Your heating is the most expensive system in your home to run, and the one you notice first when it fails. This guide brings together everything we've written on boilers, servicing, heating controls and heat pumps, so you can keep your home warm, spot problems early and make a sensible decision when it's time to replace.
Last reviewed: October 2026
The honest heat pump review: what 10 UK homeowners wish they'd known Real running costs, installation headaches and what they'd do differently.
UK boiler buying guide: combi vs system vs heat pump How to choose, size and budget for your next heating system.
What does a boiler service include? What a proper annual service covers, and the paperwork to ask for.
Most UK homes are heated by a gas boiler feeding radiators, either a combi boiler that heats water on demand or a system or regular boiler with a hot water cylinder. Knowing which you have makes it far easier to understand your bills, describe a fault to an engineer and judge whether a quote makes sense.
A yearly service is the single best thing you can do for a boiler. Manufacturers generally recommend one, and it is often a condition of the boiler's warranty. Any work on a gas appliance must, by law, be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer, so always ask to see their Gas Safe ID card. Between services, a few small habits keep the system running efficiently.
How you use your heating matters as much as what you have. Room temperatures, timer settings and the boiler's own settings can make a noticeable difference to your bill without any new equipment.
A heat pump can replace a gas boiler, but it works differently. It runs at lower temperatures for longer, so it suits well-insulated homes best, and it may need larger radiators. Government grants towards installation are available through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in England and Wales. Check the current amount and eligibility on GOV.UK before getting quotes. Our guides set out the real costs and trade-offs.
Before you commit, it is worth improving your insulation first. See our insulation and energy guide.
UK homes are built to keep heat in, which can make them hard to cool. Cheap fixes often work better than you'd expect.
Home+ reminds you when your boiler service is due, stores the service record and gas certificates in your document vault, and helps you find a Gas Safe engineer when you need one.
Create your free Home+ account and get a reminder before your next service is due.