Question 1

What is central heating?

Accepted Answer

A system providing heat to an entire building from one central source. Central heating heats the whole building from a single source (boiler/furnace), distributed through radiators, UFH, or ducts.

Question 2

What percentage of UK homes have central heating?

Accepted Answer

97%. Approximately 97% of UK homes have central heating, mostly traditional boiler and radiator systems.

Question 3

What are the TWO categories of domestic central heating systems?

Accepted Answer

Open-vented and Sealed. Open-vented (fed from F&E cistern, open to atmosphere) and Sealed (fed from mains, expansion vessel). Every system falls into one of these.

Question 4

An open-vented system is fed from:

Accepted Answer

A feed and expansion cistern in the roof space. Open-vented = F&E cistern in loft. The system is open to atmosphere via the vent pipe. Pressure is controlled naturally.

Question 5

A sealed system uses which component instead of an F&E cistern?

Accepted Answer

An expansion vessel. Sealed systems replace the F&E cistern with an expansion vessel (steel cylinder with neoprene diaphragm) to absorb expansion.

Question 6

Why are sealed systems considered more modern than open-vented?

Accepted Answer

Greater flexibility in boiler/cylinder positioning. Without gravity circulation requirements, the boiler can be positioned anywhere. Sealed systems also heat up faster and offer better control options.

Free heating systems exam questions

1. What is central heating?

2. What percentage of UK homes have central heating?

3. What are the TWO categories of domestic central heating systems?

4. An open-vented system is fed from:

5. A sealed system uses which component instead of an F&E cistern?

6. Why are sealed systems considered more modern than open-vented?

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