Matching Your Old House with the Perfect Heating System

If you’ve just bought or moved into an older property, heating it might be a bit more of a challenge than in a modern, new home. You’ll not only be thinking about the best modern heating system to install into an old house, but also how it will affect the aesthetics of the property. 

Here we take a look at your different options to help you decide the best heating system for your property. 

Heat sources

Gas

It’s likely that the existing radiators are powered by natural gas heating. Until recently gas has been the most widely used heating fuel source in the UK. It has many advantages – it’s piped directly into your home, is efficient, and if something does go wrong, it’s easy to find a qualified and gas safe accredited plumber to fix it. Unfortunately as a fossil fuel, gas isn’t a clean energy source, and in addition, costs have increased dramatically over the past couple of years, and recent events have made us realise how reliant we are on importing it from abroad. Therefore, more and more people are looking for alternative energy sources for their heating needs. 

Air source heat pumps

There has been a lot of excitement generated about the heat pump which is a very efficient way of heating an old property. They’re quiet, efficient and are cheap to run which will help you keep your heating costs low. They can also double as air conditioning in the summer months – with the threat of hotter summers on the horizon, this could be an extremely wise investment. Heat pumps are very efficient, including when the temperatures are very low, working more efficiently in the extreme cold than oil or gas. And the good news is that if you’re replacing an old gas or oil system, you could qualify for a grant of £7,500 towards a heat pump under the government’s Boiler Upgrade System. 

Heating systems

Radiators

If you haven’t had to buy a new radiator for a while, you may be surprised by how far they’ve come in terms of design and effectiveness. Modern designer radiators can add to the aesthetics of your home in many ways as well as being efficient heating sources; some double as mirrors, some come in interesting and attractive shapes, and some are even hung as works of art. If your building was built in the Victorian or Edwardian eras, traditional radiators will fit in seamlessly, but can also come with a modern twist in terms of design or colour. 

Electric radiators

If you don’t want the disruption of installing a central heating system, electric radiators are a great alternative, especially if you have solar panels or other renewable energy sources. Modern designer electric radiators come in a range of beautiful and funky designs and many come with smart controls so you can adjust them remotely. 

Underfloor heating

If you love the feeling of warmth underfoot and like walking around the house barefoot even in the depths of winter, underfloor heating could be the solution. It’s energy efficient and provides a warm, even heat across the room. And by not using a traditional radiator, you’ll also free up wall space which will be useful when it comes to placing furniture, especially if the property has awkward nooks and crannies. 

Trench grilles

Trench heating can prove an invaluable addition to keeping old houses warm. Many owners of listed buildings are very limited when it comes to replacing windows, having to stick to wooden frames and single glazing, which means there will be more heat loss than in a non-listed house. If you’ve got French doors or large windows, trench heating could provide the answer as the circulation of warm air acts as a kind of curtain that helps to keep the cold air out and will make a huge difference. When you opt for natural wooden grilles to cover the trenches, you’ll get a beautiful finish that will fit in with the existing flooring and character of the house.

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