What heating system does your property have?

Most properties in the UK will have a standard central heating system. In fact, statistics report as many as 95% of households in the UK fall into this category. Central heating systems are also known as ‘gravity-fed’ systems as they rely on the forces of gravity and pumps to produce both hot water and heat. There are commonly 2 water tanks that will be located on one of the upper levels of your building – quite often, in the loft. One of these will hold all the hot water that the boiler produces – this is where the water that comes out of your taps and showerheads will be stored. The other boiler is there to provide the radiators around your home and other components of your system with water when needed. As the water needs to heat up through your boiler, some central heating systems can be slow while heat is constantly being lost during the transportation of water.

Generally used as a means to save money on installation and running costs, storage heaters can still be found in many homes built during the 1970’s. Their purpose was to make use of the cheap nightly electricity that could then be used to heat a home during the day. You may also find storage heaters in homes that aren’t on the gar grid. The heater ‘charges’ during the night, heating up ceramic or concrete blocks within the heater. Some will have inbuilt fans that help to regulate the temperature in a room during the day. The best way to identify a storage heater is a two-tariff meter (one that has 2 numbers displayed on it). You will also notice that your bill may be split into day and night rates. Storage heaters are less cost-effective than general central heating because of the premium you’ll pay for the electricity.

As well as identifying your heating system, it helps to understand what boiler your property has too. There are 4 main types – gas boilers, electric boilers, oil boilers and solid fuel boilers.

In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of electric boilers on the market which stand-in to replace both gas and solid fuel alternatives. They can be used in traditional central heating systems and have the benefit of being exceptionally quiet. Additionally, if you’re looking to save on electricity fees, these boilers make use of cheap night-time electricity like in storage heaters to get you the best prices.

If your building has a rustic edge to it, you may have a solid-fuel burner. This is one that runs and produces hot water by burning through fuel sources such as wood, coal and natural solid fats. They are large in size and require constant fuel to maintain the temperature. As you can expect, burning items such as timber and coal produce a lot of mess which makes them impractical for modern homes. And, they require a lot of maintenance to minimise damage and keep them running at an optimal level.

Understanding what heating system you have allows you to utilise hot water and heating effectively for your entire household. Here at Bugby Services, we have a wealth of experience in everything from boiler repairs, boiler services and central heating maintenance. Get in contact today or request a quote and let us keep your home comfortable all year round.