En Voyage_Issue#14_Flickbook

IS A WARM WELCOME HOME
WAITING FOR YOU?
Whether you’ve been travelling to sunnier climes or just
away on business for a short trip, at this time of year,
you’ll want to come back to a cosy home.
ADVERTORIAL
But what if you’re getting a less
than warm welcome when you
walk through the door? Perhaps
your existing heating system
is just not working properly,
or maybe it’s just proving too
expensive to run?
Either way, you need to take
action but do consider your
options carefully. Just because
there’s a cold snap, don’t make a
snap decision.
There’s a wide range of heating
alternatives available and it’s
important to choose a system that
is going to work for you in the
long term.
Just because there’s
a cold snap, don’t
make a snap decision
There is so much that needs to
be factored in to making the right
choice of heating for your home
including: cost, choice of system,
safety, reliability and increasingly,
sustainability.
Cost can vary considerably
depending on the type of system
and the type of fuel you choose,
but it’s important to remember
that a good heating system should
last you over 10 years so don’t
just consider the initial installation
costs, make sure you factor in to
your decision what it will cost you
to run each year.
When it comes to reliability, there
is not much difference between the
most popular systems, but to be
sure of longevity, you might want to
consider the long-term security of
your fuel choice. Will it continue to
be readily available and will it also
be consistently priced?
When correctly installed, most
modern heating systems are very
safe but because there is a potential
risk of deadly fumes, fossil fuel
boilers do require carbon monoxide
detectors to be installed and will
also need flues for waste gases.
Our individual impact on the
environment is something we can
no longer afford to ignore and a
more sustainable choice of home
heating is one way we can help
lower our carbon footprint.
No matter how efficient oil and
gas systems are, their extraction,
refinement, transportation and
combustion contributes a higher
proportion of greenhouse gases to
the atmosphere than non-fossil fuel
alternatives.
Of course, personal preference
will also play a large part in your
final decision. You want something
that suits your home, your lifestyle
and your budget.
Make sure you factor
in to your decision
what it will cost you
to run each year
Gas, oil and electric systems
all offer the choice of traditional
central heating and ‘wet’ underfloor
heating, but electric heating is also
available as radiant underfloor,
pipe-free central heating, storage
heaters and panel heaters, which
does give it the edge over the
other fuels in terms of flexibility and
choice.
Underfloor heating has become
a very popular choice for many
homeowners as it provides invisible
warmth that rises up and heats the
whole room. It can be used with
virtually every type of floor and can
be run off a wet (boiler) system,
as a direct electric elements or via
renewables such as air source heat
pumps.
It can be retrofitted, the electric
option generally being a lot
easier than a full wet system, but
unless you are undertaking major
renovations or a new build then
you may want to simply consider
changing your boiler for a new,
more efficient one.
For anyone looking to add a loft
or other type of extension or with
the odd room that always seem
that bit too cold, storage heaters or
electric panel heaters can provide
a solution that requires minimal
disruption. Modern storage heaters
are a world away from the big old
clunky storage models of years ago,
they are sleek, stylish and even have
digitally controlled thermostats.
There is a lot to consider before
choosing to upgrade or add a
new heating system which is why
Guernsey Electricity has invested in
a new Home Heating Centre where
you can call in for friendly helpful
advice on the type of heating that
best suits you.
Our team has years of experience
to help guide you through the
electric heating choices available and
as part of our quote process, if you
let us have your current gas or oil
bills, we can even work out how much
it will cost you to run so you’ll have
peace of mind for the long term.
For more information call in to the
Guernsey Electricity Home Heating
Centre at Northside, The Bridge
or visit electricity.gg, There’ll be a
warm welcome waiting for you.
94 En Voyage | Aurigny’s Magazine