Exeter Heating & Boiler Specialists
Full heating systems, radiator upgrades and efficient heating improvements
Many older heating systems can still get the house warm, but only by running hotter than they should. The boiler works hard, the radiators heat up aggressively, rooms can overshoot or cool down too quickly, and the heating feels more like a cycle of hot and cold rather than steady comfort.
This often happens when radiators are old, inefficient or poorly sized, controls are too basic, pipework has been altered over the years, or the heating system has never been properly reviewed as a whole.
Lombardi Heating carries out central heating upgrades in Exeter and nearby areas, including complete new heating systems, system conversions, new and replacement radiators, radiator moves, heat loss calculations, heating controls and efficiency improvements.
The aim is simple: a heating system that heats the home properly, uses less gas where possible, and keeps rooms comfortable without relying on unnecessarily high boiler temperatures.
Central heating work we can help with
We carry out central heating work across Exeter, including:
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complete new central heating systems
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gravity-fed system conversions to modern sealed systems
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combi boiler and unvented cylinder system upgrades
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radiator upgrades and alterations
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heat loss calculations for correct radiator sizing
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heating controls and weather compensation where appropriate
Every upgrade should suit the property, the rooms being heated and the way the system will be used. That is why we look at the heating system as a whole rather than treating each radiator, boiler or control as a separate item.
Complete new central heating systems
If your property has no central heating, or the existing setup needs a complete redesign, we can deliver a complete modern heating system designed for comfort, efficiency and long-term reliability — the kind of system that brings the home properly up to date for the decades ahead.
A complete system installation includes careful planning of the boiler, radiators, pipework, controls and system protection. The system needs to suit the property, the heat loss of each room, the way the home is used, and the type of hot water setup being installed.
A properly planned installation gives the home a modern heating system that is easier to control, easier to maintain and better suited to efficient heating. By designing the system properly from the start, there is more opportunity to run lower flow temperatures, use less gas and reduce unnecessary strain on the boiler.
Complete new central heating system in St Leonards, Exeter
We recently installed a complete new combi boiler and central heating system in a larger Victorian terrace in St Leonards, Exeter.
The property previously had an old water heater for hot water and two gas fires to heat the home. There was no modern wet central heating system, so the work needed to be planned properly from the start.
We completed heat loss calculations for the property, accurately sized the radiators for low flow temperature heating, and installed eight new radiators throughout the home.
The system was set up with weather compensation so the boiler adjusts the heating water temperature depending on the outside temperature. This gives steadier, more efficient heating than a basic on/off setup, helping the system use less gas while keeping the home comfortable.
The result was a modern, comfortable and efficient heating system designed for long-term use.
Heating system conversions
Many older homes still have gravity-fed or open-vented systems with tanks in the loft and a hot water cylinder. These systems were common for decades, but they are no longer the best long-term setup for most homes.
Converting an old gravity-fed system to a modern sealed system is a significant upgrade. It removes ageing loft tanks, improves system control, modernises the heating and hot water setup, and gives the system a better foundation for long-term reliability.
Old gravity-fed systems are often open to air, contamination and ongoing corrosion risk. Over time, this contributes to sludge, poor circulation, noisy systems, blocked components, failing valves and inefficient heating. Even where the system still works, it is often working around old design limitations.
A modern sealed system gives the heating and hot water a cleaner, more controllable setup, with benefits such as:
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improved controls
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cleaner system water
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better pressure stability
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easier fault diagnosis
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more efficient boiler setup
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better support for weather compensation and lower flow temperature heating
For many properties, upgrading away from a gravity-fed setup is one of the best ways to bring the heating and hot water system up to a modern standard.
The right solution depends on the home, hot water demand, number of bathrooms, available space, incoming mains water performance and how the household uses heating and hot water.
A combi boiler is often a good option where space is limited and hot water demand is moderate. An unvented cylinder is usually the better route for larger homes, higher hot water demand, or properties with more than one bathroom, provided the incoming mains supply is suitable.
We assess the existing setup properly, explain the best option clearly, and quote for the work needed to modernise the system properly.
Radiator upgrades and alterations
Radiators have a major effect on comfort, gas use and efficiency.
We help with:
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adding radiators where rooms need more heat
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moving radiators during room changes or renovations
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upgrading radiators that are too small
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fitting radiator valves and TRVs
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improving radiator positioning and pipework
If a room is always colder than the rest of the house, the answer is usually not just turning the boiler temperature up. The radiator may be too small, inefficient, poorly positioned, poorly balanced or not suited to the way the system is being run.
Why radiator sizing matters
A radiator should be sized to match the heat loss of the room.
Heat loss is the amount of heat a room loses through walls, windows, floors, ceilings, draughts and ventilation. A room with more external walls, older windows or poorer insulation needs more heat output than a small internal room.
Where radiator sizing matters, we use heat loss calculations rather than guesswork.
Correct radiator sizing gives:
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better comfort
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rooms heating more evenly
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lower boiler flow temperatures
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reduced gas use where possible
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improved boiler efficiency
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better use of weather compensation
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less need to run the boiler hotter than necessary
Your existing radiators may already get the house warm. But there is a big difference between a house eventually getting warm because the boiler is running hot, and a system designed to keep the home comfortable at lower flow temperatures.
