What Is An Airing Cupboard?

An airing cupboard is a traditional British home feature — a small, insulated cupboard usually found on landings or near bathrooms — designed to dry clothes, warm towels and store linen while housing the hot water cylinder and sometimes the boiler or heating controls.

If your airing cupboard contains an old hot water cylinder or boiler that’s inefficient, leaking or taking up valuable space, upgrading to a modern combi boiler can free up the cupboard entirely for storage or a sleek new design. Request a new boiler quote from Boilers 2 Go today for expert advice on space-saving solutions that suit your home or rental property.

What Is An Airing Cupboard?

An airing cupboard is a dedicated, often heated storage cupboard in UK homes that provides a warm, dry environment for airing clothes, drying laundry naturally, warming towels and storing bed linen, towels and blankets.

Why Were Airing Cupboards So Common In British Homes?

Airing cupboards became common in British homes because they made practical use of the heat given off by the hot water cylinder (and sometimes the boiler), turning what would otherwise be wasted warmth into a useful drying and warming space in often damp, cooler UK climates.

What Is Typically Found Inside An Airing Cupboard?

What is typically found inside an airing cupboard includes:

• Copper or stainless steel hot water cylinder (vented or unvented)
• Immersion heater (backup for hot water)
• Cold water feed tank (in older vented systems)
• Pipework, valves and expansion vessel
• Occasionally the boiler itself (especially older conventional boilers)
• Shelves for linen, towels and clothes airers

How Does An Airing Cupboard Help With Laundry And Towel Drying?

An airing cupboard helps with laundry and towel drying by using gentle, constant background heat from the hot water cylinder to evaporate moisture slowly and evenly, reducing the need for tumble dryers, preventing musty smells and giving clothes a fresher feel compared with outdoor drying in damp weather.

Can You Still Have An Airing Cupboard With A Modern Boiler?

You can still have an airing cupboard with a modern boiler, but it is less common: most new installations use combi boilers (no cylinder needed) or system boilers with a separate unvented cylinder that can be placed in the airing cupboard or relocated to a utility space, leaving the cupboard free for pure storage and drying.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Keeping An Airing Cupboard?

Pros of keeping an airing cupboard include free, low-energy drying and warming of clothes/towels, extra storage space, natural humidity control for linen, and a traditional feature many buyers and tenants value.

Cons include wasted space if the cylinder is removed, potential heat loss if poorly insulated, risk of condensation or mould if ventilation is inadequate, and reduced floor space compared with modern compact heating designs.

How Can Landlords Benefit From Modernising An Airing Cupboard Setup?

Landlords can benefit from modernising an airing cupboard setup by switching to a combi boiler (removing the cylinder entirely), gaining extra storage or redecoration space, improving EPC ratings through higher-efficiency heating, reducing maintenance issues with old cylinders, and offering tenants faster hot water and lower energy bills.

Need A New Boiler Quote?

Converting an old airing cupboard setup to a modern combi or compact system boiler can free up valuable space, improve energy efficiency and make your home or rental property more attractive. 

Request a new boiler quote from Boilers 2 Go today — their experts will assess your current cylinder and heating system and recommend the most space-efficient, cost-effective upgrade with full Gas Safe installation.

FAQs

Do new-build homes in the UK still include airing cupboards?

New-build homes rarely include traditional airing cupboards because most use combi boilers or heat pumps with no need for stored hot water cylinders; drying space is usually provided by utility rooms or heated towel rails instead.

Is it expensive to remove a hot water cylinder and repurpose an airing cupboard?

Removing a hot water cylinder and repurposing an airing cupboard typically costs £2,000–£4,500 when combined with a new combi boiler installation, but the project often pays back through lower running costs and extra usable space.

Can an airing cupboard cause damp or mould problems?

Yes, an airing cupboard can cause damp or mould if ventilation is poor, the cylinder jacket is missing or damaged, or warm moist air gets trapped — regular checks and good airflow (vents or gaps) prevent this issue.

Are there slimline cylinders designed specifically for airing cupboards?

Yes, slimline and pre-insulated unvented cylinders (as narrow as 400–500 mm diameter) are available specifically for fitting neatly into existing airing cupboards while still providing good hot water capacity.

Do tenants expect an airing cupboard in private rented properties?

Many tenants still value an airing cupboard in private rented properties for natural drying and warm storage, so retaining or creating one (even without a cylinder) can be a competitive advantage when letting.