BETTER ENERGY HOMES (SEAI) · GRANTVerified 18 August 2026
SEAI Heating Controls Upgrade Grant
€700.
Who: Owner of a home built and occupied before 2011. Work by an SEAI-registered contractor, with a BER after the works.
Official details on seai.ie →HOW TO HIRE · PLUMBING & HEATING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a central heating installer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A central heating installation in Ireland costs €3,500–€9,000 per system, typically around €5,500. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a central heating installer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers central heating installer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — post-Installation Checks — after installation, a thorough testing of the system is conducted.
- How does size of your home change the price?The area covered is what the day rate is set against. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does type of heating system chosen change the price?An upgraded package costs more because it includes more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does any necessary modifications to existing plumbing or electrical work change the price?A poor surface will not hold the finish without work underneath. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Installation Process — the installation involves removing old systems, fitting new pipes, and connecting the boiler — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a central heating installer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PLUMBING ITSELF. Anyone may trade as a plumber. The line that does exist is gas: any work on a gas appliance or gas pipework is restricted to the Registered Gas Installer scheme, and a plumber who is not on it may not touch the gas side of a boiler however competent they are at everything else. Ask which side of that line your job falls on before you book.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Whether any part of the job touches gas — if it does, the gas register applies and a plumbing qualification is not a substitute; A trade qualification or apprenticeship, which is voluntary but checkable; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; Whether they carry the parts or price them separately; A written scope naming what is isolated, drained and reinstated; How a leak discovered mid-job changes the price, agreed in advance.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and ask specifically about water-damage cover. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
“Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?”
A good answer: No register covers central heating installer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — post-Installation Checks — after installation, a thorough testing of the system is conducted.
“How does size of your home change the price?”
A good answer: The area covered is what the day rate is set against. — ask before the quote rather than after.
“How does type of heating system chosen change the price?”
A good answer: An upgraded package costs more because it includes more. — ask before the quote rather than after.
“How does any necessary modifications to existing plumbing or electrical work change the price?”
A good answer: A poor surface will not hold the finish without work underneath. — ask before the quote rather than after.
“What is not included?”
A good answer: Installation Process — the installation involves removing old systems, fitting new pipes, and connecting the boiler — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a central heating installer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
“Who insures you, and what is the policy number?”
A good answer: Expect public liability, and ask specifically about water-damage cover — equipment Selection — choosing the right boiler and radiators is crucial for efficiency.
“What do I get in writing, and when?”
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the central heating installer starts, and an itemised invoice after — system Assessment — A comprehensive evaluation of your property's heating needs is essential.
Getting the quote right
- Size of your home — the area covered is what the day rate is set against.
- Type of heating system chosen — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more.
- Any necessary modifications to existing plumbing or electrical work — a poor surface will not hold the finish without work underneath.
- Equipment Selection — better materials cost more and usually last longer.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: size of your home — the area covered is what the day rate is set against
- They will not talk about it: type of heating system chosen — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more
- They will not talk about it: any necessary modifications to existing plumbing or electrical work — a poor surface will not hold the finish without work underneath
- A price for the central heating installer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the central heating installer has begun
LOW
€3,500
TYPICAL
€5,500
HIGH
€9,000
What a central heating installer costs: €3,500–€9,000 per system
The figures are for the job, per system, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Boiler installation and Radiator installation each carry their own band. Central Heating Installation price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Central heating installers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstSize of your home — the area covered is what the day rate is set against — that is what the central heating installer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneType of heating system chosen — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAny necessary modifications to existing plumbing or electrical work — a poor surface will not hold the finish without work underneath — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherEquipment Selection — better materials cost more and usually last longer — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the central heating installer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, check that the materials used are compliant with local regulations and standards.
- System Assessment
- A comprehensive evaluation of your property's heating needs is essential.
- Equipment Selection
- Choosing the right boiler and radiators is crucial for efficiency.
- Installation Process
- The installation involves removing old systems, fitting new pipes, and connecting the boiler.
- Post-Installation Checks
- After installation, a thorough testing of the system is conducted.
- Radiator Installation
- This includes installing new radiators in key areas of your home to effectively distribute heat from the central heating system.
- Underfloor Heating Installation
- This service involves installing a system beneath your flooring to provide even and efficient heating throughout the space.
AFTER
When the job is done
Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — post-Installation Checks — after installation, a thorough testing of the system is conducted, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the central heating installer has gone.
Test what was doneInstallation Process — the installation involves removing old systems, fitting new pipes, and connecting the boiler — and something that does not work on the day is theirs to put right there and then.
Ask what the guarantee isOn the workmanship and on the parts, and for how long each one runs — they are usually different. equipment Selection — choosing the right boiler and radiators is crucial for efficiency — under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 what was agreed is what can be relied on.
Leave the reviewOnly a booked job can be reviewed on Locufy, which is why the score on a central heating installer's card means something — system Assessment — A comprehensive evaluation of your property's heating needs is essential.
MONEY BACK
Grants that may apply
GOV.IE · ADMINISTERED BY YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY · GRANTVerified 18 August 2026
Housing Aid for Older People Grant
Up to €10,700, covering up to 100% of the cost (means-tested; the full amount is available for gross household income up to €37,500 a year, tapering to 30% up to €75,000).
Who: People aged 66 or over (younger in cases of hardship) in poor housing conditions, for essential repairs such as roofing, rewiring, heating, windows and doors, or water and sanitary facilities.
Official details on gov.ie →Schemes change. The amounts above were checked on the dates shown; the official page is the one that counts.
STEP 1Say it in writing, firstSay what is wrong and what you want done. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and defective work put right.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyUnder four stars you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then review.
STEP 3Escalate to the body that regulates itThere is no register, so the route is the consumer body and, if needed, the courts.
STEP 4Small claimsSmall claims covers €2,000, once you have asked in writing and given them a chance to put it right.
Hiring a central heating installer: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the size of your home, the type of heating system chosen, and any necessary modifications to existing plumbing or electrical work. Additional features like smart thermostats or energy-efficient boilers may also increase the total price.
On average, a full installation can take anywhere from one to three days, depending on the complexity of the system and the size of your property. Larger homes or more complex installations may require additional time.
Same-day installations are rare due to the complexity of the work involved. However, some companies may offer emergency services for urgent heating needs, but it’s advisable to book in advance for standard installations.
Yes, many professionals offer package deals for multiple services, such as installing a new boiler alongside central heating installation. This can often save you money compared to booking services separately.
Out of scope work may include extensive home renovations, structural changes, or upgrades to electrical systems beyond what is necessary for the heating installation. Always clarify with your installer what is included in the quoted price.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO PLUMBING ITSELF. Anyone may trade as a plumber. The line that does exist is gas: any work on a gas appliance or gas pipework is restricted to the Registered Gas Installer scheme, and a plumber who is not on it may not touch the gas side of a boiler however competent they are at everything else. Ask which side of that line your job falls on before you book.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in plumbing & heating
How to hire: PlumberHow to hire: Emergency PlumberHow to hire: Boiler InstallationHow to hire: Boiler Service & RepairHow to hire: Boiler ReplacementHow to hire: Radiator InstallationHow to hire: Underfloor HeatingHow to hire: Power FlushingAll 701 hiring guides →
Central heating installers near you
Central heating installers in DublinCentral heating installers in CorkCentral heating installers in GalwayCentral heating installers in LimerickAll central heating installers on Locufy →
Sources — checked October 2026
- CRU — RGI and Safe Electric schemes
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — PLUMBING SERVICES (Private dwellings/Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only