• Looking for a smarter way to manage your heating this winter? We’ve been testing the new Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 to see how quiet, accurate and easy it is to use around the home. Click here read our review.

Swapping gravity to pressurised system

Joined
11 Oct 2025
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Country
United Kingdom
Hi all,

I'm looking to swap my current gravity fed central heating / hot water system to a pressurised system. This is probably out of my capabilities and wondered what a rough cost would be. It's a 4-bedroom house and oil fired in Lincolnshire.

Thanks for looking.
 
1. You need to be clear as to what you want:
1.1 A sealed central heating system, with no Feed and Expansion (F&E) tank in loft and an expansion vessel geally inside or near the boiler with pressure relief valve, pressure relief pipe terminating outside and means of re-pressurising. AND / OR
1.2 An unvented hot water system. No cold water storage cistern (CWSC) in loft, suitable unvented hot water cylinder with either internal pressure vessel or external pressure vessel, required safety devices including temperature and pressure relief valve (TPRV) with tun dish and pressure relief pipe in accordance with regulations.
2. Most reasonably modern boilers can be used in a sealed system, the boiler installation manual should state whether or not this is possible. Only risk is that the pressure in the system may cause / exacerbate leaks in fittings / pipework requiring them to be fixed. I'd suggest within the scope of an experienced DIYer with plumbing experience.
3. Unvented hot water systems may only be fitted someone with a current "G3" registration. There are strict rules for their installation, and the installation must be notified to your local buildings control office. Normally done by the registered installer.
4. Price cannot be forecast without a site visit. Such a visit is necessary in any case to determine whether the available water pressure and flow rate is sufficient for an unvented hot water system. However, as a starting point I'd work with (all plus VAT):
4.1 Convert existing space heating system to sealed system, probably around £750 plus time and materials required to correct any leaks discovered.
4.2 Install a new unvented hot water system, probably start at around £2,500 (including cylinder and controls) but could easily double depending on site conditions and pipework requirements. Sensible to budget around £100 per appliance for any needing changes / replacement because of higher pressure. (e.g. WC cistern inlet valves).
 
Thanks for the reply oldbuffer, I knew there would be a lot more to it hence coming here to the experts.

I can see that I really should have a thorough site visit and let them scope it all out.

Many thanks for your input.
 

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Back
Top