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From-Scratch Install

First-time central heating installation for London properties

If your property has never had a wet central heating system — perhaps a converted flat with only electric storage heaters, or an older property being fitted for the first time — this is the service you need.

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Central heating installation costs (typical UK ranges)

Job	Typical cost	Time
Whole-house new system (supply & install)	£3,430–£7,500+ (property/radiator dependent)	4–8 days
New boiler, supply & install (as part of new system)	£1,100–£1,850	0.5–1 day
Radiators, supply & install (typical 9-radiator house)	£1,200–£1,750	1–2 days
Pipework, supply & install	£950–£1,200	3–5 days

Typical UK trade cost-guide ranges, not a quote. Our price is fixed and agreed after a free survey.

Unlike our Central Heating System Upgrade & Rebalancing service for existing systems, a first-time install requires designing the entire system from scratch. This includes the pipework layout, radiator sizing and positions, pump, controls, and specifying and fitting a correctly sized boiler as one coordinated component of the whole design.

Our Gas Safe registered engineers survey your property, design the system, and provide a fixed-price quote. We handle the complete installation, commissioning the entire system to work as one efficient unit.

Priced as a fixed quote following a free survey, agreed before we start. See /pricing for the current structure — this is a quote-only service.

What you get

Complete first-time wet system design and installation
Pipework layout planned for efficiency and future access
Radiator sizing and positioning calculated for even heat
Boiler correctly specified and fitted as part of the whole system
Smart heating controls integrated from the start
Full system commissioning and handover

How it works

A method, not a guess

Survey & Design

We visit your London property to assess the layout, discuss your needs, and design the complete system — pipework runs, radiator positions, boiler location, and controls.

Fixed-Price Quote

You receive a detailed, fixed-price quote for the entire installation, with no hidden costs. We only start work once you approve it.

Installation

Our engineers install the system in logical stages: first the pipework, then radiators, boiler, controls, and finally the hot water cylinder if required.

Commissioning & Handover

We fill, test, and commission the entire system, balancing it for optimal performance. We then show you how to use the controls and provide all documentation.

Before you book anyone

6 things to check before you book a first-time central heating install in London

Confirm there's no existing wet system

This service is for properties with no existing radiator pipework or boiler. If you have an old system you want to replace entirely, that's a different scope — discuss this during the survey.

Understand the space required for pipework

New pipework needs logical routes through floors, walls, and ceilings. Consider where trunking or boxing-in might be acceptable during the initial design discussion.

Think about radiator positions early

Where you place radiators affects system efficiency and furniture layout. Our survey includes advice, but having initial thoughts helps.

Check your water pressure and gas supply

This influences boiler and system design, and matters more here than on an upgrade because a first-time install can't assume gas is already at the property. We test and confirm this during the survey.

Consider future hot water needs

Decide if you need a system with a separate hot water cylinder for higher demand, or if a combi boiler setup suffices. We'll advise based on your property and usage.

Plan for controls from the start

Integrating smart thermostats and zoning controls during the initial install is far simpler and more effective than retrofitting them later.

Symptoms

Signs you need a first-time central heating installation

This service is designed for specific property scenarios where no wet heating system exists.

You live in a converted flat that only has electric storage heaters.
Your older London property has never been fitted with radiator-based heating.
You've undertaken a period conversion or major renovation into previously unheated space.
You're removing a standalone gas fire or outdated heating method for the whole property.
You're moving into a property where heating was an afterthought or never installed.
You want to replace inefficient, whole-property electric heating with a gas system.

How to prepare for the survey

1Note where you'd ideally like radiators.
2Identify potential locations for the boiler (e.g. kitchen, utility).
3Have access to all rooms, including cupboards and loft spaces.
4Think about your typical hot water usage (baths, showers, simultaneous use).

Installation vs Upgrade: Which Service Is Right?

Choose central heating installation if your property has no existing wet central heating pipework or boiler — this is a complete from-scratch design and fit. Choose system upgrade and rebalancing if you already have a working (but inefficient or unbalanced) wet system with a boiler in place, and want to improve its performance without a full rip-out and redesign.

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London housing stock

Common property types for a first-time install

These London property types often lack an existing wet central heating system.

Converted flats (ex-council or period conversions)

Often originally built with only electric storage heaters or no central heating provision. Installing a wet system requires careful design to route new pipework within the flat's structure, often involving careful work with floors and ceilings.

Older houses never modernised

Some Victorian or Edwardian terraces still lack a wet system, relying on fires or standalone heaters. A first-time install involves designing a discreet pipework layout that respects the property's character while delivering efficient, modern heating.

Sub-divided period properties

When a large house is converted into flats, heating is sometimes overlooked or left as electric. Installing individual systems requires separate gas meters, flue routes, and system designs for each unit.

Loft or side-return extensions (whole-property scale)

While a single new room might use our radiator installation service, if an extension fundamentally changes the heating demand for the entire home and there's no existing system, a full first-time design is needed to integrate the new space properly.

Questions

First-Time Central Heating FAQs for London homeowners

How is this different from your Central Heating System Upgrade service?

The Upgrade service is for rebalancing or improving an existing wet system with a boiler already in place. This Installation service is for properties that have never had any wet central heating system at all, requiring a complete from-scratch design and install, including the boiler.

What does a new central heating system cost?

Based on typical UK trade cost guides, a whole-house installation averages around £4,250, with a typical range of £3,430–£5,050. Larger detached homes can be £5,000–£7,500+, while small flats typically cost £3,000–£4,500. We provide a fixed quote after a free survey.

Do you repair the boiler once it's installed?

No. We specify and fit the boiler as an integral part of your new whole-system design. For any ongoing boiler-specific repairs or servicing after installation, we recommend using a specialist boiler engineer — we don't repair boilers at all.

My flat only has storage heaters. Can you install central heating?

Yes, this is a typical scenario for this service. We design and install a complete first-time wet system, including all necessary pipework, radiators, a boiler, and controls, transforming a property heated solely by electricity.

How long does a first-time installation take?

For a standard house, installation typically takes 4–8 days, depending on property size and complexity. We schedule work to minimise disruption and keep you informed throughout.

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