Learn all about heating systems and what they have to offer:
Renewable Heating
Biomass Heating Systems
Biomass or a wood heating systems use organic material such as wood pellets, chips or logs in a wood burning stove to generate heat and hot water when also connected to a boiler.
Solar Panel Water Heating Systems
Solar panels use the power of sunlight to generate electricity. They are mostly used by homeowners to generate electricity to power appliances around the home rather than a heating system. However, it is possible to divert any excess electricity you have generated to an immersion heater to heat your hot water too.
Air Source Heat Pumps and Ground Source Heat Pumps
An air source heat pump and a ground source heat pump use naturally occurring heat in the air or ground to heat water pumped through pipes that then heat your home and provide hot water.
Infrared Heating Panels
Instead of heating the surrounding air, as conventional heating does, infrared is a form of radiant heating that directly warms objects and people in a room. Infrared radiation waves heat in much the same way the infrared rays from the sun feel warm on our skin. Infrared light isn’t visible, nor does it contain UV light but it gets absorbed by our skin and any objects directly in front of it.
Gas Central Heating
The most common system in the UK is mains gas central heating, although not all homes are connected to the national gas grid. Gas has been considered the cheapest option if your house is connected, as it is generally considered much cheaper to heat water using gas than electricity. It is called a ‘ wet system’ because a gas-fired boiler heats water that is then distributed around the home through radiators and to the hot water taps. This can be by a conventional gas boiler or combi boiler (combination boiler). A combi boiler will heat your tap water on demand whereas a conventional gas boiler will heat water stored in your hot tank.
LPG Central Heating
Liquid Petroleum Gas or LPG is a heating system usually used in ‘ wet’ systems where an LPG-run boiler heats water, which is then distributed around the home through radiators. LPG heating relies on the fuel being delivered to your home and is stored outdoors; usually in the garden. This heating system can be a conventional or combi boiler.
Electric Cental Heating
If your home is not connected to the National gas grid, then perhaps you are using an electric heating system or considering one. The following are different ways of using electricity to heat your home, bearing in mind that some electric heater options are more costly than others.
Electric Storage Heaters
This method uses electricity supplied at night time and at a cheaper rate. It works on the principle of heating ceramic bricks which then slowly released heat throughout the day inside your home. Some storage heaters can be turned on during the day when needed; but at a cost.
Electric Radiators
An electric radiator is probably the least cost-effective way to heat your home as they work with standard electricity tariffs. However, they can be turned on and off manually or automatically for prompt heating requirements. If you have a very well-insulated property and don’t have to use them regularly or only in certain rooms of your house then this can be a good solution.
Immersion Heaters
An immersion heater or electric boiler is a bit like a large kettle. It’s an electric heating system with a metal loop or coil that sits inside a hot water cylinder heating water that is then distributed around the home. The immersion is connected to the mains electricity and can be switched on and off by a timer or thermostatic control.
Oil Heating Systems
Around 1.1 million households in the UK are heated by oil and are usually used in a ‘wet’ heating system. This process uses a boiler fuelled by oil to heat water. It is then distributed via radiators around your home. Oil is delivered to your home by a road supplier and is stored outside in a tank which may have to be rented or bought from the supplier.
