Advice
Help And Advice
Advice
Where do you start when deciding you need a central heating system or new boiler?Do you opt for gas, or electric fired equipment? Electric storage heaters? Underfloor
heating? Warm air systems? Wet systems (ones with radiators)It is not such a minefield as you may think! Gas fired boilers with radiators is still the cheapest way of giving you heating and hot water.
The types of boilers available can be found on our boiler types section, but the radiators are many and various - the less expensive being the standard pressed steel type that you see in most homes today.
Choosing a new boiler that's right for you is easier than you may think. You just need to ask yourself a few basic questions and, armed with a little not-too-technical information, you can quickly and easily narrow down the options.
This guide is intended to help you by prompting the questions and providing those helpful hints.
If you have an old boiler that's no longer up to the job
Perhaps your existing boiler breaks down too often, and usually just when you need it most! Perhaps it's becoming difficult or uneconomic to repair, or perhaps you suspect that your old boiler costs more to run than a modern one.
The first question is "Should I replace it with a similar type of boiler, or with something completely different?"
Why replace "like for like?"
There are good reasons to replace your existing boiler with it's modern equivalent.
Its likely to be the least expensive option, because it involves minimal alterations to existing pipework. This means savings on materials and time and, because time is money, savings on labour costs. It also means less mess, disruption and redecorating expense.
Why choose something different?
There are many reasons why you might want to replace your boiler with a different type. If you've grown from a couple to a family with children to bathe every night, if Granny's joined you in a new extension with en-suite facilities, or if your children have grown and left home, your hot water needs will have changed, and maybe your space heating too.
In cases such as these, a "like for like" replacement may be inappropriate. If that's the
case, you are in the same position as someone choosing a boiler for the very first time, so please continue to boiler types