Interactive Guide

Understand Your Heating System

Tap your way around the inside of a boiler to see what every part does — and the warning signs that it needs attention — then find the system type your home uses.

Inside your boiler

These are the components our engineers check at every service. Tap a numbered point on the diagram — or a label beside it — to see what each part does and the warning signs it gives when something's wrong.

Flue — to outside Gas in Return Flow to radiators Heat exchanger Burner Pump Expansion vessel Gas valve PCB Pressure gauge 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Hot water flow Cold / return water Burner flame & gas

The three boiler system types

Every gas-heated home uses one of these three setups. Pick the one closest to yours, then tap a numbered point on the diagram to see what each part does.

Which homes it suits

Flats and small-to-medium homes with one bathroom and good mains water pressure. No tanks or cylinder means it saves space and gives unlimited hot water on demand — but running two showers at once will split the flow between them.

Which homes it suits

Homes with two or more bathrooms, where several taps or showers may run at the same time. The hot water cylinder stores plenty in advance, and there's no loft tank to worry about — you just need an airing cupboard or similar space for the cylinder.

Which homes it suits

Older and larger properties that already have tank-based pipework, and homes with lower mains water pressure — the loft tanks feed the system by gravity. Often the simplest like-for-like replacement if your home already has one, keeping disruption and cost down.

Mains cold water in Combi boiler Radiator Radiator Thermostat Flue 1 2 3 4 5
System boiler Radiator Hot water cylinder Thermostat Flue 1 2 3 4 5
LOFT Cold water tank F&E tank Heat-only boiler Pump Hot water cylinder Radiator Thermostat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Hot water flow Cold / return water

From burner to radiator, in four steps

1

Thermostat calls for heat

You (or a schedule) set a target temperature, and the thermostat signals the system to start.

2

Water is heated

The gas valve opens, the burner fires, and the heat exchanger transfers the flame's heat into the water.

3

Pump circulates it

A pump pushes hot water out through the flow pipe to every radiator and back again.

4

Radiators release heat

Each radiator warms the room; TRVs let you control individual rooms independently.

Heating system FAQs

What is a GC number and why does it matter?
A GC (Gas Council) number is a unique reference printed on your boiler's data badge that identifies its exact make and model. Engineers use it to look up spare parts, manuals and safety recalls. You can find yours on the boiler's data badge, or scan it during sign up on our service plan sign up page.
What's the difference between a combi, system and regular boiler?
A combi boiler heats water directly from the mains on demand, with no tanks or cylinder. A system boiler stores hot water in a cylinder but needs no loft tanks. A regular (heat-only) boiler is the traditional setup — it works with both a hot water cylinder and cold water tanks in the loft, which feed the system by gravity. Use the tabs above to see each one laid out.
What does a TRV do?
A Thermostatic Radiator Valve sits on the side of a radiator and lets you set a target temperature for that specific room, independent of the rest of the house — useful for rooms that run warmer or cooler than others.
Why does my boiler have a pressure gauge, and what's normal?
The gauge shows the water pressure in your sealed heating system. Most boilers run correctly between 1 and 1.5 bar when cold. If it regularly drops below 1, there may be a small leak or the system may need re-pressurising — one of our engineers can check this during a service visit.
How often should my boiler be serviced?
Most manufacturers recommend an annual service to keep your warranty valid and catch small issues before they become breakdowns. Our Heat Service Plan includes this as standard.

Know your system, know your boiler

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