Heating your home adequately in the colder months is incredibly important; a sound heating system can increase your quality of life and comfort. There are a variety of options available, including gas boilers, oil boilers, and wood-based heaters. But it’s vital to understand the differences to see which solution could best meet your needs.
Gas Boilers
There are many plus points to buying a gas boiler. In fact, they are a popular choice because of their high efficiency, which means that a large proportion of the fuel is converted into usable heat. This makes them more environmentally friendly compared to oil and coal boilers. They can also be a cost-effective choice for many households. Since natural gas is supplied directly to your home via piping, it eliminates the need to store fuel while providing a constant supply to your home.
However, in more remote areas, there may not be infrastructure connecting the houses to a natural gas supply, making it expensive to install a gas boiler.
Oil Boilers
This modern boiler solution is known for high efficiency. It heats up fast, ideal for warming up your house quickly. It’s also an ideal boiler for remote locations where there is no access to the gas mains. Since oil boilers can provide a higher heat output, they may be advantageous for larger homes.
At Humphrey and Crockett, we acknowledge that oil boilers can be expensive to run but are necessary to countless homes that are off grid without any alternative options. That’s why you can integrate other systems with your oil boiler to help keep costs down and efficiency up. Another potential downside to running an oil boiler is storing the oil in on-site tanks, which can consume space that some homes don’t have.
Wood-Based Heaters
Wood-based heaters can be a great option for those who live in rural and remote areas and can’t easily access gas mains, as well as for those who don’t have the space to store oil tanks for an oil boiler. When the wood is ethically and sustainably sourced, it can be a renewable energy source, which reduces your carbon footprint compared to other heating sources. Wood can also be the more affordable heating solution.
Wood heaters can require some physical work, from lifting and stacking to splitting and cutting, so it may not be the right option for those who struggle with physical labour. Generally, these heaters can be less efficient than their gas and oil counterparts as they lose heat more.
How a Thermal Store Works
Once your heater or boiler is up and running, we can set up a thermal store in your home, which will take the heat from your wood heater or oil/gas boiler and bring it into a single store. This excess energy can then be used as needed throughout your home. It’s an especially great option to increase the efficiency of wood heaters.
Ultimately, the best heating source will depend on factors such as your location, household demands, storage space and budget. Get in touch to talk to one of our experts to find the best solution for your home.
