Central heating system installation Merseyside

How does a central heating system work?


   Your boiler uses gas to heat the water.

   The electric pump within the boiler circulates the heated water through and around your radiators (and your hot water tank if you have one).

   The heated water flowing through your central heating radiators gives off heat into your rooms.

   The heated water will also flow to your showers and taps when they are turned on.

   A magnetic filter attached to the pipe work next to your gas boiler filters the water to remove debris before returning filtered water to the system.

   A thermostat will monitor room temperature and turn off the gas-powered central heating system once the desired temperature has been reached.

What is the cost of a new central heating installation?

The price of a new central heating installation will depend on how many radiators are necessary to heat your home, the size and type of your central heating boiler and whether it needs to be relocated. Obviously, a boiler swap / like for like replacement of an existing system will cost less to install than a completely different heating system.

A new combi boiler can cost from around £500 to over £4,000 depending on make, model, warranty, system and capacity. It should be noted that you do not have to buy your new boiler from the company which provides your gas.

A like-for-like central heating replacement will cost less than, for example, adding several more radiators, moving the boiler to a different location or installing a completely new central heating system from scratch.

The cost of a new central heating system is higher to include additional pipe work to move the central heating boiler to another location and adding new radiators.

Each home has different needs so to find out the cost of installing a new central heating system into your home or replacing your existing central heating with like for like in the Merseyside area, please call 0151 291 4728 to book a consultation and our expert team at Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Liverpool will help you to find the best central heating for your family at a price you can afford.

Competitive finance is available for installations of new gas boilers, boiler replacement, gas water heaters and new central heating systems. Please call 0151 291 4728 for more information and a free quote.

Central heating system installation quotes from Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Merseyside are free, the quote will include VAT and there will be no hidden extras. You will also be given a timescale, and once agreed, start and finish dates convenient to you.

Competitive finance is available for central heating installations and boiler replacement, please call 0151 291 4728 to discuss the finance options for your requirements.

Whatever your boiler installation and central heating needs, Rapid Response Boiler Repairs is your local experienced, reliable and friendly plumbing and heating company offering support in the event of a breakdown or providing ongoing maintenance and annual boiler servicing.

All our central heating engineers are Gas Safe registered and fully trained to the highest standards.


Which type of central heating boiler is best?

The best boiler for your needs will depend on the number of radiators you have, the number of rooms in your home, your current boiler and central heating system, the water pressure in your area and several other factors which a Gas Safe registered engineer will take into account before suggesting which boiler options will work best for your home and family.

The team at Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Liverpool give free consultations and expert advice to help you find the best boiler for your needs at an affordable price so call 0151 291 4728 to book yours today.

There are 3 main types of central heating boilers, combi boiler (or combination boiler), system boiler and regular boiler.

   COMBI BOILER

A combi boiler, which is also known as a combination boiler, is not linked to a tank in the loft or cylinder in a cupboard, instead, combi boilers take their water directly for the mains delivering hot water and heating on demand.

Combi boilers are compact, do not require multiple tanks and need little pipe work when compared to system boilers or regular boilers.

The combi boiler is usually wall mounted and with many manufacturers offering lengthy warranties should last between 10 and 15 years. This makes a combi ideal for homes with small to medium households and limited space.

However, homes with more than one bathroom generally find that a combi is not powerful enough to provide hot water to multiple taps at the same time which is possible with a large hot water storage tank used by other systems.

On average, a combi or combination boiler should cost between £500 and £900 at budget level, between £900 and £1,200 for a mid range and between £1,300 and £2,000 for premium range.

Expect to pay anywhere from £1,400, all the way up to £3,500, including installation, depending on the make and model of combi boiler, its warranty length, and complexity of the installation.

Please call 0151 291 4728 to book a free consultation. The expert team at Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Liverpool will help you to find the best combination boiler to suit you and your family at an affordable price.

Your combi boiler fitter will install on a day and time that suits you.

  SYSTEM BOILER

A system boiler takes water from the mains allowing a strong flow rate and heats it with a built in heat exchanger. Hot water is stored in an unvented storage cylinder, invariably found in an airing cupboard.

System boilers are more compact than a regular boiler, but need more space than a combi.

