Complete first-time systems
The full design and installation, from heat loss figures and the heat source to the last radiator valve.
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First Time Central Heating for Homes Without a System
If your property has never had a wet heating system, a first time central heating installation gives you radiators in every room, proper controls and hot water from one source.
Heating & Renewables
First-Time Central Heating with EcoBuild Contractors
Plenty of homes still rely on electric storage heaters, a gas fire in the lounge, plug-in heaters or an open fire, with no boiler or radiators at all. First time central heating replaces that patchwork with one system that warms every room and supplies hot water. EcoBuild Contractors plans and installs the whole system for houses, flats and small commercial premises, from the pipe runs to the final controls.
Because there is nothing to reuse, the job starts with a blank sheet. We work out the heat each room needs, choose the heat source, size the radiators and plan pipe routes that disturb as few floorboards as possible. Where the home has a gas supply, a condensing boiler fitted by Gas Safe registered engineers is a common choice; where it does not, a heat pump can run the system instead.
ECO4 has funded first-time systems for some low-income households, but it has a final end date of 31 December 2026, and new cases may not be approved and fitted in time. Lower-income homes in England may get help with low-carbon heating, though not gas boilers, through their council's Warm Homes: Local Grant. We explain the options and never promise funding before it is approved.
What we do
What a first-time heating installation includes
New boiler and radiator systems
A condensing gas boiler and flue where the property has a gas supply, or an air source heat pump and cylinder where it does not.
Central heating pipework
Copper or plastic pipe runs laid under floors and through walls, and boxed in neatly where they have to stay on show.
Radiator supply and fitting
Radiators sized for each room's heat loss and positioned to work around furniture, windows and doors.
Thermostatic radiator valves
A TRV on each radiator, so bedrooms can run cooler than living areas without anyone touching the boiler.
Programmers, controls and smart thermostats
Time and temperature control from a programmer or smart thermostat, with separate zones in larger homes.
Hot water system installation
A combi boiler for instant hot water, or a cylinder where the household, the water pressure or a heat pump calls for stored water.
Full system commissioning
Filling, pressure testing, balancing and setting up every part of the new system, with the paperwork handed over at the end.
Advice on heating grants
We tell you which schemes, if any, may apply to your property and household, and what you would need to apply.
Why it is worth it
Benefits of first-time central heating
Every room heated
No more cold bedrooms and back rooms while one heater works hard in the lounge.
Heat when you want it
Unlike storage heaters, which charge overnight and release heat on their own schedule, central heating comes on when your timer or thermostat asks for it.
Less condensation and mould
Steady background warmth throughout the house helps keep walls and windows above the temperature at which condensation forms.
Hot water from the same system
One heat source looks after radiators and taps, so you depend less on an electric immersion heater.
How disruptive is a first-time central heating installation?
It is more involved than a boiler swap, because pipes have to reach every room. Expect some carpets to be lifted and floorboards raised along the pipe routes, holes drilled through walls and joists, and several days of work in a typical house. In homes with solid concrete floors, pipes usually run along skirting boards or are boxed in instead.
We work room by room where we can, protect floors and furniture with sheets and covers, and put boards back as we go. Most people stay at home during the work, and we tell you in advance which days the water or power will be off.
Gas boiler or heat pump for a first heating system?
If your home is already connected to mains gas, a condensing gas boiler is usually the lowest upfront cost. If there is no gas supply, the cost and wait for a new connection can make a heat pump the more sensible route, and a heat pump may be eligible for a Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, depending on the heating it replaces.
Designing for a heat pump from day one has a real advantage: the radiators and pipework are sized for low water temperatures from the start, so there is no later upgrade to pay for. Where both routes are realistic, we price them side by side so you can compare.
Our process
How the job runs
- Survey and room-by-room planWe measure each room, check the gas supply or space for a heat pump, and agree where radiators, the heat source and pipe runs will go.
- Quote and funding checkYou get a fixed written quote, and if you think you may qualify for help we check eligibility before any work is booked.
- Pipework and installationPipes are laid under floors and through walls, radiators are hung, and the boiler or heat pump is installed and connected.
- Fill, test and hand overThe system is filled, pressure tested, balanced and commissioned, old heaters are removed and you are shown how to set the controls.
FAQ
First-Time Central Heating questions
Can I replace storage heaters with central heating?
Yes. Storage heaters are one of the most common reasons people ask us for a first-time system. We remove them once the new radiators are working and make the old circuits safe.
Is first time central heating free?
Not as a rule. Some eligible low-income households have had funded systems through ECO4, but it has a final end date of 31 December 2026 and funding depends on a survey and the scheme's rules, so we check what you may qualify for when you enquire.
Do I need a gas supply for central heating?
No. A heat pump can run a central heating system without gas. If you want a gas boiler and there is no supply, the gas network operator has to provide a new connection first, which takes time and is charged separately.
Can tenants have central heating installed?
The landlord has to agree, because the system becomes part of the property. Landlords also have to meet minimum energy efficiency standards for rented homes, and a first heating system is often one of the most effective ways to improve the rating.
How long does a first-time installation take?
It depends on the size of the property and the type of floors, so a small flat takes far less time than a three-storey house. We give you a planned schedule with the quotation.
Free, no-obligation quote
Get a free quote for first-time central heating
Tell us a little about your property and the work you need. Add a few photos if you can, it helps us give you an accurate price sooner.
Related services
Often booked with first-time central heating
New Boiler Installation
Replace an old, inefficient or broken boiler with a modern condensing model, fitted with proper controls by Gas Safe registered engineers.
Learn more
Air Source Heat Pumps
Swap gas, oil, LPG or electric heating for a heat pump sized from a proper heat loss survey, with grant eligibility checked before you commit.
Learn more
Loft Insulation & Boarding
Old insulation removed, new mineral wool laid to around 270 to 300mm, then a raised storage floor, ladder and hatch fitted so the loft works properly.
Learn more