Tag: Heating

Heat pump

How we heat our homes in the next decade will play a pivotal role in the UK government’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. 

The adoption of heat pumps by homeowners and landlords is being hailed as part of the answer.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to install 600,000 heat pumps annually by 2028 and under current government plans, gas and oil boilers will be banned from newly built homes from 2025. 1

These are ambitious targets when, currently, less than 1% of UK homes use the technology and most haven’t even heard of it.2

What is a heat pump?

Heat pumps are a renewable energy technology that converts energy in the ground (Ground Source Heat Pumps) or air (Air Source Heat Pumps) into heat.

They use less fossil fuel than most other systems, so deliver a more sustainable, low-carbon source of heating and hot water all year round.

How does a heat pump work?

A heat pump takes the available heat from the ground or air surrounding a property and increases it to a more useful temperature for use in the home. The renewable source of heat can be used to create warm air and hot water.

A heat pump doesn’t burn fuel, it simply moves heat from one place to another.

Pros and cons of having a heat pump in your home

Pros

• High-efficiency ratings

• Provide both space and water heating and space cooling

• Can substantially lower your energy bills

• They can also significantly lower your carbon footprint

• If your old heating system was inefficient, you are more likely to see lower running costs with a new heat pump

• If you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30% to 40%

• They can improve your property’s air quality

• When correctly installed it should require very little maintenance and be expected to last for at least 20-30 years

• Most heat pumps come with a 5-10-year warranty on parts and labour as standard

 

Cons

• You’ll need enough space for the external condenser unit (comparable to an air conditioning unit)

• May require planning permission

• They can be noisy

• Greater up-front cost

• Requires a supplementary source of power, usually electricity, so there will still be some resulting CO2 emissions

 

How much does a heat pump cost?

They aren’t cheap. Installing a typical system costs around £9,000 – £11,000. However, the great news is that most households will be eligible for Government contributions of up to £5,000.

The UK Government’s Green Homes Grant scheme is available to homeowners and landlords to help fund up to two-thirds of the cost of energy-saving home improvements. That includes both air-source and ground-source heat pumps.

Is a heat pump suitable for my home?

They aren’t suitable for all properties but they are for most.

Some homes may require planning permission, and you should also consider where you’ll put the pump and potential disruption during installation. See further guidance from the Energy Saving Trust here.

1 https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/making-the-switch-to-a-low-carbon-heat-pump/

2 According to BEIS Public Attitudes Tracker (Dec. 2019), 70% of 4,212 respondents had never heard of Air Source Heat Pumps.

Homeowners

Draught proof your home for one of the cheapest and most effective ways to use less energy to heat your home. Just a few quick fixes and you can save money and make your home warm at the same time. It’s a no brainer, right?

Why should you draught proof your home?

• To keep your home warm

• To be energy efficient

• Save money on your fuel bills

• Lower your carbon footprint

Besides,  According to the Energy Saving Trust, simply by draught-proofing your windows and doors, you can save around £20 a year

Furthermore, Draughts happen where there are unwanted gaps in the construction of your home, and where openings are left uncovered.

Draught proofing shouldn’t be too tricky if you’re happy to tackle simple DIY jobs since most products should be available from good DIY shops.

Draught proofing your windows

You can buy either self-adhesive foam strips or metal or plastic slips with wipers attached. Stick them around the window frame and fill the gap between the window and the frame.

It’s important to make sure that the strip is the right size to fill the gap in your window. If it’s too big, you might not be able to close the window. If it’s too small then there will still be a gap.

Draught proofing doors

You can prevent a lot of heat from escaping by draught-proofing external doors. Four main areas to consider are:

• Gaps at the bottom – using a brush or hinged flap draught excluder or even a home made one by filling a large piece of fabric with old clothes

• Gaps around the edges – by fitting foam, brush or wiper strips like those used for windows

• Keyhole – using a purpose-made cover the drops a metal disc over the hole, they usually cost around £3

• Letterbox – remember to measure your letter box so you buy the right letterbox flap or brush, they usually cost under £1

Draught proofing chimneys and fireplaces

Firstly If you don’t use your fireplace, you could fit a cap over the chimney pot, which we recommend having done by a professional. On the other hand, you could fit a chimney draught excluder from any good DIY store.

