Heating plays a considerable role in keeping your family warm and cosy in the winter months. They are essential for the quality of life and comfort that people want. That said, wouldn’t it be more beneficial if you could have the warmth, without the enormous costs?
There is a range of options when it comes to heating your home, so let’s take a look at a couple (thank you to the team at Duffy Heating for their insights into the following types of modern heating solutions):
Gas Vs Electric
Something that surprises many people is the fact that electric radiators are, in fact, 100% efficient when it comes to transferring electrical heat to energy. Unfortunately, gas boilers are only 90% efficient. So the quick conclusion is that the most efficient heating system is going to be electric.
However, When it comes to the most cost-effective heating, gas seems to come out tops.
So what about if you don’t have access to the mains gas network? That’s going to leave you with a higher bill, but more energy-efficient… What are the other options then?
Off-Grid
There are many more people in the UK now choosing to live off-grid. That means that up to 15% of the UK doesn’t have access to mains gas. However, they can still use conventional gas heating systems and use LPG as a fuel source.
In basic terms this is propane and butane compressed into liquid form, they get stored in tanks and bottles. This allows for a huge amount of fuel to be stored between refills. You’re obviously going to have to arrange an LPG provider to come and do refills when required to keep your power supply steady.
LPG is safe to use and provides a very similar heating characteristic to using mains gas. It is reliable so long as you make sure that you have arranged delivery is on time.
Bottled Gas?
Bottled gas has always been a very popular option. It might not be a cost-effective way to heat your home depending on how you use it. However, many people use a mobile gas heater in the home. So they only get heat exactly where they need it rather than pay for a full heated house. Which can prove to be a money-smart option.
Renewable Energy Sources?
There are many companies now offering renewable energy. And this is gaining support with the general public and becoming more popular over time. Renewable heat incentives typically offer a subsidy payment for people to change to a more economical heating system. In general, with most renewable energy sources, there is a reduced bill too. It is always wise to combine something like renewable energy sources with solar panels, so you can really make the most of the summer sun when you get it
Winner?
Almost everybody is going to be recommending that a mains gas fuel way of heating your home is cheaper. However, if you’re living off the grid, LPG is going to be the most cost-effective heating option for you. There are many tariffs that you can consider and should look into before choosing a provider.
It is also worth noting that the better your home is insulated, the more you are going to save year-on-year with any of these heating options. Whatever you do in terms of heat in your home, always make sure that you only work with a professional.
