How to heat your home!
Did you know that heating your property makes up over half of your household energy bill?
With the rising costs of bills, it is the time to make your property as efficient as possible! Here is all the information you need to know about heating your home.
EPC (energy performance certificate)
When viewing a property, it is always important to look at its energy performance certificate (EPC). The EPC tells you how efficient the property’s current energy supply is. It is a legal requirement for a property to have an EPC when it is marketed for sale or let.
EPC ratings run from A-G, A being the most efficient, these ratings will give you a rough indication of how much it will cost to heat and power the property. They will also tell you if the current rating could be improved to bring your costs down. You can find your EPC here:
Example EPC
Boilers
Boilers are a very important part of any home; they provide hot water which then also provides the steam for your heating system.
There are 3 types of boilers:
Combination boiler ‘combi’
This is the most common type of boiler as it provides both your heating and hot water from one unit. Combination boilers tend to be the most energy efficient which is why they are the most popular. With only the need for one unit, a combination boiler is also a common choice for smaller properties as they use less space.
Pros: Energy Efficient. Compact in size. Instant hot water. No water tank needed.
Cons: Water flow can be reduced when two or more outlets are used at once. For a larger property they are not always the best choice. If you have low mains water pressure the boiler can be less effective
All combination boilers from 1st April 2005 are also condensing boilers. This means that the boiler has condensing technology to make better use of the heat it generates. The change was bought in to combat climate change.
Regular Boiler (heat only boiler)
A regular boiler has three main parts to it- The boiler, Hot water storage cylinder, cold water tank. Regular boilers work by feeding hot water directly to the central heating system and then storing hot water within the hot water cylinder for instant use. Coldwater is supplied to the boiler through the cold-water tank, the cold-water tank can usually be found in the loft.
Pros: Great for larger properties as they produce a good flow rate. Good option for older heating systems as they do not require high pressure supply. Good for areas with low water pressure mains supply.
Cons: Not suitable for smaller properties. Not always compatible with newer heating systems.
System Boiler
System boilers are quite like regular boilers as they have a separate hot water tank meaning they are still able to keep up with high hot water demands. However, they do not require a cold-water tank making them a better option for homes with little or no loft space.
Pros: Good for properties with multiple bathrooms. No tank required in loft. More flexibility with installation location.
Cons: The hot water supply is very dependent on mains supply pressure. Not suitable for properties with older heating systems due to high pressure system. Needs a hot water tank so space must be available for this.
Electric Storage heaters
Storage heaters are most common in older-built properties. They use electricity to create heat to keep your home warm. They are becoming less common as they use electricity, which is generally more expensive than gas, they only really become cost effective when mains gas is not available. However, they can be useful when looking to heat only a small space.
Solar Panels
Solar panels have become more and more popular over the last few years especially with the increase in costs of running your home. Solar panels work by using the sunlight and turning this into electrical energy to power your home. Solar panels can be installed in a wide range of places making them suitable for most properties. They do not create any noise and are also very safe.
Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are popping up all over the country, you may have seen them in the countryside or even in the sea. They work by converting wind into electricity. Wind turbine farms are also becoming more common which is where many individual wind turbines are put together. Generally, wind turbines can be found in more remote areas due to their large size, so if your property comes with a lot of land, they may be a good option for you. However, they can be initially quite costly and can generate noise.
When viewing a property, it is always important to look at its energy performance certificate (EPC). The EPC tells you how efficient the property’s current energy supply is. It is a legal requirement for a property to have an EPC when it is marketed for sale or let.
EPC ratings run from A-G, A being the most efficient, these ratings will give you a rough indication of how much it will cost to heat and power the property. They will also tell you if the current rating could be improved to bring your costs down. You can find your EPC here:
Boilers
Boilers are a very important part of any home; they provide hot water which then also provides the steam for your heating system.
There are 3 types of boilers:
Combination boiler ‘combi’
This is the most common type of boiler as it provides both your heating and hot water from one unit. Combination boilers tend to be the most energy efficient which is why they are the most popular. With only the need for one unit, a combination boiler is also a common choice for smaller properties as they use less space.
Pros: Energy Efficient. Compact in size. Instant hot water. No water tank needed.
Cons: Water flow can be reduced when two or more outlets are used at once. For a larger property they are not always the best choice. If you have low mains water pressure the boiler can be less effective
All combination boilers from 1st April 2005 are also condensing boilers. This means that the boiler has condensing technology to make better use of the heat it generates. The change was bought in to combat climate change.
