Flowchart

This flowchart provides an overview of a domestic central heating system. It shows how the tank, boiler and pipes ensure a constant flow of hot water to both the radiators and the taps.

First, the cold water enters the house and is stored in a water storage tank in the roof. From there it flows down to the boiler, located on the ground floor of the house. The boiler, which is fuelled by gas or oil, heats up the water as it passes through it. The hot water is then pumped round the house through a system of radiators, located in different rooms. Subsequently the water circulates through the radiators, which have small tubes inside them to help distribute the heat, and this warms each of the rooms. Meanwhile, some of the water is directed to the taps to provide hot water for the house.

After the water has been through the pipes and radiators, it is returned to the boiler to re-heated and circulated round the house again.