Types of Central Heating Systems

Up2Speed Marketing Ltd • June 30, 2021

As the name suggests, central heating refers to a system that provides the heating needs for an entire building from one central point. In the United Kingdom, older homes traditionally have radiators in each room that can be used to heat individual rooms when required. Each radiator is controlled separately. With central heating, you can control the heating for the entire home from one place.

Though choosing the right central heating system for your home may seem complicated, it doesn’t have to be. Learning about the different types of central heating systems will help you choose the system that is right for you and your home.

Types of Central Heating Systems

If you’re looking to upgrade to central heating, you may be wondering, what are the different types of central heating systems? Though there is a wide range of systems on the market, they can generally be divided into three main categories: conventional, combi boiler, and system boiler.

Conventional Central Heating Systems

A conventional central heating system makes use of gravity to transport hot water from a tank in the highest room in the house. The hot water is heated by the boiler of the central heating system.

Although the conventional central heating system was once a popular choice, there are now more efficient options available. Water pressure is also quite low, as gravity can only create so much pressure.

Combi Boiler Central Heating Systems

Combi boiler systems are the most popular central heating systems on the market today. Instead of storing hot water in a tank, water is heated only when needed.

Instantaneous, on-demand water heating makes this system much more energy-efficient. It also creates greater water pressure than conventional systems.

However, combi boilers do have their drawbacks. Though water is heated almost instantly, if you are running several hot water taps and trying to heat your home at the same time, the system may struggle to maintain high water pressure.

System Boiler Central Heating Systems

A system boiler central heating system works in much of the same way as a combi boiler, except the boiler isn’t used to heat water. Instead, hot water cylinders take on this job.

Though water is still heated on-demand rather than being stored in a tank, all water runs through the hot water cylinder first, allowing the water pressure to be maintained regardless of how many taps you have running.

Types of Fuel for Central Heating Systems

In addition to these three types of central heating systems, there are several different fuels for boilers:

Natural Gas. If your home is already connected to a natural gas supply, this is a great choice. Many central heating systems run on natural gas, and you’ll never have to worry about running out of fuel.

Oil. Although oil boilers are incredibly efficient, you’ll need to install a large oil tank on the outside of your home. You’ll also have to ensure that it stays well supplied.

Electricity. Electric boilers have come a long way over the past few years and are now one of the quietest, most compact, and most efficient systems you can run.

What Is The Best Type of Central Heating System?

The best type of central heating system will depend on what you already have installed in your home, the size of your home, and your budget.
Although it may seem as though a system boiler central heating system is the best choice, they are expensive to install and maintain. There aren’t just high upfront costs; you’ll also need to pay to have them inspected annually.

Additionally, if your home has low water pressure, a system boiler will not work properly. However, if you own a large home with high water pressure and aren’t concerned about the cost, then a system boiler may be the perfect central heating system for you.
If you have minimal hot water needs and only need to heat a small home, a combi boiler central heating system is a great choice. Despite being more technologically advanced (and therefore more complicated to install and repair) than conventional systems, they’re efficient and provide good water pressure.

Though conventional systems are on the decline, they’re not necessarily a poor choice. If you own an older home and already have a conventional system installed, you may wish to install additional infrastructure to improve your water pressure.

Wireless Central Heating Control Systems

One of the biggest benefits of installing a new central heating system today is the option to wirelessly control your system. Some of these systems can be controlled directly from your phone, making it easy and convenient to control your heating. These systems will also give you peace of mind in the case that you go away on holiday and forget to turn down your heat.

New Central Heating System Cost

The cost of replacing a central heating system, or installing one for the first time, will largely depend on the size of your home.
A larger home will require a larger boiler and more radiators, driving up the cost. In general, you should expect to spend at least £2,000. If you already have central heating installed and just want to replace some components, the cost will be lower.

The type of central heating system you choose to install will also influence the cost, with complex systems being more costly.
Though new central heating systems can be costly to install, by choosing a more energy-efficient system, you can expect to save money in the long run. Contact Aquatek for a free quote today.

Why Use Aquatek for Your Central Heating System?

Aquatek is a team of highly trained and experienced plumbers and gas-boiler engineers who have been in the business for 35 years. Whether you need your boiler repaired, a new central heating system installed, a central heating system cleaner, or emergency plumbing services, Aquatek has you covered.

With free quotes, no upfront payments, and satisfaction guaranteed, you have nothing to lose by choosing Aquatek for your central heating system needs. Give Aquatek a call today and one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to serve you.