Regular Boiler (heat only boiler)
A regular boiler has three main parts to it- The boiler, Hot water storage cylinder, cold water tank. Regular boilers work by feeding hot water directly to the central heating system and then storing hot water within the hot water cylinder for instant use. Coldwater is supplied to the boiler through the cold-water tank, the cold-water tank can usually be found in the loft.
Pros: Great for larger properties as they produce a good flow rate. Good option for older heating systems as they do not require high pressure supply. Good for areas with low water pressure mains supply.
Cons: Not suitable for smaller properties. Not always compatible with newer heating systems.
System Boiler
System boilers are quite like regular boilers as they have a separate hot water tank meaning they are still able to keep up with high hot water demands. However, they do not require a cold-water tank making them a better option for homes with little or no loft space.
Pros: Good for properties with multiple bathrooms. No tank required in loft. More flexibility with installation location.
Cons: The hot water supply is very dependent on mains supply pressure. Not suitable for properties with older heating systems due to high pressure system. Needs a hot water tank so space must be available for this.
Electric Storage heaters
Storage heaters are most common in older-built properties. They use electricity to create heat to keep your home warm. They are becoming less common as they use electricity, which is generally more expensive than gas, they only really become cost effective when mains gas is not available. However, they can be useful when looking to heat only a small space.
Solar Panels
Solar panels have become more and more popular over the last few years especially with the increase in costs of running your home. Solar panels work by using the sunlight and turning this into electrical energy to power your home. Solar panels can be installed in a wide range of places making them suitable for most properties. They do not create any noise and are also very safe.
Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are popping up all over the country, you may have seen them in the countryside or even in the sea. They work by converting wind into electricity. Wind turbine farms are also becoming more common which is where many individual wind turbines are put together. Generally, wind turbines can be found in more remote areas due to their large size, so if your property comes with a lot of land, they may be a good option for you. However, they can be initially quite costly and can generate noise.
Boilers are a very important part of any home; they provide hot water which then also provides the steam for your heating system.
There are 3 types of boilers:
Combination boiler ‘combi’
This is the most common type of boiler as it provides both your heating and hot water from one unit. Combination boilers tend to be the most energy efficient which is why they are the most popular. With only the need for one unit, a combination boiler is also a common choice for smaller properties as they use less space.
Pros: Energy Efficient. Compact in size. Instant hot water. No water tank needed.
Cons: Water flow can be reduced when two or more outlets are used at once. For a larger property they are not always the best choice. If you have low mains water pressure the boiler can be less effective
All combination boilers from 1st April 2005 are also condensing boilers. This means that the boiler has condensing technology to make better use of the heat it generates. The change was bought in to combat climate change.
Regular Boiler (heat only boiler)
A regular boiler has three main parts to it- The boiler, Hot water storage cylinder, cold water tank. Regular boilers work by feeding hot water directly to the central heating system and then storing hot water within the hot water cylinder for instant use. Coldwater is supplied to the boiler through the cold-water tank, the cold-water tank can usually be found in the loft.
Pros: Great for larger properties as they produce a good flow rate. Good option for older heating systems as they do not require high pressure supply. Good for areas with low water pressure mains supply.
Cons: Not suitable for smaller properties. Not always compatible with newer heating systems.
System Boiler
System boilers are quite like regular boilers as they have a separate hot water tank meaning they are still able to keep up with high hot water demands. However, they do not require a cold-water tank making them a better option for homes with little or no loft space.
Pros: Good for properties with multiple bathrooms. No tank required in loft. More flexibility with installation location.
Cons: The hot water supply is very dependent on mains supply pressure. Not suitable for properties with older heating systems due to high pressure system. Needs a hot water tank so space must be available for this.
Electric Storage heaters
Storage heaters are most common in older-built properties. They use electricity to create heat to keep your home warm. They are becoming less common as they use electricity, which is generally more expensive than gas, they only really become cost effective when mains gas is not available. However, they can be useful when looking to heat only a small space.
Solar Panels
Solar panels have become more and more popular over the last few years especially with the increase in costs of running your home. Solar panels work by using the sunlight and turning this into electrical energy to power your home. Solar panels can be installed in a wide range of places making them suitable for most properties. They do not create any noise and are also very safe.
Wind Turbines
Wind turbines are popping up all over the country, you may have seen them in the countryside or even in the sea. They work by converting wind into electricity. Wind turbine farms are also becoming more common which is where many individual wind turbines are put together. Generally, wind turbines can be found in more remote areas due to their large size, so if your property comes with a lot of land, they may be a good option for you. However, they can be initially quite costly and can generate noise.