Your central heating pump, sometimes called a circulator pump or boiler pump, is a vital part of your boiler system that you won't even know is there until it stops working. It circulates water through your central heating system to fill your radiators, taps and showers with hot water.

When the pump siezes or stops working, you’ll want to get it replaced quickly to prevent any interruption to your heating and hot water. How much it costs to replace depends on your heating set up and size of property.

How much does central heating pump replacement cost?

How much central heating pump replacement will cost depends on the type of pump you need and your location in the country. Expect to pay anywhere between £185-£350 for central heating pump replacement including all materials and labour.

A typical boiler pump costs between £90-£200 without installation, so labour costs range between £100-£150 on average.

What factors affect the cost of boiler pump replacement?

Central heating pump brand

The brand of circulator pump you choose will affect how much you spend on replacement. The most popular and reliable brand of central heating pump is Grundfos. They offer a range of pumps at different sizes and speeds – your boiler engineer will be able to recommend the best one for you.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular central heating pump brands and how much they cost:

Size and speed of circulator pump

Your boiler engineer will be able to tell you the size and speed of the circulator pump you’ll need, along with the voltage. There are three main boiler pump speeds used today:

Single speed: Single speed boiler pumps have one speed to push water through your central heating system at. They’re not as efficient as other types of pump, but can be suitable for homes with less than 10 radiators.

Multiple speed: These central heating pumps generally have 3 speeds that can be adjusted depending on the type of heating system you have.

Variable speed: These pumps automatically adjust the speed when your heating is on. Variable speeds can damage your boiler if you have thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), so avoid this type of pump if you have them.

Whether you have isolation valves

If your boiler doesn’t have isolation valves, your heating engineer will need to drain your system before they can fit a new central heating pump. This will take more time, so expect them to charge more for installation.

Whether it’s an emergency call out

When a central heating pump fails completely, it will leave you without any heating or hot water. If this happens, you’ll no doubt want to get it fixed quickly, and that means calling an emergency engineer. Most engineers will charge an emergency call-out fee on top of their hourly rate, so expect to pay more than we’ve quoted here.

Where you live

Your location in the country will have an impact on how much central heating pump replacement costs. If you live in London or the south east of England, expect to pay £100 to £150 more on installation than the price we quoted above.

How does a central heating pump work?

A central heating pump’s job is to circulate hot water to your radiators and taps. It works with your boiler’s diverter valve that determines whether your boiler heats water for your taps or for your central heating.

When you want heat, the diverter valve will send water through your boiler’s heat exchanger, then the pump will push the hot water out of your boiler and into your pipes and radiators.

Over time, the hot water will cool and return to the boiler, continuing the cycle.

How do I know if my central heating pump needs replacing?

There are a few signs that will let you know that your central heating pump needs replacing:

The pump is leaking

If your circulator pump is leaking, the seal could be blown or it has corroded. In either of these cases it’s probably best to replace the pump. However, sometimes boiler pumps can become loose, so see if you can tighten it.

There’s no power to your boiler pump

If your boiler pump has no power but all your other electrical appliances are working, you might have faulty wiring or there’s a problem with your printed circuit board (PCB). You’ll need to get an engineer to investigate to see whether it’s worth repairing your pump.

The pump won’t stop running

If your central heating pump is constantly running, there are a few reasons why this could be. It may have a faulty PCB or a valve might be sticking.

The pump is noisy

If your circulator pump is noisier than usual, it could mean that there’s an airlock. If your pump has a bleed screw, you can turn it to release the air until the hissing stops. If it doesn’t have a bleed screw, you’ll need to call an engineer to investigate.

The pump isn’t circulating water

If your pump isn’t circulating water, it usually means a propeller has seized up. It could also mean that something is wrong with the motor. You could try giving the boiler pump a gentle tap to see if it frees up the components. If the problem keeps happening, it’s probably time to replace your central heating pump.

How long does it take to fit a central heating pump?

It takes around an hour for a gas engineer to fit a central heating pump. This includes removing the old circulator pump as well as fitting the new one.

What is the life expectancy of a central heating pump?

Central heating pumps typically last 15 years – sometimes more. But if your pump is much older than this, you’ll find that a new one will be much more efficient.

If your central heating pump seems like it’s at the end of its life, it’s time to get in touch with a Gas Safe-registered engineer. Post your job on HaMuch now for quotes from trusted boiler engineers in your area.

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