By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
One of the main calls that most plumbers receive every year, is the question ‘why is my boiler losing pressure?’. There could be many reasons as to why the boiler may be losing pressure, but the main factor in why it could be is that there could be a leak in the system somewhere. Some of the parts that could be leaking, could be the radiator valve, a pipe or something else that could be allowing the water to escape the system, then causing the loss of pressure within the boiler. However, they are not the only things that could cause a boiler to lose their pressure. There could be a problem with the valve on the boiler that could have possibly started to fail, in turn causing a drop in the pressure inside the boiler.
By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
We all rely on our central heating systems, and that makes it even more frustrating when a problem arises with yours. These problems often arise when you turn them on after long periods of disuse. To avoid problems, you should turn the heating on periodically throughout the summer so those periods of disuse aren’t as long. We’re going to talk about what can be done to fix any problems you might experience with your heating system, as well as some of the most common problems that might cause those problems to begin with. So read on now to find out more.
By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
Boilers are built to last, with a life expectancy of up to fifteen years but as with anything, problems can and do occur. This is especially true overtime when it comes to older models. Parts can wear out, and eventually, need repairing or replacing completely causing you a number of problems along the way.
By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
Picking the right boiler for your home is very important. Whether you’re replacing one that’s broken or need to get a new one that works better for your property, it’s a task that needs plenty of research. Boilers aren’t cheap after all, and you want a central heating system that’s going to provide everything you and your household needs on a daily basis. But what boiler size do you need? Most of us will have little knowledge of the variety of boilers out there, let alone what each one can do to benefit the home. So with that being said, here are some tips on picking out a boiler size that’s perfect for your property.
By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
Central heating is something that shouldn’t be loud and obtrusive when it comes to the noise it makes. If your central heating has been well maintained, then you shouldn’t really experience anything too loud when it’s being used. However, there can be cases where your central heating is louder than usual or makes regular noises that might include banging, gurgling, or even dripping sounds. With that being said, here’s why your central heating might be noisy.
By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
‘Bathroom fixtures, toilet fittings, bath and shower fixtures’ – you can see how these words can quickly become confusing bathroom terminologies when you are renovating your bathroom. Out of the many different terms, ‘bathroom fittings’ sounds simple enough, but what exactly does it mean? This guide seeks to help you understand precisely what bathroom fittings are and give you an understanding of some of the bathroom fittings lingo you may hear during your project.
By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
Winter is well and truly on our doorsteps, and we all need our heating systems and hot water to be running smoothly. So if you find that your radiators aren’t heating up correctly, the room feels cold even with the heating turned up, or the radiators you have are cold to the touch at the top, then the first thing to try is bleeding your radiators. When air becomes trapped inside the radiator, it can affect the performance of the unit and result in a partially heated or cold room. This occurs from time to time, but as it’s not every day, frequently people misplace or lose their radiator key. Before you give up, there are a few substitutes that you can use to get the job done.
By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
Having low water pressure is an extremely annoying problem. Even worse is turning on a tap in your home to find out that you have no water. When this happens, you need to act fast to restore running water in your home. Low water pressure can do more damage than merely inconveniencing you. For instance, it can damage appliances like the dishwasher and the water heater. This is because these appliances require specific water pressure to work effectively. If they are continuously operating with low water pressure, they may get damaged, and you may even have to replace them. So, what causes low water pressure? And what can you do if you encounter this problem? Read on to find possible causes and practical solutions to your low water pressure problem.
By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
A washing machine or dishwasher is not only convenient for the house, but they are also easy to use. These machines come in handy when it’s time to clean up the house and do laundry. Here is why: They eliminate physical effort where you don’t have to use your hands to wash clothes and clean dishes. It saves time since the machines perform all work, which includes cleaning and drying. So, you can multitask and finish on time. They perform quality work compared to using your hands, which can miss out on stains. They protect clothes from getting damaged while avoiding careless dropping of dishes. Washing machines and dishwashers continue to make life easy. That is, they provide new technological advancements with each new make. Such include different sizes to fit in different house spaces, while others provide a variety of setting options to choose from, where the type of cleaning depends on material and color of clothes or type of dishes. But without careful plumbing of the dishwasher or washing machine, it can be difficult to use them. The average time a person can take to install these machines is two hours. If you don’t know how to do it, consider hiring a plumbing specialist. Luckily, you can learn how to install a washing machine or dishwasher with this simple guide. These tips can help you avoid an additional fee for installation. Let’s dive in.
By Up2Speed Marketing Ltd July 2, 2025
You never consider how to fix a toilet flush button until you break yours and you don’t have a choice. When you face a flushing problem in your toilet, it can cause some trouble and make your toilet impossible to use. This is always going to be an issue – you need to use your toilet, and you need to be able to flush it, too. Today, we’re going to talk you through how to fix a toilet flush button!
Show More