This is a common choice for many households and has a number of advantages. ​

For small to medium sized houses, combi boilers can be an ideal choice. But they don’t suit every household.

There are a number of factors to consider when looking at installing a combi boiler. From the location of the boiler to whether it’s right for your household.
​
These factors impact the viability of the job, cost of installation and the likely location of the boiler.

1. Gas pipe size

Because a gas boiler has to burn more gas to heat your hot water quickly, it is likely that your existing gas pipe will be too small. To deliver the right volume of gas at the correct pressure, the pipe has to be sized correctly. This means that a new larger bore gas pipe will need to be installed between your gas meter and the position of the new boiler.

This often means running a copper pipe externally round your house, or lifting carpets and  floorboards to install the gas pipe inside.

This is often a factor in determining the best location for your new combi boiler.

2. Number of bathrooms

If you live in larger house or have more than one bathroom, a combi boiler might not be the right option for you.

Most combis are designed to run one hot tap or shower at a time. If you have two showers in the house, using them both at the same time will cause very poor water flow through one or both showers.

3. Your current shower

If you have an electric power shower, this will not work with a combi boiler. These showers have a pump built into the unit in your bathroom and are designed to be fed at low pressure from the tanks in your loft. Putting a combi boiler on these units will quickly cause a leak.

So if you have one of these showers, this will need to be replaced with a standard thermostatic mixer unit. This is likely to mean re-tiling at least a section of your bathroom wall.

If you have a shower pump in your airing cupboard or an electric shower that runs directly off the mains water supply, the change to a combi boiler is much simpler. The electric shower can stay. The remote shower pump simply gets removed and bypassed.

4. Hot and cold water connections

Your old boiler has two water connections – the flow and return pipes for your heating. Your new combi boiler will also have a cold water inlet and hot water outlet.

If you’re fitting the boiler in your kitchen or utility, it is common to run the hot and cold pipes from under or near the sink. For ease of connection, a heating adviser might suggest locating the new boiler in your airing cupboard, where there are already heating, cold water and hot water pipes.

5. Your existing hot water system

We have occasionally been asked about removing an unvented hot water cylinder and replacing it with a combi boiler. Our strong advise here is, don’t do it!

An unvented or pressurised hot water cylinder delivers high pressure water at a good flow rate to multiple outlets.

Removing this cylinder and replacing it with a combi would reduce your hot water capacity significantly.

6. Condensate

Modern boilers produce condensation which runs out of the bottom of the boiler and into a drain. If your existing boiler doesn’t have a condensation outlet then provision needs to be made for the safe disposal of this water.

If you’re moving your boiler to an airing cupboard you can sometimes run the condensation pipe into the bathroom. If this isn’t possible, the water can run into a condensate pump, which sends the waste water into a remote outlet, such as your soil pipe. This would add to the overall cost of the installation.
​

Combination boilers are available for use with natural gas, LPG or oil.  Should you be considering changing your system to a combi boiler, it is always best to consult a heating expert before making a decision.

If you live near Peterborough or Stamford, we’d be happy to give you any advice you need.

As homeowners across the UK search for more efficient, cost-effective ways to manage their heating, smart heating controls have rapidly become a popular solution. These intelligent devices let you monitor and adjust your home’s heating from anywhere, helping you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the leading smart heating controls available in the UK and provide ratings based on features, ease of use, and overall value.

Smart heating controls are systems that let you control your heating remotely via smartphones, tablets, or computers. They often include scheduling, automation, and zoning features, enabling you to fine-tune your heating to suit your lifestyle. Some even learn your routines and adjust themselves automatically for optimal comfort and efficiency.

Below, we review several popular smart heating controls currently available in the UK market. Each product is rated out of five stars based on performance, user experience, and features.

​Worcester Bosch Easy Control

• Rating: ★★★★☆
• Key Features: communicates directly with Worcester Bosch boilers which allows the boiler to reduce its output according to demand. This makes this device more efficient than standard smart thermostats. Controls heating and hot water
• Overview: The ideal control for your Worcesterr boiler, keeping the boiler at its lowest possible kilowatt output at all times. The disadvantage is that it has not batteries, so needs to be plugged in. This limits the possibility of wall mounting the unit.

Why Isn't Google Nest Included?
Many readers may notice the absence of the Google Nest Learning Thermostat in our recommended list. Although previously a market leader, the Google Nest Thermostat has been discontinued in the UK, making it no longer available for new installations. For this reason, we have omitted it from our selection to ensure this guide only covers products you can currently purchase and install with confidence.

When selecting a smart heating control for your home, consider factors such as compatibility with your existing heating system, the features you value most (e.g. zoning, automation, energy reports), and your budget. If you have a hot water cylinder in your house, you’ll need a dual channel controller. For comprehensive multi-room control, Honeywell Evohome or Tado are excellent options. Hive is a solid choice for those seeking simplicity and reliability.

Can I install my own smart thermostat?

​You can install it yourself if you’re confident with electrical work, especially if the thermostat controls a combi boiler.

If gets more complicated when you’re replacing a programmer for heating and hot water; and even harder with multiple zones. In this case it might be better to get a professional to do it.

Smart heating controls offer a convenient and effective way to improve your home’s comfort and energy efficiency. With a range of options available in the UK, there’s a solution to fit every household’s needs.
​
We would be happy to discuss the thermostat that would best suit your home. If you’d like more information, feel free to get it touch.

Your heating is the unsung hero in your home.  It keeps you and your family warm and comfortable all year round, prevents damp and provides you with ample hot water.

