Heating systems are becoming more modern, meaning there is more than one effective way to heat your home. Many of us will be used to a central heating system that uses a fuel-powered boiler to warm us up, but electric systems are also becoming more popular. But does the way you choose to power your heating really matter? To ensure you’re getting to most from your column and vertical radiators, we’ll look at the two most common types of heating – central and electric – below, so you can choose which is best for you.
What is central heating?
Central heating typically uses gas to heat up water that’s then pumped around your home to heat your radiators and maintain underfloor heating. Central heating systems that use gas can be either LPG (liquid petroleum gas) or oil fuelled – the heating then takes place in your boiler. When the hot water moves around your home, it then heats the air through convection. Many of us will have central heating systems in our homes, they are incredibly common, however, there is another type of heating that we will look at in more detail below. Here are a few pros and cons that come with traditional central heating systems.
Pros and Cons
So, what are the advantages? Using gas to heat your home means that you will benefit from cheaper energy bills, which is great with the rising cost of living. If you have a new boiler, you can make your central heating more energy efficient and effective. Having central heating also makes it easier for you to manage the temperature of your home, all you must do is turn your thermostat up or down to benefit from the optimum temperature. However, there are also drawbacks. If your central heating is old, it will not be as energy efficient, meaning that it will be having an impact on the planet. You’ll also find that boilers need a lot of maintenance to keep them working and running as they should – and if you find an issue, you may just be handed a hefty bill, especially if you need to upgrade your system.
What is electric heating?
In contrast to your standard central heating, electric heating is also an option that some of us may already have in our homes. Unlike central heating which heats from a boiler or central base, electric heating relies on separate appliances around the home, in each different room. This could be anything from fans to electric storage heaters, individually or within a network. The most obvious difference between central and electric is the fact that electric doesn’t require fuel like central heating. Here are a few of the pros and cons to help you decide which is best.
Pros and Cons
Electric heating systems tend to be more modern than central heating – there is a range of products available, from storage heaters to electric heaters so you can choose which suits you best. They tend to be easier to maintain than boilers, and they can be controlled easily to reach the temperature you need. However, there are also disadvantages. Electric heating may not be expensive to maintain but it is expensive to install. Whilst electricity may be better for the environment, electricity tends to be most costly than gas, so your bills may be higher.
Which is best?
Both of these heating options have their advantages and disadvantages, and ultimately the decision that you make is your choice. Whilst boilers may be cheaper to run, electric heating is said to be the way that most of us will be heating our homes in the future, as a way of reducing the impact we’re having on the environment. Weigh up the factors that matter to you most, like price or efficiency, and see which you think comes out on top – although we may just end up switching to electricity in the future!