When buying a house or examining your own properties, one of the big things to look out for is the inefficiencies in your heating system. From examining what type of heating the home has to look for telltale signs of an old system, let’s look over what you can do in more detail.
How Much Do You Lose from Inadequate Heating?
According to the Energy Savings Trust, you can save £270 to £490 annually by switching to a more efficient boiler. Aside from that, a new heating system can also improve your Energy Performance Certificate rating, allowing for better home value.
You can also lose money from an improperly sized boiler. A boiler that is too big will be costly and often be heating an amount of water you don’t need in its tank or loft, while a boiler that’s too small will lead to home heating issues when it can’t provide enough hot water. Similarly, a boiler that’s too big and inefficient might clog up space in the home, whereas a smaller one can free up some space and maybe even an entire room (as is the case with conventional boilers with loft-based water tanks).
Aside from the money lost in heating and energy, there are other factors, such as heating system replacement, which can cause increased costs down the road. For example, one of the main reasons your system might be inefficient is that it is old and requires replacement parts. Identifying this beforehand could save a lot of headaches down the road or help you spot a property to avoid.
Electric Heating Isn’t Always More Effective
National Energy Action and heat pump specialists Kensa have recently reported on how homes in the UK have substandard electric heating. Nearly 250,000 homes, which consists of about 1 in 4 homes in the UK, have inefficient heating that is driving up their bills due to improper technologies, bad insulation, and bad planning.
Government figures indicate that 1 in 4 electrically heated homes may not have the appropriate solution for their home size. On average, homes with these systems have a fuel poverty gap of £857 (compared to the average home), more than double the national average of £417.
So, how is this possible when a lot of electric heating systems get advertised as 99% efficient?
Signs of an Outdated Gas Boiler
Even if you have a classic gas boiler, there are many reasons it could be on the way out or improperly installed. The obvious one is leaks, whether harmless ones like water or dangerous ones like carbon monoxide. These sometimes have obvious signs, while other times can be less visually overt (especially if there is an interior problem).
First, you will need to check the pressure gauge needle and whether it’s pointing outside the appropriate range. Ordinarily, this is indicated by a red portion on one side of the gauge visuals. If this happens to be the case, you should try to bleed your radiators.
Another obvious thing to check on the heating system is the temperature levels. If the home has a smart thermostat system, you can look at specific data, although many homes don’t. However, most homes don’t have this, so you can also check the boiler’s temperature gauge. If this is the case, there might be loose joints in the system.
If, after tightening the joints, the temperature is still fluctuating, you might need to change the heat exchanger. This can be far more costly than adjusting the loose joints. Similarly, you should check the pump seals, which help in preventing a water leak from a boiler. These are prone to damage through wear and tear over time, and they are worth examining.
When to Opt for Alternatives to Boilers
Another possibility is that a home may not even have a gas or electric boiler. While avoiding these can bring benefits such as potentially having a more powerful system or a cheaper fuel (depending on the region). Oil boilers or LPG systems can be cheaper for some regions and work well off-the-gas-grid, but they can require a constant shipment of canisters. Make sure you have a good supply line in the area if these are your only fuel options.
Another possibility is heat pumps, which can be super-efficient but have their own caveats. One of these is that a heat pump needs good insulation to be worth the cost. Make sure the home does not let out heat too easily, and inspect the floor gaps in the structure. With the right conditions, air source heating with a heat pump can lead to far better savings than most boilers.
It’s always important to inspect a prospective property for heating and cooling problems. Even if you’re not looking for a new home, hopefully, these tips will help you know what to look for in your own home if you feel like the bills might be rising for no reason.
