So, the media is full of politicians and experts telling us all to ditch our gas boilers and central heating and switch to low carbon heating alternatives. Even within the business, this has caused confusion, arguments and uproar but not for the reasons you may think! I can only assume you are reading this because you feel just as confused about the subject and don't know where to turn.

Firstly, as a company who installs gas boilers, we are very aware they are harmful to the environment which is why when we chose to partner with a boiler company we chose ATAG. We went out of our way to find the most efficient boilers on the market and one which is built to last, again to reduce the carbon footprint of replacing boilers every few years.

Recently, our own boiler went bang, it had been installed before we purchased our house and it was a reasonably OK and well known boiler brand. Sadly, even after Stuart had nursed it back to life several times, it has still only lasted the grand total of 5 years. It died it's final death and Stuart declared "That's it, order an ATAG Ellen". (There may have been some choice words involved in that sentence but I will leave those out for the purposes of this blog).

We had often discussed what we would do when the last boiler died and if we would invest in an air source heat pump but our property is a 1950's, not terribly well insulated (hopefully rectified soon) property which would be an absolute nightmare to retro fit, not to mention a lot more expensive to install and run! We genuinely do not feel the technology currently available offers a 'good fit for all' solution and it certainly doesn't fit where our own house or budget is concerned.

A recent study carried out by Baxi suggests the average additional cost of running a heat pump over a gas boiler will be £230 a year. Over time and with more investment, this price may well flip in favour of new technology, some of which hasn't even been conceived yet but our knowledge is growing every day and I am positive, there will be a solution for all in the future. In the mean time, the lovely 14 year warranty we get with our new boiler will keep us going. Our money is on Hydrogen or hybrid heating systems becoming the new norm but at present, the infrastructure is not in place for that currently although trials are happening right now and we love the results!

We are now constantly being asked  if as a home owner you should be installing a heat pump over a new gas boiler. The answer to this will depend entirely on your own personal circumstances and not one we can answer for you (hence our frustration). If you are building your house now or are stripping a house right back then yes, it is worth serious consideration. Do you have the funds (even with the recent news of a grant available) to cover ALL the work required to make a heat pump work efficiently in your property? This could involve improving the entire fabric of the building from the floor up, a somewhat daunting task! Are you prepared to potentially pay more than you currently are to heat your home? If the answer to these questions is yes, then absolutely go forth and get yourself armed with as much information as you can. Always go to a local, qualified installer and get more than one quote! I would suggest waiting to find out more about the Government Grant which may be available to some as it could make a huge difference.

Now for those of us who are sticking with gas for the time being, there are many things we can do to reduce our heating bills and our carbon footprint! It could be as simple as putting a jumper on instead of reaching for the thermostat, or you could consider a new, more efficient boiler if yours is getting on a bit. Maybe you don't currently have Thermostatic Radiator Valves on your radiators which can greatly improve your heating bills or you may wish to invest in a whole home smart heating system and zone your property according to each individual rooms use.

Have you had a power flush in the last 7 years? If not, your radiators and pipework could very easily be clogged up and not working at full capacity, this as also bad news for your boiler which will be pumping away harder to try and compensate putting extra wear and tear on the integral parts. There are also many other factors to consider such as doors and windows, draft excluders, thermal lined curtains, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation which all play a huge part in keeping your bills down.

I feel, the key here is to be aware. Be aware of the environment, be aware of what we can achieve and be aware we can't all do everything right this minute, even if that is seriously frustrating you! The technology is growing all the time and so is our knowledge but as a wise man once said "Act in haste, repent at leisure". I personally want more investment, more technology and more information and in the mean time, I will put a jumper on and use my new ATAG energy saving boiler wisely!

If you would like any advice on how you can reduce your heating bills, please do get in touch, we are always happy to advise you.