While your boiler, radiators and cylinder are quietly doing their jobs, it’s easy to forget about them. It’s when things start to go wrong that you realise how important regular maintenance of your heating system is.
​
With this in mind, here are our top 10 ways to make sure your heating runs perfectly all year round.

​An annual boiler service is essential for the health of your heating system. A qualified engineer will check for any potential problems, test vital components, and ensure the the appliance is burning correctly. Regular servicing can extend the lifespan of your boiler and help you avoid the most common breakdowns. We see many avoidable issues with boilers that have been neglected for years.

Modern heating controls, such as programmable or smart thermostats, allow you to heat your home precisely when you need. You can even monitor the temperature of your house while you’re out and about. Upgrading your controls can help you save energy and keep your home at the perfect temperature.

Heating system inhibitor is a chemical solution that helps prevent the build-up of sludge, rust, and scale inside your radiators and pipes. Adding inhibitor protects your system from internal corrosion, which can cause blockages and reduce efficiency. Whenever water is drained from your boiler or radiators, it’s crucial that the inhibitor is replenished.

If you still have an open-vented heating system, meaning the water is fed into the system from a small header tank in your loft, consider converting it to a sealed, pressurised system. Pressurised systems are less prone to air locks, leaks, and contamination, and they typically provide more consistent heating performance.

Even a small leak can lead to significant problems over time, such as low pressure, water damage, and reduced efficiency. Regularly check around your boiler, radiators, and pipework for any signs of dampness or scale build-up and address issues promptly.

If your radiators have cold spots or take a long time to heat up, they may contain trapped air. Bleeding your radiators releases this air, ensuring they heat evenly and efficiently throughout your home.
​
You’ll know a radiator needs bleeding if it’s cold at the top and hot only at the bottom.

Balancing your radiators helps ensure that each room in your home receives the right amount of heat. If some radiators are hotter than others, adjusting the valves can help distribute heat more evenly, improving comfort and efficiency.

Insulating exposed pipes, especially in lofts or garages, prevents heat loss and reduces the risk of pipes freezing in cold weather. Pipe insulation is inexpensive, easy to fit, and can make a noticeable difference to your heating system’s performance.

Magnetic filters, capture rust particles that float around your system. Sludge that builds up in your system can block radiators or pipework, damage your pump or clog up the boiler’s heat exchanger, making the heating problematic and inefficient.
​
As the sludge is your system is magnetic, a filter containing a powerful magnet fitted into the return pipe prevents the damaging substance entering your boiler. This gets cleaned out every year as part of a thorough boiler service.

Your boiler should operate at the recommended pressure level, usually between 1 and 1.5 bar when cold (check your boiler manual for specifics). Low pressure can cause heating problems, while high pressure can put stress on your system. If the pressure drops or rises unexpectedly, consult a heating engineer.
​
Watch our video How to increase pressure on a Vaillant Combi boiler

By following these ten tips, you’ll keep your heating running perfectly, save money on energy bills, and avoid the inconvenience of unexpected breakdowns. If you need professional help, don’t hesitate to contact Fix First Heating. We’re always happy to help keep your home warm and comfortable.

Stay warm and worry-free!

A healthy central heating system is essential for keeping your home warm, energy-efficient, and reliable - especially during the colder months. Over time, your system can accumulate debris in the pipework and radiators, making it unreliable and inefficient. When this happens, you might need a powerflush. Here we explain exactly what powerflushing is, why it matters, and when you might need it.

Powerflushing is a specialist cleaning process used to remove sludge, rust, and debris from your central heating system. Over time, metal components inside radiators and pipework can corrode, creating a thick build-up of magnetite (black sludge). This build-up restricts water flow and reduces heating efficiency.
​
During a powerflush, a powerful pump is connected to your system. Water and cleaning chemicals are circulated at high velocity through radiators, pipes, and the boiler to dislodge and flush out contaminants. Once cleaned, the system is refilled with fresh water and inhibitor to help prevent future corrosion.

Powerflushing offers several important benefits:

• Improved heating efficiency - Radiators heat up faster and more evenly
• Lower energy bills - Your boiler doesn’t have to work as hard
• Reduced risk of breakdowns - Less strain on pumps, valves, and other components
• Extended boiler lifespan - Cleaner systems last longer
• Quieter operation - Eliminates banging and kettling
• Helps meet boiler warranty requirements - Many manufacturers recommend or require a clean system

​For homeowners investing in a new boiler, a powerflush is often essential to protect that investment.

You may need a powerflush if you notice any of the following signs:

• Radiators are cold at the bottom but warm at the top
• Some radiators heat up slowly or not at all
• Your boiler is noisy or cycles on and off too quickly
• Dirty or discoloured water when bleeding radiators
• Heating system requires regular bleeding
• Higher than usual energy bills
• Radiators regularly corroding and leaking

​If your system is showing one or more of these symptoms, a professional assessment can confirm whether a powerflush is the right solution.

For most homes, a powerflush is recommended every 5–10 years, depending on:

• The age of your heating system
• Whether inhibitors have been used consistently
• Whether you have a sealed or open-vented system
• Past maintenance history

A powerflush is also strongly advised when:

• Installing a new boiler
• Replacing multiple radiators
• Fixing recurring circulation or blockage issues

​Regular servicing combined with inhibitor top-ups can help extend the time between powerflushes.

You can find the charge for a powerflsuh on a standard system on our prices page. There may be an additional cost depending on:

• The number of radiators
• Size and complexity of the system
• Level of contamination
• Property type

​While a powerflush seems quite an expensive, it often pays for itself through improved efficiency, reduced repair costs, and longer system lifespan.

At Fix First Heating, we can assess your system’s water quality and advise whether your boiler system would benefit from a powerflush.

Click on the link below to book a boiler engineer visit.