Most of the components needed for hot water and heating are built into the system boiler, the external part of the system is the unvented cylinder which is used to store the hot water.

Because a system boiler takes the water supply directly from the mains, there is no need for a water tank in the attic. The amount of available hot water will be dictated by the size of the unvented cylinder you choose, and once emptied, requires half an hour or so to heat up again.

An unvented hot water storage cylinder can be adapted so is compatible with solar thermal.

A system boiler is not suitable for areas with low water pressure nor is it recommended for smaller properties where hot water demands are low.

On average, a system boiler should cost between £600 and £900 at budget level, between £900 and £1,300 for a mid range and between £1,300 and £2,500 for premium range.

The bigger the modifications required the more the installation will be, but expect to pay around £2,500 to install a system boiler including a hot water cylinder.

To get a free consultation call 0151 291 4728 and let the expert team at Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Liverpool help and advise so you find the best system boiler for your family.

Your system boiler fitter will install on a day and time that suits you.

 REGULAR BOILER

A regular boiler (which is also referred to as a heat only or conventional boiler) is one of the UK's oldest boiler types and links to a cold water storage tank in the loft.

The cold water storage tank feeds water to the regular boiler where it is heated and then pumped to a hot water storage cylinder which is usually placed in an airing cupboard.

The water is kept warm in the storage cylinder and ready for use, either by the radiators or showers/taps.

Regular boilers are ideal if you live in a low water pressure area and/or when you live in a large home where showers and taps are used simultaneously.

Many are compatible with solar thermal panels which use energy from the sun to generate warm water. Like a system boiler, a regular boiler relies on a hot water storage cylinder to store hot water for showers and taps.

On average, a regular or heat-only  boiler should cost between £500 and £2,500 depending on the quality, warranty length and size.

Your heat only boiler fitter will install on a day and time that suits you.

Compared to biomass boiler prices of between £7,000 and £15,000 in the current market, a combi, system or regular boiler is much less expensive to install and replace.

All boilers and heating systems should have an annual safety check. Not only does this prolong the life of your heating system but it will highlight potential problems and can save you a lot of money on costly emergency breakdown repairs. Most manufacturers insist on an annual boiler service as part of their warranty.

So if you live in the Merseyside area and would like more information please call 0151 291 4728 and one of our friendly Gas Safe™ registered engineers will be happy to help work out the size and type of boiler best for your home - there is no charge for this service.

A free consultation can be arranged and recommendations made which allow you to choose from a range of boilers at different price points, all of which are perfectly suited to your home's needs. Your free quote for the cost of a new central heating boiler installation or boiler swap will include materials, labour and VAT.

At Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Merseyside a team of Gas Safe registered boiler fitters and central heating specialists will be happy to explain the differences, pros and cons between a combi boiler, system boiler and regular boiler and give you solid advice on which would be the most efficient and cost effective for your home.

The central heating installation experts at Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Liverpool cover the entire greater Merseyside areas and for your peace of mind offer a specific reliable 24/7 emergency boiler breakdown repair service in the following Liverpool areas:.
Aigburth, Aintree, Allerton, Anfield, Belle Vale, Bootle, Broad Green, Childwall,Clubmoor, Crosby, Croxteth, Dingle, Edge Hill, Everton, Fairfield, Fazakerley, Garston, Gateacre, Grassendale, Hale, Hale Bank, Halewood,Hunts Cross, Huyton, Kensington, Kirkby, Kirkdale, Knotty Ash, Knowsley, Lee Park, Litherland, Little Crosby, Liverpool City Centre, Lydiate,Maghull, Mossley Hill, Netherley, Netherton, Newsham Park, Norris Green, Old Swan, Orrell, Page Moss, Picton, Prescot, Seaforth, Sefton,Smithdown, Speke, Stanley, Tarbock Green, Toxteth, Tuebrook, Walton, Warbreck, Waterloo, Wavertree, West Derby, Widnes, Woolton, Yew Tree.


Does my central heating system need a power flush?

