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Do you have an old home and are looking to see what improvements could help air out your home. Creating new space in your home can also be an opportunity to modernise it and get rid of inefficiencies. You can kiss those bulky boilers goodbye and make a great energy-saving upgrade to your home.
So let’s look at some options that can give you more space in your home.
When Are Space-saving Boilers Worth it?
Boilers can be bulky and can take up unnecessary space in your home, but they don’t necessarily have to be a spacious prospect. Out of the 3 types of boilers (combi, system, and conventional/regular), combis can be the most compact and self-contained. They can, in the right conditions, also allow for savings on heating.
However, before you rush out to buy one, there are some things you need to consider and keep in mind. Firstly, if you’re looking to replace your system or conventional boiler, you need to make sure you buy a combi that can match the original boiler’s output. Combis tend to be effective for smaller homes. The general rule is that they are best for single-bathroom homes that don’t expect to be using multiple faucets simultaneously for an extended period of time.
Another thing to consider is whether the change in hot water suits your home. Combi boilers provide heat on demand, meaning that they heat water as it is needed by a faucet rather than storing it in a tank or cylinder. This has definite advantages, such as not wasting water and delivering the exact amount of hot water required.
However, on-demand water also means that homes that use a lot more hot water may see increases in their heating bills. This may not be appropriate for homes that use a lot of water or need multiple sources of hot water to keep their homes warm.
Underfloor Heating
Boilers aren’t the only game in town, which is why there are other novel options that might come to the rescue (if they apply to your home and living situation).
Maybe switching your central heating device isn’t the right way to go. You may want to instead alter your home’s heat distribution system. If financially viable, a smaller home can benefit greatly from underfloor heating as it allows homeowners to ditch radiators.
With the radiators out of the way, your room may be able to breathe and the possibilities can open up. Aside from the space that radiators take up, there are many types of appliances that cannot be placed next to them (heating-adjacency issues, placement issues, etc.), which opens up a lot of arrangement possibilities for your room.
Along with saving space, there are fewer maintenance concerns with underfloor heating since there are no major moving parts as long as the pipes work. It can also distribute heat evenly, allowing for a more uniform temperature control throughout the various areas of your home.
That said, underfloor heating does have requirements. The first is that you have permission to alter your home and have removable floorboards for easy installation. Another issue is that the cost can vary based on the size of your floor, so larger homes will incur more costs per square metre as a result.
Electric underfloor heating mats generally have a maximum thickness of only 2 mm. You may need insulation boards advised to minimize heat loss, otherwise it won’t be as efficient and may run up the heating costs. Adding these boards can increase the thickness to about 6mm, which is very thin. Most floors can easily manage that, so it may be worth considering.
Can a Heat Pump Save Space?
Heat pumps are a complex topic in terms of space saving. The air conditioners that come with heat pumps can definitely save floor space as they are often located on the upper section of a wall or other surface. However, some homes employ a hybrid system which often means that they work alongside boilers, which won’t free up any more room.
Another thing worth considering is that heat pumps often save indoor space by taking up a bit of outdoor space. These systems have a heating unit that is located outside the main heating and cooling unit and may use up external space. Air source heat pumps use the least amount of outdoor space, while ground source heat pumps can take up significant room in the form of boreholes and trenches.
However, if you have outdoor space, you can benefit from heat pumps. Additionally, if you have the space, a heat pump with solar panels can make your heating entirely free from the gas grid while providing the highest level of energy performance. This allows for better savings on both heating and energy consumption while allowing you to free up potential gas-based appliances.