Correctly sized radiators help the system work properly at lower temperatures. That gives the boiler a better chance of running efficiently, uses less gas where possible, reduces unnecessary strain on the boiler, and gives the home steadier, more comfortable heating.
Choosing the right radiators
Radiators can look similar but perform very differently.
The size, style and construction of a radiator all affect its heat output. A radiator’s output is usually measured in watts or BTUs, and this matters more than appearance alone.
For the same wall space, many column radiators give less heat output than modern panel radiators, and they often hold more water. More water volume means there is more water for the system to heat, which uses more energy and costs more to run.
That does not mean every home should have the same style of radiator. It means radiator choice should be made with a clear understanding of heat output, room size, appearance, efficiency and running cost.
We fit modern panel radiators, column radiators and other suitable options. We will explain the difference clearly, size the radiators properly, and help you choose the right balance of performance, appearance and cost for your home.
Weather compensation and efficient heating setup
Weather compensation allows the boiler to adjust the heating water temperature based on the temperature outside.
When the weather is mild, the boiler sends cooler water around the radiators. When it is colder outside, the system increases the temperature to match the heat demand.
This gives steadier heating, better comfort and improved efficiency compared with a basic on/off setup. It also helps the boiler run at lower flow temperatures for more of the year, which reduces gas use where possible, lowers environmental impact and helps protect the boiler because it does not have to work as hard.
Weather compensation works best when the radiators, controls and boiler settings are all considered together.
Considering radiators when replacing a boiler
When you are having a new boiler installed, it is worth taking the opportunity to think about the radiators as well.
A new boiler can improve the efficiency, reliability and control of the heating system, especially when it is installed properly with the right setup, controls and system protection. But the boiler is only one part of the system. The radiators still decide how effectively heat is delivered into each room.
This does not mean every boiler installation needs new radiators. If the existing radiators are correctly sized, in good condition and suitable for the way the system will be run, they should stay.
But if some rooms are difficult to heat, the radiators are old or undersized, or the system needs to run very hot to keep the house comfortable, upgrading selected radiators at the same time as the boiler can be a sensible and cost-effective improvement.
As part of a boiler installation survey, we can give advice on:
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whether the existing radiators are correctly sized
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whether any rooms are difficult to heat
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whether the system can run at lower flow temperatures
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whether radiator valves and controls are suitable
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whether the system water is clean
For new boiler work, see our [Boiler Installation Exeter] page.
Clear advice before work is quoted
We do not recommend heating upgrades just for the sake of it.
The first step is to understand what problem you are trying to solve. That might be a cold room, a planned renovation, a boiler replacement, an old gravity-fed system, or a complete new central heating system.
Once we understand the property and the existing system, we explain the sensible options and provide a clear quote for the work required.
Areas we cover
Lombardi Heating is based in Exeter and carries out central heating upgrade work across the city and nearby areas, from older homes in St Leonards and Pennsylvania to family homes in Alphington, Topsham, St Thomas, Broadclyst and Pinhoe.
Planning a central heating upgrade in Exeter?
If you are planning radiator upgrades, a heating system conversion, a complete new central heating system or improvements to an existing system, get in touch with Ben.
A short description of what you want to improve, your postcode and a few photos are usually enough to get started. We can then advise on the best next step.
FAQs
Do you install complete new central heating systems?
Yes. We install complete new central heating systems in properties that do not currently have central heating or where the existing system needs a complete redesign. This includes radiators, pipework, controls and boiler or hot water system planning.
Can you convert an old gravity-fed system to a combi boiler?
Yes. Converting an old gravity-fed system to a sealed combi boiler system is a major upgrade for many homes. It removes ageing loft tanks, modernises the heating and hot water setup, and gives the system better control and pressure stability.
Can you convert a gravity-fed system to an unvented cylinder?
Yes. An unvented cylinder is often the better option for larger homes or households with higher hot water demand, provided the incoming mains water supply is suitable.
Do you carry out heat loss calculations?
Yes. Where radiator sizing or heating design matters, heat loss calculations help ensure radiators are sized correctly for each room rather than guessed.
Why would I need bigger radiators if my house already gets warm?
Your existing radiators may heat the house when the boiler runs at a high temperature. Correctly sized radiators help the system heat the home at lower flow temperatures, which improves comfort, reduces gas use where possible and helps the boiler run more efficiently.
Are column radiators worse than panel radiators?
No. They are different. For the same wall space, many column radiators give less heat output than modern panel radiators and often hold more water. More water means more energy is needed to heat the system, which costs more to run. We will explain the options clearly so you can choose the right balance of appearance, performance and efficiency.
Can radiator upgrades help with weather compensation?
Yes. Weather compensation works best when the heating system can heat the rooms properly at lower flow temperatures. Correctly sized radiators make that much easier and help the boiler run more efficiently.
Do you move or replace individual radiators?
Yes. We move, replace and add radiators where the job is sensible and fits with the wider heating system.