Which home heating system is best?
With so many different ways of heating your home, it can be difficult to decide which option is best for you. Whether you need to replace a broken boiler or you’re looking to switch to a more environmentally-friendly solution, our quick guide to boilers and heating systems will help you find the best option for you.
Ground Source and Air Source Heat Pumps are currently the most environmentally friendly and efficient way of heating a home. The main unit is installed outdoors and it absorbs heat from the ground or air which it transfers into water*. This hot water is then distributed around your home via radiators or underfloor pipes to provide warmth, as well as to your hot water tank for your taps, showers and baths. Heat pumps might be a good option for you if you have outdoor space and you already have a water tank, or space for one.
Learn about the UK Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme that helps homeowners to switch to low carbon heating technologies.
*Warm air systems also exist.
As the name suggests, a gas boiler uses gas to heat water and distribute it around your home’s radiators and to your hot water tank. Gas boilers will be phased out over the coming decades as a way of reducing carbon emissions from homes, but there are opportunities to replace old gas boilers with more efficient models if a gas boiler is the best option for you.
Combi boilers also use gas to heat water, however, they produce heat and hot water on demand rather than storing it in a water tank. Combi boilers are often ideal for small households that don’t require much hot water or don’t have space for a hot water tank.
Storage heaters use electricity overnight to generate and store heat ready to be slowly released during the day. They are a good option for all-electric homes that don’t need to be heated everywhere, for example in rooms that aren’t used often. These heaters work with a special two-rate electricity deal where electricity used at night is cheaper than electricity used during the day.
Check your energy plan to make sure it works with your storage heaters. It may be called ‘Economy 7’ on your bills. If you rent from the council or a social landlord, your heating may be included in your rent. If so, you’ll have a separate deal with your energy supplier to power all other electric appliances in your home and the electricity won’t be cheaper at night.
If you have an ‘Economy 7’ deal, try to use as much electricity at night to take advantage of the cheaper rate. If your hot water tank has a timer, make sure it uses the overnight electricity, too.
Storage heaters can be tricky to use and you might need to experiment with the controls to find the perfect settings. If you have old storage heaters and you always seem to run out of heat before the end of the day, contact us for help.
