What is a Central Heating System?

A central heating system is a system which provides heat to the rooms in your home. The source of the heat is generated in one place then the heat is transfered around the system to all of the rooms in your house. Most UK households have a boiler which uses gas to heat up water, water is then transfered around the house through a closed water system. Water passes in to radiators which then allow the heat to be released in to the room.

Different types of central heating systems

Although the boiler central heating system is the most commonly used in the UK there are a variety of different systems which can be used to generate heat.

• Electric Heating - Electric heaters convert electricity directly in to heat. The main method of electric heating uses a coil which heats up as electricity passes through it, a fan then blows the heat into the room. This method of heating is usually more expensive than the traditional boiler system.

• Hydronic and steam systems - This method of heating is generally used for underfloor heating. A main heat source such as a boiler is normally needed to generate the heat, a pump them moves the heated water in to pipes surrounded by concrete under the floor. The heat is then released into the room through the floor.

• Heat Pumps - There are two types of heat pumps ones which extract the colder air from outside and deliver it to the room and geothermal heat pumps which extract the heat from the earth. Geothermal heat pumps are a green method of energy production as little fossil fuel energy is required.