 

Just make sure you remove the draught-proofing if you decide to light a fire. Read more about draught-proofing your chimney here.

Draught proof your loft hatch

Moreover It’s worth blocking off draughts around your loft hatch, as heat rises and gets lost in the loft. As you would on a door, however, it’s best to use strip insulation.

All about electric boilers… Your boiler is at the heart of your home, so when it comes to new boiler installation, you want to make sure you choose the right option for you.

Sometimes, homeowners find that a traditional boiler is not suitable for their home for a variety of reasons. Perhaps their home is lacking space, they are looking for a greener option or are simply fed up of a noisy boiler. Whatever the reason, switching to an electric boiler could be the perfect choice.

Electric boilers are a smart and modern alternative to traditional boilers and use electricity to heat water for your home rather than gas or oil.

Check out seven reasons why we think you should consider installing an electric boiler in your home.

It’s the greener choice

One of the biggest selling points of an electric boiler is that, compared to traditional boilers, they are far more energy efficient and thus kinder to the environment.

As there is no need for electric boilers to burn fossil fuels like gas or oil to produce heat, there are no waste products being expelled. This means there is no lost heat, resulting in better efficiency.
Many models of electric boiler are actually between 99-100% efficient. Outperforming appliances powered by gas or oil which rarely score above 93%.

With no waste products being pumped into the atmosphere, electric boilers are definitely a greener choice for the environmentally conscious.

No gas supply required

Over two million homes in the UK do not have a mains gas supply, and it can be impractical or costly to get connected.

So, homeowners often need to look at alternative ways of heating their homes. Some still opt for a traditional gas boiler but then need to have an LPG gas tank installed. Others choose an oil boiler, which again requires a large tank to be situated.

Both of these options have their limitations because a lot of space is required for the tank outdoors, and they require a regular delivery of fuel which can be inconvenient and costly.

With an electric boiler, these issues are eliminated. Electric boilers simply run from your mains electricity. That means homes without a gas supply can still enjoy a full central heating system.

Compact and convenient electric boilers

Traditional boilers can take up a lot of space in your home, but the same cannot be said for their electric counterparts.

Because electric boilers don’t need any extra parts such as a flue, water tank or fuel tank, they are a lot smaller than other boilers.

As well as being compact, they don’t need to be installed next to an outside wall making placement much easier.

This makes an electric boiler a great choice for homes where space is an issue. You could situate your electric boiler in a cupboard next to your bedroom, or even under the stairs. Great news if you haven’t got much room to work with!

Quiet

Ever been kept up all night by a noisy boiler? Sleepless nights will be a thing of the past if you choose to go electric!

Gas and oil boilers can be loud due to the fact they contain many moving parts and burn combustion fuel to heat up your home. But in comparison, electric boilers are notoriously quiet because they don’t require any moving elements to create heat.

This means that even if your electric boiler is situated right next to your bedroom, you won’t be able to hear it running.

Easy to maintain

Because electric boilers don’t burn fossil fuels and have no moving parts to malfunction, they are very easy to maintain compared to a traditional boiler.

The only real maintenance that is required for an electric boiler is a clean out of the tank periodically to get rid of any debris brought in with the water. Because there are no fuels being burned, there will be no residue build up to remove and you certainly won’t have to worry about issues with pilot lights.

In the unlikely event that your electric boiler breaks down, repairs should be quick and easy.

Electric boilers are easy and cheap to install

Did you know that getting a new electric boiler up and running is actually fairly easy?

With no flue, condensate pipe or gas line required, installation is much quicker compared with traditional boilers. All it usually takes is some extra wiring and you’re good to go!

