Home heating is an essential aspect of living but it can be a little spacious for the average home. However, it doesn’t need to be. Many home heating systems can help improve the space-saving in your home while providing adequate comfort. It can streamline your room and help you make better use of the components you have. Let’s look over some of the best heating system options and what types of homes they work with best.
Boilers That Save Space
Boilers are the cheapest solution when it comes to heating but some are more spacious than others. When it comes to old homes, there are big, bulky heating installations that can be stuck in a loft or an attic. For larger homes, this large setup might be necessary but most homes can improve on it and save a bit more space by installing a system boiler.
System boilers require external components but are far smaller than conventional or regular boilers. System boilers can be great for homes that require 2 or more simultaneous running taps. Ideal for homes with multiple rooms as it can store hot water in a cistern but is smaller than the tank for a conventional boiler.
For smaller homes, you can even make do with a combi boiler (which can potentially save you a lot of money in running costs as well). Unlike system and conventional boilers, combi boilers are self-contained and can be installed very easily. They produce water on demand and do not require storage, which lets them potentially save on both space and electricity.
Combi boilers do have their disadvantages as well. They are best for homes with one bathroom. They can’t run hot water on too many taps together, so adopt one if you require lower hot water usage.
In terms of price, combi boilers are generally cheaper as well. System boilers can be a bit more expensive.
Be Careful Before You Go Electric
Aside from gas boilers, electric ones can save you a lot of space. They can seem enticing as they offer the opportunity to escape the gas grid and its constant price fluctuations. They can also be less dangerous since they eliminate the risk of monoxide poisoning. In terms of space-saving, they have very few parts and might be the easiest to install.
They even have up to 100% efficiency for running costs. While that may sound great, they have a major disadvantage because electricity is so much more expensive than gas and even other fossil fuels. This can lead to a big spike in running costs after which it probably won’t matter that the efficiency is so high.
Do Heat Pumps Save Space?
Heat pumps are getting more and more popular, especially considering the massive rise in applications for heat pumps in the UK. While expensive, a lot of the costs for heat pumps can be mitigated by grants and incentives the government offers. With that in mind, they can still be an option, but are they a space-saver or clutter catalyst?
Let’s cover the basics. An air to air heat pump is the most common, requiring an outdoor unit that helps transfer heat or cold. Other forms of heat pumps include ground source and water source heat pumps. They all utilise different degrees of space both in and outside the home.
In terms of interior space, depending on the model, an air to air heat pump will take up a lot less space than a boiler. They may require a bulky outdoor unit, which can be about the size of a washing machine, but the indoor unit is quite compact.
Air to water heat pumps can be a different story since they require a water storage unit. If you’re looking to use underfloor heating, this would be your best option but it will require additional components.
Ground source and water source (not to be confused with air to water) heat pumps require a lot of outdoor space. They source their heating and cooling based on the ground and water bodies respectively, which means they need extensive wiring. This applies even more to horizontal ground source installations, since require a lot more area per bore.
That is also not even considering that you will need the appropriate amount of outdoor ground that you can use or a body of water. This is why air source heat pumps are preferable. They may not have as high an efficiency as ground source models, but they are extremely powerful (up to 3 to 4 times as efficient as the average boiler).
Best Solutions For Affordability?
That said, what heating system you use should take price into account. The average combi boiler will be around £1,000, with many good models being even cheaper. System boilers are a bit more expensive. Air source heat pumps are, at minimum, twice as expensive with many being even more expensive.
That doesn’t mean they’re not affordable. They can make up for the price by being far cheaper to run per kW and grants can help with the installation costs. They are also a far better alternative than relying on fossil fuels, which are due to be phased out in the next 2 decades, if not sooner. However, if you are low on cash and just want some space in your home, you would be best served by a high-efficiency boiler.