Are you in the market for a new boiler? If so, you may be considering a gas boiler. However, there are other options available, and it’s worth exploring them all before making a decision.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at alternative types of boilers that might be a better fit for your home.
So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Good alternatives to a gas boiler?
There are many different options available for homeowners who want an alternative heating solution. It’s important to do your research before settling on one option or another.
Some of the existing alternatives to using a gas boiler are;
- Electric boilers
- Air Source Heat Pumps
- Solar Panel Powered Heating
- Ground Source Heat Pumps
- Renewable Heating Systems
Let’s now look at some of the options in more detail.
1. Electric Boilers
First on our list of possible alternatives is an electric boiler. Electric boilers are extremely energy efficient and are said to be almost 97% more efficient than their traditional counterparts.
They also heat water quickly, cutting down on wasted time and money while you wait for hot water. However, some homeowners do complain that they cannot provide quite enough domestic hot water for multiple users in larger households or more complicated ones with loft extensions, additional bathrooms or appliances that need extra hot water – but it really depends on the size of your home and how many people live in it.
And while electric boilers are more expensive to purchase initially than gas boilers, they can offer significant savings on fuel bills.
According to a report from house engineer (1), for a medium-sized home in the UK, the average yearly savings could be around £300. So it pays off in the long run!
One thing that some homeowners don’t love about electric boilers is that they can cause electromagnetic field (EMF) pollution. This means you’ll need to account for the price of extra wiring and electrical work when installing an electric boiler.
2. Air Source Heat Pumps
In recent years, air-source heat pumps have become more popular among homeowners who want a new heating system installed
Air source heat pumps use fans and compressors that draw warm air from outside and then distribute it through your home’s radiators or underfloor systems
They’re not just great for the environment, but they’re good on your pocket too. In some cases, they have been shown to cut energy bills by up to half compared to traditional heating systems.
However, an air source heat pump will not always be able to provide enough hot water for your household needs – particularly if you have a larger family or more complicated home with multiple bathrooms and appliances that need extra hot water (like washing machines, dishwashers, etc)
But all things considered, this type of heat source is definitely worth considering when searching around for alternatives to your gas boiler.
The key thing for most homeowners is that they will need to make sure they get an expert to come out and install it properly because if not installed correctly it won’t work as well.
3. Solar Panel Powered Heating
The next alternative is Solar Panel Powered Heating
As the name suggests, these heating system harnesses the power of the sun to heat your water and home. And while it will cost you more money to buy and install initially (you can expect to pay around £4,000 – £5,000 for a typical, 3.5kWp system), they may actually end up saving you money in the long run.
According to Energy Saving Trust (2), an average household can save around £240 per year on heating bills by switching to solar power
However, before making any decision about whether or not to get a solar-powered heating system installed, it’s really important that you take a look at how much sunshine your area receives throughout the year. You should also check whether or not you will need any extra equipment installed.
If you’re unsure of either of these, it’s a good idea to consult a professional installer.
4. Ground Source Heat Pumps
A Ground Source Heat Pump is another viable option worth considering.
Just like an Air Source Heat pump, this type of system uses fans and compressors to draw warmth from the outside air and distribute it around your home via radiators or underfloor heating systems.
They’re also about 10 times more expensive than gas boilers but they can offer significant savings on fuel bills in the long term as well as being green and eco-friendly just like solar-powered heating systems do. And for those who don’t live in areas that receive lots of sunshine, a ground source heat pump could be the best option as it’s also a good alternative to gas heating.
However, just like any other alternative to gas heating, you should always have an expert come out and install your ground source heat pump properly for you to ensure they work correctly – otherwise, you could still run into problems with high energy bills or poor performance.
5. Renewable Heating Systems
Renewable heat is a type of renewable energy that involves the production of heat from renewable resources, such as using water warmed by solar sources rather than a fossil-fuel boiler to warm radiators.
Wind energy can also be utilized directly for lighting homes and other buildings, as well as to generate electricity and provide hot water heating, cooling, and a variety of commercial and industrial applications.
Some of the top renewable heating sources include;
- Tidal Energy.
- Wind Energy.
- Geothermal Energy.
- Radiant Energy.
- Hydro Electricity.
- Compressed Natural Gas.
It is another type of alternative heating system that could be worth looking into – particularly if you’re someone who cares about being environmentally friendly, but it’s worth noting that the initial outlay for these systems can be quite high.
However, because renewable energy sources are practically free in the long term, you should see your investment paid off within a few years.
It also means that any fuel which is used to supplement your renewable source will have a negligible impact on your carbon footprint – so this option may actually save you money in addition to being eco-friendly.
Final Thoughts
All of these options are worth exploring before committing yourself to a new boiler installation as they’re all good alternatives that many homeowners will end up choosing over gas heating systems as time goes on.
It doesn’t take much effort to start looking into what alternative options are out there, and you might be really surprised at how many other options there are.