This page exists because we keep having the same phone call: boiler on its last legs, ten tabs open, someone in the house saying “just get a combi”, and the real question underneath it all is: “What actually suits my place — and how do I avoid buying the wrong setup?”
We’re ARA Services Ltd — Gas Safe engineers based in Forest Gate (E7). We work across Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Redbridge and Barking & Dagenham every week. If you want a straight recommendation, call +44 7727 154 746. No scripts. No weird sales energy. Just a proper chat about your home.
Quick routing (so you don’t get stuck in research)
Survey → fitting → commissioning, done properly.
Diagnosis first. Then a real fix (not guesswork).
Real cost drivers and what changes the quote.
Boiler type is mainly about how you use hot water — not what sounds “best”. Costs come after you’ve chosen the right type. If you want the full install overview (survey → fitting → commissioning), here’s our process page: boiler installation in London (done properly).
You’ve got sensible hot water demand (often 1 bathroom), decent mains pressure, and you want to ditch cylinders/tanks.
You’ve got higher hot water demand (two bathrooms, busy mornings) and you want that steady “stored hot water calm”.
You’ve already got tanks/cylinder and the setup genuinely suits the property (especially older homes with certain layouts).
If you’re deep in price research, don’t bounce around random “from £1,499” pages. Use the proper breakdown: what a new boiler actually costs in London.
We don’t start with “Worcester or Vaillant?” We start with what decides whether you’ll love the boiler or curse it: how many bathrooms, what your mornings look like, whether the kitchen tap turns sad when the heating’s on, and what the shower feels like on an ordinary weekday.
Proper London detail: we’ve been into plenty of top-floor flats where the owner swears the pressure is “fine”. You turn the tap and it’s basically a polite drizzle. That’s how people end up with the wrong combi on paper. Boiler type choices are comfort choices — day-to-day reality beats specs.
If you’re comparing “flat vs terrace vs conversion” and wondering why quotes vary, this will make it click: how property type affects boiler replacement cost.
These are the checks we run before recommending combi/system/regular. Not theoretical. It’s the stuff that changes the job and the comfort.
One bathroom and normal use? A combi can be perfect. Two bathrooms with back-to-back showers? A system boiler starts looking attractive very quickly.
Combi performance depends on incoming mains pressure/flow. If it’s weak, you’ll feel it every day — especially in top-floor flats and older conversions.
Flats often want to lose cylinders to win space. Houses sometimes keep a cylinder because it just works for busy households.
If the system is tired (sludge, uneven radiators), we plan cleaning/protection properly. It’s not “upsell” — it’s how you stop the new boiler living a short, miserable life.
1) Forest Gate / Stratford conversion flat (1 bathroom): decent pressure, boiler in a kitchen cupboard. Combi made sense. The win wasn’t the brand — it was correct sizing and setup so it didn’t short-cycle all day.
2) Family home in Waltham Forest / Redbridge (busy mornings, 2 bathrooms): System boiler + cylinder kept it calm. Nobody wants to be the person who “stole” the hot water from upstairs.
3) Older tank-fed setup in Barking & Dagenham: customer wanted a combi because it sounded modern. Once we looked at pressure reality + layout, keeping stored hot water was the better day-to-day experience. If you’re stuck on “repair vs replace” right now, this helps: is replacement cheaper than repairing long-term?.
This isn’t troubleshooting — it’s context, because boiler type changes which parts tend to get attention over time. If yours is failing right now, skip the theory and book a proper diagnosis here: boiler repairs in London.
People usually notice hot water going temperamental first — or odd cycling behaviour. If it keeps cutting out with a code, don’t chase it — use: lockouts & error codes explained.
When there’s a cylinder involved, the “problem” can be the boiler, controls, or the hot water side of the system. If you’ve got no heating / no hot water and need a quick sanity check first: 10 quick checks before you call.
Older systems can run happily for years, but when something’s off you’ll often hear it or see it. If you’re hearing banging / kettling, start here: banging / kettling causes.
If you’re not sure whether it’s dangerous or just urgent, use: this simple emergency checklist. If you want a proper fix booked, go straight to: boiler repairs.
Call +44 7727 154 746 and tell us: bathrooms, boiler location, and whether you’ve got a cylinder. If you’re stuck in a cold flat and you’ve got no hot water, say that first — we’ll be straight about timings.
Prefer messages? Send photos for a fast recommendation (boiler + controls + any cylinder/tank + a shot of the flue exit area).
Boiler type affects installed cost mainly because it changes what else is involved: cylinder work, pipework changes, controls, space, and time. For proper ranges and what drives them, start here: new boiler cost & installation (London).
Great value when it suits the property. Costs jump when you’re converting, relocating, or sorting gas/water constraints.
See examples: combi boiler installation prices.
Stored hot water components add complexity. Sometimes the job is bigger — but the household comfort can be better for busy homes.
Full breakdown: new boiler cost guide.
Sometimes a repair is the sensible answer — especially if parts are available and the boiler isn’t unsafe. Good diagnosis is the difference between a real fix and “let’s try a part”.
Start here: book a boiler repair.
You’ll notice a pattern: it’s not “they sold me X brand”. It’s “they explained it, worked clean, and it finally made sense”. That’s what matters in real homes.
“My boiler went wrong… Abdul and his team came and fitted a new one. They worked without taking a break, cleaned up when…”
Alison Louis“Brilliant Service! Identified the issues immediately and fixed the problem. Very professional.”
Rachel Boston“Great service prompt and efficient… fitted a new boiler at a very competitive price… took away old boiler and all other waste.”
Grant Hodges (Local Guide)Not always. A like-for-like combi swap can be straightforward, but conversions and relocations add time and parts. The best value option is usually the boiler type that suits the property without forcing awkward changes. If you want the full cost reality, use: new boiler cost & installation.
Not automatically, but it’s a strong hint. Two bathrooms often means you’ll appreciate stored hot water. We still check pressure and usage patterns — some homes are two-bathroom on paper but used like a one-bathroom home.
Often yes — but only when it improves the day-to-day experience. If your pressure isn’t great, a combi can feel like a downgrade even if it’s newer. If your current boiler is failing right now, start with: boiler repairs.
We regularly work with Worcester, Vaillant and Ideal across combi/system/regular setups. Brand matters — but matching the boiler type to the home and commissioning it properly matters more. For the install approach, see: how we install boilers.
Call +44 7727 154 746 or send photos via the contact form. Photos of the boiler area, controls, and cylinder/tanks (if you have them) get us 80% of the way quickly.
Give us the basics (bathrooms, pressure feel, boiler location) and we’ll tell you what fits: combi, system, or regular. Then we’ll talk price properly. Phone first: +44 7727 154 746.
