvented cylinders are generally “sealed” pressurised and deliver hot water better but are usually more expensive 

Thermostat

Once your boiler, radiators and other pipework are installed, your final step will be installing heating controls.

A smart thermostat allows you to control the temperature of your home remotely. Modern thermostats can use internet connection to control the system. You could be anywhere in the world and control your heating via your smartphone with just a tap of a button.

Some smart thermostats can even allow you to regulate the temperature in separate rooms on different floors. As you may assume, the more advanced the thermostat, the more it will cost to purchase and install but there is a wide range of thermostats that can suit your needs!

A smart thermostat can cost between £120 to £220 and the installation cost could be another £30 to £80 on top of that.