The Alternatives to Gas Boilers That Are Worth Considering

Gas boilers are gradually reaching the end of their lifecycle. Due to the carbon emissions produced by this water heating solution, the Climate Change Committee is pushing for an outright gas boiler ban.

Government officials seem to agree with this significant change in U.K homes by supporting programs contributing toward eradicating gas boilers. Whether or not you agree with the Climate Change Committee on this adjustment, main gas lines will be closed for boilers after 2025. This means you need to consider other options in order to successfully heat your home.

Here are some sustainable alternatives for updating heating systems in existing homes or on new building projects.

 

Infrared heating panels

Infrared panels are an innovative heating system that uses electricity to warm up the room. Its main benefit is low energy consumption levels making it sustainable. The electricity powers infrared panels that provide direct warmth to people within their range. 

These panels generally have a range of about 3m, which means you’ve got to be close for higher efficacy. On the flip side, this limited range conserves energy as it provides directly needed warmth and nothing more than what’s required. 

Setting up infrared heating solutions is very affordable and can range from £150 to £500 per panel, depending on its range and strength. The disadvantage of infrared panels is that they do not heat the air. As a result, when switched off, the room will be cold and adapt to the current temperature.

 

Electric radiators

A highly reliable water heating system is the electric radiators. A few alternatives to gas boilers effectively work, and electric radiators are at the top of that list. Best Electric Radiators, Dimplex and Ecostrad provide a wide range of radiators with low energy consumption, making them sustainable. These boilers are scalable and can be used for different size properties. Electric radiators do not depend on external factors like the weather as some solutions do. 

As long as the electricity bill has been paid, you will come home to a warm house with hot water. This system can also be powered using solar power. By installing solar panels and creating a small electric grid to power the radiators, you can make this solution even more sustainable.

 

Hybrid water boilers

For more reliable solutions, consider hybrid water boilers that alternate between using a heat pump or gas. There’s a wide range of hybrid systems, some use propane and others LPG. Therefore, you can choose the most affordable and available solution in your vicinity. If you decide to use propane, you want to find a supplier that is reliable such as https://kellypropane.com to purchase your propane.

Since gas lines will be closed for new installations, consider using LPG hybrid boilers and buying gas bottles to supplement the heat pump. Using a hybrid boiler will significantly reduce carbon emissions but at the same time provide some reliability to your heating system. You can look for Discount Propane in Nassau and Suffolk Counties where you can purchase propane.

The system is more reliable because if the pump is not powerful enough at that time to heat the water, the gas will kick in. You can try DIY, but setting up a hybrid water boiler is challenging and requires professional assistance from an expert. The costs are also high, but fortunately, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme can provide financial assistance for this solution.

 

Air source heat pump

Air source heat pumps use a complex mechanism that regulates water temperature. It has a unit outside that uses the air to heat a liquid refrigerant that turns into a compressed gas. The compression of this gas makes the temperature rise and then pass on inside the house. Gradually the gas condenses into warm water that can be used for showering and heating units. 

Air source heat pumps are very complex to install and require a professional to install. The initial costs are very high, but this solution is also covered under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. As time goes on, air source heat pumps get easier to maintain, reducing the costs related to keeping them running.

 

Solar thermal heating 

Solar heating units are one the most sustainable solutions because all the heating is done by energy from the sun. It is different from most heating systems since it uses panels on the roof to raise water temperature directly. The water is circulated through solar heating panels with storage capacity. 

To prevent the water from freezing in extremely cold weather, it is mixed with glycol. Setting up solar thermal heating panels is relatively simple and is affordable. There is also a variety of setups to choose from. For example, you can choose to have the tank on your roof or indoors. 

The panels can be used to heat water and also warm up the house heating system with the appropriate units. However, maintaining this system is not that affordable because the panels need to be inspected by a professional every once in a while.