If more than one of the following applies to you, or if your whole system is showing signs of bad circulation, chances are your central heating system would benefit from a power flush:

   Noisy/gurgling central heating system, radiators or pipes
   Radiators need frequent bleeding
   Poor heat circulation and/or water slow to heat
   Cold spots around the radiator(s)
   Boiler which keeps cutting out
   Dirty/discoloured water in your water supply
   Blockages in the system or intermittent water flow
   Pipes are hot but the radiators are cold

Many boilers break down as a result of dirty water and sludge which has built up in the system, as a result boiler efficiency is reduced which can cause a spike in your energy bills. Sludge is the main cause of boilers break down during the first 5 years.

Power flushing helps solve many boiler problems, improves the efficiency of your radiators and consequently lowers your heating bills. However a power flush is not something you can do yourself, and not all systems can be power flushed and need a chemical flush instead, when, for example, only one or two of your radiators are not performing correctly a chemical flush can help to address a localized block in the system .

 What is a power flush?

A power flush involves a high velocity / high pressure power flush through your system to remove obstructions to restore optimal performance, invariably improving boiler efficiency by up to 20% or even 25% depending on the amount of sludge build up.

Over 75% of problems with a central heating are related to obstructions in the system so investing in a power flush every few years can help prevent boiler breakdowns, making your central heating system last longer and preserving the efficiency thereby keeping running costs down.

A Gas Safe engineer connects a powerful pump unit to your boiler system. System boilers have the pump connected to the circulation pump, on Combi boilers the pump will be connected to the pump head.

The pump unit can also be connected to the radiator tails - the Gas Safe registered engineer will decide on the best method of approach based on the situation before the pump forces a blend of chemicals through your system.

The force and chemicals will help to remove rust, limescale and sludge build up and prevent recurrence. Once dislodged, clean water is pumped through the pipe work at high pressure, flushing out the contaminated water.

How long will it take to power flush a central heating system?

The length of time needed for a power flush will depend on the condition and size of your system. It could take up to around 6-8 hours to perform or longer for larger systems and much depends on the severity of the build up.

Power flushing a sealed system takes less time than other systems.


What is a magnetic filter and do I need one?

There are various filters on the market, all of which essentially do the same thing. Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Liverpool recommends Merseyside customers install a magnetic filter into the central heating system which will help to trap sludge, debris and corrosion which can build up in radiators, pumps and boilers over time.

Sludge, known as magnetite or black iron oxide, builds up in the heating system due to corrosion formed as a result of oxygen and natural oxidation in metal parts like pipes and radiators. It is this corrosion which leads to a build-up of fine particles called iron oxide.

Please call 0151 291 4728 for further advice on the various types of magnetic filter and the benefits of fitting one to your central heating system.


Where is a magnetic filter fitted and how much does it cost?

A magnetic filter is a device which collects debris build-up in the heating system thereby making your heating system less prone to blockages which in turn improves efficiency. Because the filter is magnetic it is effective at attracting and removing the corroded steel and iron particles within the sludge.

Magnetic filters are fitted to the pipe which returns water to the boiler once it has circulated through your heating system, trapping residue before it enters the vital parts of your heating system and preventing its recirculation.

Filters are generally fitted during the boiler installation, but, depending on the location of the boiler, they can also be fitted onto an existing heating system to help capture the existing sludge as it travels around your heating system.

Magnetic filters help reduce your household carbon emissions. They vary in shape and size, but fundamentally they will all collect most of the circulating sludge and corrosion before it damages your system, helping to prevent radiator cold patches, boiler inefficiency and increased energy bills.

Installation costs for a magnetic filter generally range from £150 to £200 and it should be serviced annually to remove sludge build up captured during the year.

Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Liverpool recommends Merseyside customers engage a qualified heating engineer to clean the magnetic filter annually to keep it in top condition. Simply ask your heating engineer to inspect and clean the magnetic filter during your yearly boiler service.

Failure to tackle the build up problem in a timely manner will lead to higher running costs, increased energy bills and a larger carbon footprint than is necessary. There is also the probability of the lifespan of your boiler being reduced and the risk of potentially expensive boiler repairs.

Our qualified and experienced heating professionals here at Rapid Response Boiler Repairs Ltd Liverpool cover the whole of Merseyside and are only a phone call away - contact us on 0151 291 4728 to speak to one of our team about a power flush and/or fitting a magnetic filter.