Choosing the best type of heating system for your home
Choosing the right type of heating system will keep your home cosy and warm and may even lower your monthly bills. So if your boiler’s past its best or you’re renovating your home and giving your heating system a rethink, we’ve got you covered.
Renewable heating
With various government incentives and trial schemes available, now’s a great time to replace your old heating system with something that’s more modern, self-sufficient and kinder to the planet.
Solar panels are a great option if you’re south facing and have the roof space. And if you live in a hilly spot, small wind turbines are a more environmentally friendly way to generate energy to heat your home.
Heat pumps are another option and there are different versions available, including an air source version that can be combined with a boiler. Some models can also be reversed to provide cool air during summer months.
Gas central heating
If renewable heating isn’t on your radar yet, pairing a gas central heating system with an efficient boiler could be your next best option. You can choose from a variety of radiator styles and shapes to match any décor or room size. You can also add underfloor heating to your new system in addition to the radiators. And because the latest generation of boilers can heat more using with less energy, chances are you’ll notice a drop in your monthly gas bills after investing in a new boiler.
Electric heating systems
Electric heaters and overnight storage heaters are an alternative to standard gas central heating. They’re a good option if you live in a rural area that’s off the main grid. The storage heater can help you lower the cost of heating your home with electric (which can be expensive otherwise) by storing heat overnight and by signing up to Economy 7 or 10 tariffs.
See our electric storage heaters guide for more information on how they work.
LPG
Another option for those off the gas grid is an LPG (liquid petroleum gas) tank to power your heating system. LPG is delivered by road and stored in a tank that’s usually stored in your garden or outbuilding.
It’s a highly efficient way of heating your home in terms of the return you get per pound you spend. Some LPG systems also have a monitor that lets your supply company know when you’re running low, and the replenish delivery is automated so you won’t be left without heating.
Oil
Like LPG, oil is delivered and stored at your home as an alternative to main-fed gas. It’s considered to be more cost effective for smaller homes such as cottages, but unlike LPG it can’t supply your oven or hob – it can only power your boiler. The challenge of investing in either an LPG and oil is their environmental impact, and the likelihood of costs rising in future. For that reason, renewable technology as mentioned above might be a better way to invest for the longer term.
Combi v conventional boiler
Conventional boilers heat and store water ready to use when you need it, whereas a combi boiler heats on demand. And because a conventional boiler requires extra space for hot and cold tanks, a combi boiler could be the ideal choice if storage space is at a premium.
The challenge for the combi is meeting high demand for hot water. But the conventional boiler keeps hot water at the ready throughout the day, so it’s better suited to larger families or homes with more than one bathroom.
So there you have it – a quick run through of the options for heating your humble, cosy abode or your sprawling cliff-top palace. And why not check out our useful information page for more ways we can help? There’s something there for everyone.