Time to get the heating sorted out
NOVEMBER is here and winter is fast approaching so now is the perfect time to consider your home heating needs for the months ahead.
Whether you use oil for you heating system and are considering stocking up in preparation for the chilly winter months or you are considering an alternative form of home heating, like installing a wood burning stove, now is the perfect time to think about the options available to you.
There are many things you can do to your home to make sure it is as efficient as possible when it comes to keeping your home warm over the winter months.
If you live in an older house it may be a good time to think about adding extra insulation to keep you house warm and cosy and stop the unnecessary leaking of heat.
Before examining your heating system, it is important to review how well your house is insulated.
For example, fitting draught excluders around windows and doors where no draught protection is in place can cut heat loss by as much as 20% in winter.
Investing in high-grade insulation does more than cut down on heat loss.
It also means that once your home is heated to the required temperature, it is easier for your heating system to maintain this temperature, so it uses less energy.
Insulating your home can give long term benefits through reduced running costs. Capital investment in your heating system will also be reduced, as a smaller, more efficient heating unit will be required.
Installing or upgrading your windows is also a good way to ensure you get the most out of your heating which in turn will make a big difference to both the environment and your budget.
We live in a world of ever growing energy-awareness. Increasing home heating costs; driven by fluctuating fuel prices mean we must try to use energy as efficiently and sustainably as possible, without compromising the comfort of our homes, workplaces and public buildings.
There are a number of factors to con- sider when selecting the type of fuel for your home.
You may live in an area where connection to the gas supply is not possible or you may already use oil as your main source of heating through the winter.
If this is the case then now is a good time to ring around to get the best price for your tank.
It may also be a good idea to consider an alternative form of energy which could work in tandem with your own heating system. Examples of renewable energy which could help to cut down on your heating costs include installing solar panels, geothermal heat pumps for space and water heating and wood burning or dual fuel stoves which can also be connected to a boiler system and used to heat the water as well as rooms in the house.
If your home is heated by a gas boiler, upgrading the system if it is more than ten years old or simply arranging for a service can help to lower your bills over the winter months.