Are You Using the Best Heating System for Your Home?
An efficient, reliable heating system is one of the most fundamental aspects of any home as without one your house would be nearly inhabitable. But what are the options when it comes to residential heating?
The most common option is mains gas but, if your home is not connected to the mains gas network, then you need to choose between a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) system, an oil-fired system, or a renewable energy option, but which is best suited to you?
Natural Gas
Is by far the most common method of heating a home but the wrong boiler will end up wasting you money and energy. Old and irregularly serviced boilers can also unexpectedly break down leaving you facing a large, unexpected repair cost. We can supply you with a fully functional, energy efficient, and cost effective gas boiler to heat your home and save you money, along with providing regular maintenance and an emergency call out service.
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
If your home is one of four million that is not connected to the mains gas network, then LPG is a popular alternative to a gas boiler. LPG is delivered to you by tanker and can be stored in either an underground or above-ground storage tank. LPG systems are used in wet heating systems heating up the water that runs through the taps and radiators in your home.
Oil-Fired
The alternative to LPG systems for homes not connected to the mains gas network, oil-fired systems provide warmth for the home through the use of heating oil. Heating oil is stored in an outdoor storage tank and is used in a wet heating system. An advantage of oil-fired systems is that, since 2005, all newly-installed oil-fired boilers must utilise condensing technology which recycles the heat through a heat exchanger so any water in the system is pre-heated by the hot exhaust gas.
Renewable Energy
Heating accounts for more carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than any other aspect of our lives for the average UK household and in order to reach net zero targets we need to dramatically reduce the amount of fossil-fuel generated heating in our homes.
One way to do that is by installing a renewable heating technology, such as a heat pump, solar water heating, or biomass boiler. However, each home is different and you need to find out which technology will suit your home and your lifestyle.
Which Should You Choose?
If you are not connected to the mains gas network and the choice is between LPG or oil-fired, the decision will mostly come down to your usage for the system. Although heating oil is generally cheaper than LPG, it is quite restricted to being boiler only whereas LPG can be used as fuel for your oven, hob, or gas fire. Both systems will cost similar to a gas boiler to install with the same level of regular maintenance and servicing needed.
If you conscious about your impact on the environment and prepared to invest in a renewable energy heating source, are MCS accredited engineers will gladly discuss the options available for your property. With renewable technology being highly dependant on your current EPC rating and levels of insulation a thorough survey beforehand is imperative. The installation costs of a renewable energy heating source are therefore far greater than those of a traditional system but there are Government grants and incentives available to promote their popularity and uptake.