To make it even more convenient, your new electric boiler does not need to be installed by a Gas Safe™ engineer. As a result, electric boiler installation is generally cheaper too.

Safe form of fuel

Have you ever worried about potential risks related to your boiler? Having an electric boiler installed could be the perfect choice to put your mind at ease.

Gas boilers burn fossil fuel, so there is always the danger of gas or carbon monoxide leaks occurring in your home. This is why they need to be installed by a Gas Safe™ engineer and be serviced regularly to ensure that they remain in safe working order.

Because electric boilers run directly from your mains electricity and do not burn fuel, the risk of toxic fumes escaping into your home is completely eliminated.

Have we convinced you to switch to an electric boiler? Whatever boiler you choose, you can be sure that PlusHeat will be there to keep your home warm all year long. Take a look at our choice of maintenance and service plans and pick one that is right for you and your home.

Having a regular boiler service can go a long way in keeping your home life running smoothly and avoid unnecessary disturbances to your daily routine.

A well-functioning boiler is an integral part of your home, providing a warm, comfortable home and hot water. So it is essential to look after it properly. The best way to take care of your boiler by getting it regularly serviced.

Did you know that an annual boiler service only takes around half an hour? Why should you book an annual boiler service?

1. 
   

   1. Peace of mind

One of the most important reasons for a boiler service is that it helps to keep you and the people in your home safe.

A full inspection will give you peace of mind when it comes to your boiler. Your gas servicer will check all of the key components for signs of damage and wear and tear, as well as testing for gases.

Servicing your boiler can highlight any need for repairs before a broken boiler causes any serious damage to your health.

1. 
   

   2. Safeguard your warranty

Your boiler warranty has some very important small print: you need to have your boiler serviced annually to keep it valid.

During your warranty, which could be up to 10 years, manufacturers require you to have an annual service to keep it valid. If you do not have a service once in every 12 months then your warranty could be void. If a problem occurs, you’re likely to be liable to pay the full repair costs involved. This is a standard stipulation across the whole boiler industry, and is there to promote safety and efficiency.

Boilers that aren’t regularly serviced can fall outside the terms and conditions of the manufacturer’s guarantee. Check yours and make sure you book in your boiler service with to keep it working efficiently.

1. 
   

   3. Catch faults early

A boiler that is serviced regularly throws up any potential issues before it becomes a real problem.

Chances are, if you’re not a trained gas engineer, you won’t know about a problem with your boiler until you come to turn it on and it won’t ignite. During a service, your gas engineer will be able to identify and fix any underlying problems before it’s too late. No matter how small the issue with your boiler, ignoring it could lead to a more serious problem which could be much more costly to repair or lead to a safety issue.

Keeping your boiler serviced annually makes sure it is working properly and using fuel safely. Ensure you book in an appointment; it could prevent a fatal accident.

Save the inconvenience, time, money and hassle of dealing with a boiler problem.

1. 
   

   4. Prolong your boilers lifespan

Remember, boilers can be costly to replace so look after yours to prevent unnecessary expense. While new boilers are more efficient than ever before, it is important to keep them this way.  A boiler that isn’t working to full efficiency is sure to be costing you money on your fuel bill. By regularly servicing your boiler once a year, you will keep it in good shape for far longer.

1. 
   

   5. Legal requirement for landlords

If you are a landlord, remember you need a CP12 gas safety certificate so you must be confident your boilers are safe.  It is of paramount importance for you to get your boilers regular serviced and it is relatively cheap to do so.

Your certificate is a legal requirement and without it, you could end up with a hefty fine (far more than booking in for annual boiler servicing!).

Your heating engineer will deal with all your small issues before they become problematic, keep your warranty valid and give you a nice, warm and toasty home when you need it most!

Need to book your annual boiler service? You came to the right place. Get in touch with the PlusHeat team today.

 

Also Read –

• What to Do if Your Boiler Breakdown in the winter
• How to stop your pipes from freezing this winter
• All You need to know about buying Boiler Cover Insurance in the UK