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The central heating system within a property is one of the most intensively used household appliances and yet, is also the most ignored. Unless the heating suddenly stops working or your water isn’t heating, faults can go unnoticed and more importantly, it might be wasting money! If you’ve taken the plunge to help the environment or save yourself money, or if your circumstances dictate it… we can help you make the right choices for your new central heating system.
Selecting whether you require gas or electric heating and the subsequent boiler is the first step! All boilers are fairly unique. Their performance is not dictated by the actual boiler itself, but the central heating system as a whole will have an impact. If the central heating system is not correct for the requirements, is poorly designed or has inadequate controls – the best boiler in the world will still not work effectively. So where do you start with making the right choice?
The initial decision that must be made, is selecting whether you would prefer gas or electric central heating then, choosing a boiler that is large enough to supply your property with enough hot water and heats your home yet isn’t so large, it wastes money due to loss of heat! It’s all about the adequacy for your home. Initial outlays on boilers and indeed, on central heating can be very costly but there are advantages, replacing an old non-condensing boiler with a modern condensing system can improve your boiler’s efficiency by more than 30%, saving you a substantial amount in the long run but, what are the differences?
Gas Heating
Gas heating systems are the most commonly used in the UK. Gas heating is more commonly known as a “wet system” – whereby a gas-fired boiler heats the water which in turn, provides heating throughout radiators and taps in the property. Some houses without a connection to the gas network (around 4 million houses are affected by this) will use liquid petroleum gas which works in the same way but unfortunately, is a lot less cost-effective.
New boilers must be 88% or more efficient to comply with Building Regulations. Nearly all modern gas condensing boilers get an A energy rating and are said to convert 90 – 95% of the fuel they consume into heat! No fuel stores are required with gas heating.
If you have gas central heating, it is estimated this could be responsible for around 60% of your home’s CO2 emissions. This makes the choice of boiler imperative if you’re looking to cut bills and reduce your carbon footprint. For example, a condensing gas boiler should be a strong consideration.
Electric heating
Electric central heating systems are more commonly used in smaller dwellings, they are light, compact and extremely quiet and unobtrusive. However, with advances in technology and efficiency demands rising, they are rapidly developing these to suit larger premises as well!
With an electric central heating system, your heating is available on-demand, as and when required.
Most electrical heating systems boast 100% efficiency. It must be noted, electrical tariffs are not quite as cost-effective as gas and making a switch from gas to electrical if already in place, can be an extremely expensive endeavor.
If you opt for a gas central heating installation, there are 3 main types of boiler available to you:
Combi (combination) – this heats water as and when required and eliminates the necessity for a tank, Heat-only (more conventional and most common although slightly outdated now) this heats water in a water tank or cylinder and stores it and finally, a System boiler – similar to a heat-only boiler but with more advances components involved in its making and functions, meaning they are easier to install and take up less space. The best choice of the 3 all comes down to multiple factors that must be considered with a home that is quite bespoke to the needs and requirements of individuals.
Please contact us for assistance in making the best decision catered to you! With nearly 5 decades of experience within the industry, we’re confident we can weigh up the pros and cons based on your individual needs and give you the best possible advice and support.
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