Do You Need a New Central Heating System? [Signs that You Do]

Are you unsure if you need a new central heating system to make your home warmer and more comfortable?

Maybe you’ve been having trouble with your radiators, valves or heating system, and are in need of some advice. You may even know you have old pipework and that it’s going to need replaced soon.

But what are the biggest telltale signs that you need to upgrade to a new central heating system?

Well, since I’ve been helping homeowners in the Edinburgh area for over 25 years’ now, I thought I’d write this blog to give you a better idea of when you need a new central heating system. 

So, here are some telltale signs that you should be looking to upgrade.

1. You have an old one-pipe system

Chances are, if you have an old one-pipe system, you’ve probably experienced a lot of problems such as leaks, blockages or sludge build-up. The best thing to do in this case is to upgrade to a two-pipe system. This basically involves quite a bit of work – as much as it’d take to replace all of your pipework.

Tell-tale signs that you have a one-pipe system include; having a valve on one side of your radiators, but not the other, along with very old, round-top radiators. Another sign could be if one radiator has been moved or replaced, but still doesn’t heat well.

2. Your pipework is Truwell/easy to corrode

If your pipework is Truwell or looks like metal/stainless steel (not copper) then the chances are this was used in the late ’60s or early ’70s. At this time, there was a shortage of copper – it was also too expensive in some cases.

The type of pipework you have can be prone to corrosion; especially when put under pressure, or corrosion inhibitor/cleanser is used.

3. You have leaky valves and rusty radiators

If your radiator valves are leaking, and some of your radiators are rusty and just don’t heat very well, I’d say installing a new boiler would be a false economy.

There’s only so much a new boiler can do, and fixing the pipework and leaks falls out of its remit, I’m afraid. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s definitely best to investigate it further with a heating engineer you trust, so you can figure out if the whole system – or only parts of it – needs replaced.

4. You have concrete floors/pipework on walls and ceilings

If you have concrete floors and all the pipes run along the walls or ceilings, you might have heard you can put the pipes within the concrete floors.

Usually if you discover this as an option, you’ve really done your research and it’s at this point that you know major work is involved. It also means a new system is inevitable. If you’re just discovering this for the first time – sorry to burst your bubble!

5. You have leaky radiators and a temperamental boiler

If your radiators just don’t heat, your boiler is temperamental and British Gas has told you that you need a power flush… well. These are signs that your pipework is blocked full of black iron oxide.

This will in turn affect the heat exchanger and efficiency of your boiler. I’d say that again, in this case, it’s definitely better to start from scratch.

Advice from an experienced heating engineer

This type of work can be quite involved. Which is why I always recommend getting a minimum of three detailed, fixed price quotations from reputable heating engineers. Don’t be afraid to ‘pester them’ by asking a lot of questions. Ask how much upheaval there will be. What about disruption to you/the neighbours? Will decoration be required afterwards?

Don’t forget to check if your boiler or radiators can perhaps be put in alternate locations – ones that may suit you better. It’s always worth it to ask these things!

I’ve replaced systems before where clients have only asked for a boiler. However, after speaking to a few engineers, they realised it was time to replace the whole thing. Afterwards, they were surprised by how fast their home was heating up – the house was warm and the radiators took up less wall space.

Remember, it’s your home. Get the radiators and boiler installed where best suits you! Some engineers like to fit radiators as close to doors as possible, so it’s less work and less hassle. Again, don’t be afraid to make suggestions or ask if something else is possible.

Conclusion

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading, and that the signs you need a new central heating system have helped you discover some options to look at. My best advice is to speak to at least three different engineers, get home visits and see what they recommend – along with detailed, fixed price quotes!

Do you need any advice on upgrading your central heating system? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!