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Original poster

Buying a house - question about new heating system

9 replies

Awayanyday · 22/02/2025 19:01

Hi,

I'm a burnt out first time buyer here. Have zero knowledge of property etc and no family members I can ask etc so learning the hard way as I go.

But im a bit stuck with this one - so, long story short. May put an offer in on a property, its been poorly maintained, any job has probably had cut corners to be done (obviously a red flag i am aware). It has a fairly new boiler (under 5 years) never been serviced. Radiators looked old, currently owner doesn't know how old but has lived there for 15 years and they haven't been changed. It's a 1980s house and not impossible to think they have never been changed. I will be getting all the flooring done before I move in (if I offer and accepted) so now would be the time to sort out the heating system. But I'm struggling to find info on this, I want to get someone to look at it.

Is it a 'heating engineer' I need to speak too? Also, given the boiler is reasonable new could I assume the boiler could stay or may not fit if all new piping is needed? I've tried to work out ball park figures as a rough estimate but not getting far (it's a small 2 bed with 1x Radiator in each room).

I'm realising buying a home on a shoestring is not easy. Given the housing I'm looking at (way below UK average in terms of value) and won't be younger than probably the 1980s do I need to accept that I will likely have to budget for things like new heating systems (I am aware of rewires as well etc)?

After 14 months of this I'm learning....had no idea everything was so expensive!

Thanks for any guidance!

OP posts:
canfor · 22/02/2025 19:22

Radiators last for years and years. The pipework does too. A newer radiator might be more efficient or you might like how it looks, but unless there is something very obviously wrong with these radiators or the heating system you shouldn't feel the need to change them. A boiler should last for 7-10 years and many last a lot longer. If you change the boiler you don't need to change the pipework and vice versa, it's all standard. You might not like where the radiators are and want to move them - but it's likely that you will only work that out after moving in and having furniture in the rooms.

If you move in before having the flooring done, you will work out quickly if there are issues with the heating/pipework. The boiler will lose pressure if you have shoddy pipework due to leaks. I'd recommend that you live in the house pretty much as it is for a few months before doing anything big like replacing all the flooring or the heating, get to know the house and you'll work out what's working and what isn't.

Buying a house is daunting, lots of responsibilities to take on, don't worry about the heating too much.

canfor · 22/02/2025 19:25

Also, recommend you do get a service/safety check before you move in on the boiler - 99.9% of the time they are fine. And an opportunity to ask the technician all the questions while they are there. Also make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector.

Original poster
Awayanyday · 22/02/2025 19:44

canfor · 22/02/2025 19:22

Radiators last for years and years. The pipework does too. A newer radiator might be more efficient or you might like how it looks, but unless there is something very obviously wrong with these radiators or the heating system you shouldn't feel the need to change them. A boiler should last for 7-10 years and many last a lot longer. If you change the boiler you don't need to change the pipework and vice versa, it's all standard. You might not like where the radiators are and want to move them - but it's likely that you will only work that out after moving in and having furniture in the rooms.

If you move in before having the flooring done, you will work out quickly if there are issues with the heating/pipework. The boiler will lose pressure if you have shoddy pipework due to leaks. I'd recommend that you live in the house pretty much as it is for a few months before doing anything big like replacing all the flooring or the heating, get to know the house and you'll work out what's working and what isn't.

Buying a house is daunting, lots of responsibilities to take on, don't worry about the heating too much.

Thank you. Maybe I could just be ok to leave the heating system then. The flooring is in very poor state and I wouldn't manage the upheaval of new flooring etc once moved in due to my poor health. Also don't feel I could move in in such conditions (the floor) which is why I was thinking about the heating system before hand. But maybe it doesn't need doing then and can last. Thank you for your input.

OP posts:
canfor · 22/02/2025 19:49

If you are getting the flooring done before moving in, visit the house a few times and run the heating yourself, any big problems should be obvious. Then get your service done and have a good chat with the engineer.

Think about it this way - heating is so needed, most heating systems are maintained enough to work. A gas leak is the most dangerous thing and you are going to get that checked. If the pipework was diabolical it would be leaking now. If it leaks in future, that's an insurance job.

Original poster
Awayanyday · 22/02/2025 20:00

canfor · 22/02/2025 19:49

If you are getting the flooring done before moving in, visit the house a few times and run the heating yourself, any big problems should be obvious. Then get your service done and have a good chat with the engineer.

Think about it this way - heating is so needed, most heating systems are maintained enough to work. A gas leak is the most dangerous thing and you are going to get that checked. If the pipework was diabolical it would be leaking now. If it leaks in future, that's an insurance job.

Ah thank you. That's a very helpful way to look at it!

OP posts:
WonderingWanda · 22/02/2025 20:37

My house was built in 1980 and I think we still have some of the original radiators and they are fine. It's been extended so some are newer. The heating runs with a tank rather than a combi boiler. A heating engineer or a plumber who does heating systems could look at it for you but be warned they are likely to want to sell you a new system which it is unlikely to need. Can you view it again and ask for the heating to be on. Then check are all the rads hot....are they hot top and bottom. Cold at the top could just be air in the system, cold at the bottom could mean they are full of sludge. If they are all working fine then I wouldn't worry too much personally.

flyinghen · 22/02/2025 20:43

I'm sure you could get a plumber round and they'll check everything over for you. You'd have to pay them for their time but I'm sure they'd do it. Definitely before the flooring goes in so they can easily access pipes and stuff under the floors. Then you have peace of mind at least and any major concerns could be rectified.

I honestly think the heating system will be fine though. We bought a project and changed rads and stuff but can't remember changing loads of pipes and stuff. Didn't need to!

Original poster
Awayanyday · 22/02/2025 21:25

WonderingWanda · 22/02/2025 20:37

My house was built in 1980 and I think we still have some of the original radiators and they are fine. It's been extended so some are newer. The heating runs with a tank rather than a combi boiler. A heating engineer or a plumber who does heating systems could look at it for you but be warned they are likely to want to sell you a new system which it is unlikely to need. Can you view it again and ask for the heating to be on. Then check are all the rads hot....are they hot top and bottom. Cold at the top could just be air in the system, cold at the bottom could mean they are full of sludge. If they are all working fine then I wouldn't worry too much personally.

Ah right, this is very helpful! Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
Awayanyday · 22/02/2025 21:26

flyinghen · 22/02/2025 20:43

I'm sure you could get a plumber round and they'll check everything over for you. You'd have to pay them for their time but I'm sure they'd do it. Definitely before the flooring goes in so they can easily access pipes and stuff under the floors. Then you have peace of mind at least and any major concerns could be rectified.

I honestly think the heating system will be fine though. We bought a project and changed rads and stuff but can't remember changing loads of pipes and stuff. Didn't need to!

Thank you! I'm really hoping I don't need to but might call on a plumber to have to look. Thanks for your help

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