Central Heating in Borstal

Central Heating Services in Borstal

Borstal's inter-war and post-war housing presents specific central heating challenges. These properties were built before central heating was standard, and the systems they now run were typically retrofitted during the 1970s or 1980s. After decades of service, both the boilers and the pipework in many Borstal homes are overdue for replacement.

Our services include:

• Full central heating installation — complete new systems fitted from scratch with boiler, radiators, pipework, and controls
• System upgrades — replacing old boilers and bringing the heating circuit, controls, and radiators up to current standards
• Gravity-fed to sealed system conversion — removing old hot water cylinders and loft tanks and fitting a modern combi or system boiler
• Radiator additions — extending heating to rooms that are currently without, such as loft conversions, extensions, or ground-floor rooms previously heated only by gas fires
• Controls upgrades — fitting modern programmable or smart thermostats and TRVs
• Repairs — resolving heating faults including cold radiators, pump failures, system pressure problems, and noisy pipework

One of the most common situations we encounter in Borstal is a property where the original gas fire in the front room has been the primary heat source for decades, with the central heating used sparingly. When homeowners decide to rely fully on central heating, they often discover that the existing system was never designed to be the sole heat source and needs upgrading to deliver adequate warmth throughout the house.

Central Heating for Borstal's Housing Stock

Borstal's housing stock is predominantly from two distinct building periods, each with its own central heating considerations.

The inter-war properties from the 1920s and 1930s — the semi-detached houses along Borstal Road, Borstal Street, and the connecting residential roads — were built with solid brick walls, suspended timber floors, and coal fires as the intended heat source. When central heating was retrofitted into these homes, the pipe runs often followed unconventional routes to avoid disrupting the original structure. Over time, these improvised installations develop problems as joints fail, corrosion builds up, and the system loses efficiency. Replacing the entire heating system allows us to plan the pipework properly and install radiators in the optimal positions for each room.

The post-war housing from the 1950s and 1960s, found mainly in the streets between Borstal and the Delce, was built to different standards. These properties tend to have cavity walls, which retain heat better than solid brick, and were often fitted with central heating during or shortly after construction. The boilers and controls from this era are now well past their useful life, and the pipework may be showing signs of internal corrosion. A modern condensing boiler with updated controls will run significantly more efficiently than the original equipment.

Borstal's location on the slope above the Medway valley means some properties have sloping sites or split-level layouts that add complexity to pipework design. We account for these factors during the survey to ensure the system works properly throughout the entire property.