Guide: Heating
Cost of new central heating in the UK
A full new central heating system covers the boiler, pipework, radiators, controls and commissioning. The price scales with radiator count, pipework run and wall construction, so there is no single figure. The honest step is an itemised quote, and four parts of the job (the filter, the flush, the benchmark and the gas notification) should never be optional.
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Get matchedWhat a full new system covers
- A combi or system boiler from a recognised brand.
- Copper or plastic pipework to every radiator.
- Radiators, typically several across a family home.
- Thermostatic radiator valves on every radiator.
- Smart controls.
- A magnetic filter.
- A powerflush of the existing system where applicable.
- A system inhibitor dose.
- The benchmark commissioning record and Gas Safe notification.
What pushes the price up
- Solid-wall pipework chases instead of stud walls.
- Suspended timber floors that require lifting boards.
- Listed-building consent or conservation-area constraints.
- A long run from the boiler to the furthest radiator.
- A premium boiler brand and an extended warranty.
- A hot-water cylinder upgrade requiring a G3 unvented install.
What should never be optional
The magnetic filter, the system flush before commissioning (a powerflush on an existing system, a chemical flush on new pipework), the benchmark certificate and the Gas Safe notification. Skipping any of these voids the manufacturer warranty. A "cheap" quote that omits the filter or the flush saves a little today and costs a lot in a year when the heat exchanger fails.
What it costs
- Full new central heating
- Get a quote (all-in) Scales with radiator count, pipework run and wall construction. Ask each installer to itemise.
- Cylinder upgrade (system boiler)
- Quote as a separate line A G3 unvented cylinder install is an extra cost on top of the like-for-like figure.
- What must be included
- Filter, flush, benchmark, notification These four are non-negotiable and protect the warranty.
We do not publish a single fixed price because it scales with the property and the radiator count. Get an itemised quote and check the four non-negotiables are in it.
How to choose a vetted trade
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer, and an accredited installer for the extended manufacturer warranty.
- Check the quote lists the magnetic filter, the flush, the benchmark certificate and the Gas Safe notification as included.
- Get at least three itemised quotes so a low headline price that omits the flush is easy to spot.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in a full central heating install?
The boiler, pipework to every radiator, the radiators and thermostatic valves, smart controls, a magnetic filter, a system flush, an inhibitor dose, and the benchmark certificate with Gas Safe notification. A quote that leaves out the filter or the flush is cutting a corner that voids the warranty.
What makes one central heating quote much cheaper?
Usually an omission. The common cuts are no magnetic filter, a chemical flush instead of a powerflush on an old system, or a cheaper non-accredited install that drops the long warranty. Compare itemised quotes so you can see what a low headline price has left out.
Do I need a powerflush with a new system?
On an existing system being kept, yes: a powerflush clears the sludge that would otherwise damage the new boiler and void the warranty. On entirely new pipework, a chemical flush is acceptable. Either way, a flush before commissioning should be in the quote.
Sources
Editor, Sorted Property
Oliver leads Sorted Property's editorial coverage of UK home services. He researches and writes the plain-English guides that help homeowners choose between installers and trades, drawing on the standards set by bodies such as MCS, TrustMark, the Energy Saving Trust and the Property Care Association, and is clear about what to check before any work starts.
Last reviewed: 11 June 2026