Your heating questions answered!

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How do I choose the right heating?

First question to ask yourself is: what do I want to heat: my home, a room, or myself? This will narrow down your heating choices and give you an idea of how much you'll need to spend.

How big is the area I want to heat?

You’ll save money on running costs by working out the space you want to heat and then choosing a heating system that suits. So, first, measure the area you want to heat. Second, work it out in squares (1 square equals 3m x 3m) and then last look up: high ceilings will make a difference to how much you need to heat.

How often do I use the areas I want to heat?

What is your routine? Are you out and about for most of the day? Or are mostly at home? How often you need to run your heating will affect the running costs.

What type of heat?

Radiant heating heats the surfaces in a room, including you; convection heating warms the air, sometimes with the assistance of a fan. There are plenty of choices for both types of heating. Have a chat to a professional to find out more.

Hard-wired or portable?

If you own your home, you can install a hard-wired system on to our heating and hot water product (tariff 41) which could save you money on your heating costs (depending on your energy product choice). If you rent, a portable heater can go with you when you move.

What is the ideal heating temperature?

In short, it depends what you use it for. For rooms you are moving about in, such as a kitchen or hallway, 16°C will take the chill off. Rooms where spend time sitting, such as lounges or offices, will be comfortable between 18 and 21°C. Remember: the higher you turn up your heater, the higher your energy bill.

When should I heat a space?

Only heat a space if you are using it: for example, you may want to turn bedroom heaters on to warm the room up briefly before going to bed, or use timers to turn them on in the morning, but you don't need to run them overnight or during the day.

Can I alternate between heating and cooling?

There are systems that will cool and heat your home when the weather warms up: you can talk to a heating professional to find out more about reverse cycle air conditioners (heat pumps).