Gas central heating

If you have gas central heating, you will have a gas-powered boiler that heats water to heat your home through radiators, as well as providing hot water from your taps.

In general, most gas boilers fitted since 2005 are condensing boilers. There are three main types of condensing boiler: combi boilers, system boilers, and conventional/regular boilers.

System boilers and conventional boilers have a separate hot water cylinder to store hot water, whereas combi boilers heat hot water on demand, so don’t need a hot water cylinder.

Controlling your gas central heating

You can control the temperature of your home using:

• Your room thermostat - a control, usually fixed to your wall, that allows you to select the temperature you would like your home at.
• Thermostatic radiator valves -  numbered controls on your radiators which sense the room's temperature and automatically adjust the radiator's heat output.
• Your boiler thermostat - a control allowing you to set the temperature your boiler heats water/your home to.
• Timers and programmers - controls allowing you to set times for your heating to come on automatically.
• Smart heating controls - these connect your boiler by wifi allowing you to control the temperature of your home remotely, using your mobile phone.  Smart heating controls are not the same as a smart meter.

Visit the energy saving trust’s website for more information.

Watch this BSL signed video on heating controls to learn more about controlling your heating.

Solving issues with your gas central heating and hot water

Visit our Solve an issue page for more information on solving issues with your:
•    Heating or hot water
•    Radiators
•    Boiler pressure and pilot light
•    Boiler (ongoing issues)

Gas safety

Visit our Gas safety page for more information.