Central heating has always traditionally been associated with massive expense, but prices have come down lately and boilers have become more efficient, easier to maintain and cheaper to purchase.
Replacing or upgrading a central heating system comes with many benefits, namely massive increases in energy efficiency and reduced running costs.
In the long term, this can make new central heating a profitable option even despite the installation costs.
This article will cover what you can expect to pay for central heating, factors that can affect the cost and other common questions around central heating.
Average Cost
The average cost of gas central heating varies primarily with the size of the property.
Whilst the price of boilers typically hit a ceiling at around £2,000 at the very most, the price of pipework and radiators scales with the demands of the heating system.
Larger systems typically require system or conventional boilers, since combi boilers are typically unsuitable for homes with larger water demands. This will also increase installation costs as conventional and system boilers require additional cylinders.
Radiators cost around £150 each whereas pipework costs between £800 to £1200 per project with installation.
By gathering quotes from 6 primary sources and 7 secondary sources, we found these average total prices for gas central heating in different sized properties.
Prices include all parts and labour. Labour costs will be higher in older homes and homes with poor access. Installation in new builds will be some 10% or 20% lower because the walls won’t need to be stripped and old components won’t need to be removed and thrown away.
| Property Size | 1-Bed Bungalow | 2-Bed House | 3-Bed House | 4-Bed House |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiler Size | 24kw | 24kw | 28kw | 33kw |
| Number of Radiators | 5 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Radiator Cost | £1,000 | £1,150 | £1,700 | £2,800 |
| Boiler Cost | £750 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,500 |
| Pipework & Cylinder Cost | £500 | £750 | £1,100 | £1,300 |
| Total Cost (+ Labour) | £3,000 | £3,800 | £4,500 | £5,500+ |
Choosing a Central Heating Installer
If you’re looking for electric or oil central heating systems then bear the following in mind:
- Gas central heating installers should be registered with Gas Safe.
- Oil central heating systems should preferably be installed by a member of OFTEC (Oil Firing Technicians Association). Oil central heating systems work in broadly the same way as gas central heating but oil combustion heats the water instead of gas.
- Electric boilers should be installed by someone with experience in fitting electric boilers. Electric boilers work in broadly the same way as gas boilers but use electricity to power the heating and not gas.
Get Pricing on Central Heating Near You
We’ve done our best to give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for central heating.
However, our guides are not a substitute for a fixed quote specifically for you.
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About the Author
Alex Johnson is a qualified quantity surveyor and writer with a passion for conducting original research and uncovering the true cost of jobs. His cost data has been referenced by EDF Energy and the Scottish Government.