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Whole-System Check

Boiler Check & Central Heating Health Check in London

This boiler and central heating check looks past the boiler at everything it's connected to: radiators, pipework, controls and the water inside the system. A perfectly serviced boiler can still heat a home poorly if the rest of the system isn't pulling its weight.

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We assess radiator performance across the property, check the system's controls and thermostat setup, and look for common signs of an ageing or neglected system: cold spots on radiators, uneven heating between rooms, or a boiler that short-cycles more than it should.

This is particularly useful before winter, before letting a property, or if a home has never had the heating system looked at as a whole rather than appliance by appliance.

Health check pricing depends on system size and property type. See our pricing page for typical UK market ranges, or combine with an annual boiler service.

What you get

Whole-system assessment, not just the boiler — radiators, pipework and controls included.
Radiator-by-radiator check for cold spots, uneven heating and circulation issues.
Controls and thermostat review, checking the setup is actually being used effectively.
System pressure and general condition assessed against what would normally be expected.
Plain-language summary of findings, with any recommended follow-up work quoted separately.
Carried out by fully Gas Safe registered engineers alongside routine service visits where useful.

How it works

A method, not a guess

Book a Health Check

Tell us a little about the property — number of radiators, age of the system, and any specific complaints like cold rooms.

Whole-System Assessment

The engineer checks radiators, pipework, controls and system pressure, not just the boiler itself.

Findings Explained

You get a plain-language summary of what was found — what's fine, what's worth watching, and what needs attention.

Follow-Up Quoted Separately

Anything beyond the check itself, such as a power flush or radiator work, is quoted on its own before any further work begins.

Symptoms

When a boiler check should look at the whole system

A standard boiler check covers the boiler. If you are seeing any of the following, the problem is often in the radiators, pipework or controls, and a whole-system health check is the better booking.

Radiators cold at the bottom and warm at the top, a common sign of sludge.
Some rooms heating properly while others stay cold.
The boiler switching on and off in short bursts.
System pressure falling between visits with no obvious leak.
Heating controls or a thermostat that never seem to do what you set.
A property you have just bought or are about to let, with no history of the heating system.

Before your health check

1Count the radiators and note which rooms feel cold or slow to heat up.
2Put the heating on for an hour beforehand if you can, so cold spots are easy to find.
3Make sure the engineer can reach the boiler, the thermostat and any radiator valves.
4Have your last boiler service record to hand, if you have one.

Book a heating health check

If the boiler has been serviced but the house still doesn't heat properly, a whole-system check is the next step. It can be booked on its own or alongside your annual boiler service, and any follow-up work, such as a power flush, is quoted separately before anything is done.

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London housing stock

Heating system checks in London homes

The age of the pipework matters as much as the age of the boiler. These are the situations where a whole-system check tends to find the most.

A new boiler on old pipework

Replacing the boiler does not clean the radiators and pipes it is connected to. Debris left in an old system can shorten the life of a new boiler, so the condition of the water and circulation is worth checking.

Rented properties between tenancies

An empty property is the easiest time to check every radiator and control, and a written summary helps show the heating was in good order when the new tenancy started.

Homes you are buying

A survey rarely goes into the heating in detail. A health check gives you a plain account of the boiler and system condition before or just after you move in.

Larger houses with many radiators

Balancing problems, where radiators nearest the boiler get hot and the furthest barely warm up, are more common as the number of radiators grows.

Questions

Heating Health Check FAQs for London homeowners

How is a health check different from a boiler service?

A boiler service focuses on the boiler itself — its internal components and safety devices. A health check looks at the whole heating system around it: radiators, pipework, controls and system pressure.

What are the signs my heating system needs a health check?

Cold spots on radiators, some rooms heating unevenly compared to others, a boiler that cycles on and off more frequently than expected, or a system that's never had anything beyond the boiler itself looked at are all reasons to book a check.

Will a health check tell me if I need a power flush?

Yes — if the engineer finds signs consistent with sludge or debris circulating in the system, such as cold radiator bottoms, they'll explain what they found and quote a power flush separately if it's the right next step.

Is this useful before selling or letting a property?

Yes — a written summary of the heating system's condition is useful for landlords preparing a property for new tenants, and for anyone wanting a clear record of the system's state.

Can I book this alongside an annual service?

Yes — many customers combine a health check with their annual boiler service in the same visit, since the engineer is already on site.

What does a boiler check include?

It depends what you book. A boiler service covers the boiler itself: internal components, flue, combustion and safety devices. A gas safety check confirms the boiler and other gas appliances are safe to use. A heating health check adds the rest of the system: every radiator, the pipework, the controls and the system pressure. If you're not sure which you need, describe the problem when you book and we'll tell you.

Is a boiler health check the same as a boiler service?

No. A boiler service is the yearly maintenance visit most manufacturers require for the warranty. A health check is a wider look at how the whole heating system performs. It doesn't replace the annual service, which is why many people book the two together.

Should I get the central heating checked before buying a house?

It's worth doing, because a standard survey rarely tests the heating in any depth. A check gives you the boiler's condition, whether it has a service history, and how well the radiators and controls are working, so you know about any follow-up costs before or soon after you move in.

Keep reading

Heating Health Check guides

Maintenance & Compliance · 4 min read

Central Heating Power Flush: What It Is, When You Need It

A central heating power flush forces cleaning solution through every radiator and pipe to clear sludge, and takes 4 to 8 hours in an average home. Here are the signs you need one and how it differs from a standard service.

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Boiler Servicing · 6 min read

Are Radiators Checked in a Boiler Service? What a Service Doesn't Cover

A boiler service is a check of the boiler itself. Radiators, repairs, power flushing, other gas appliances and the hot water cylinder usually sit outside it. Here is where the line falls, so you know what to book.

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Boiler Servicing · 7 min read

Should You Get a Boiler Inspection Before Buying a House?

A building survey will note the boiler but will not test it. Before you exchange, a Gas Safe engineer can tell you whether the boiler is safe, how it has been looked after and what the paperwork shows. Here is when that is worth doing.

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Boiler Servicing · 6 min read

How Long Do Boilers Last? What Actually Decides It

There is no fixed lifespan for a boiler. How long yours lasts depends on how well it was built and installed, the condition of the water in the system, how hard it works and, most of all, whether it has been serviced every year.

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