Although many homes in the UK are fitted with standard gas boilers, more and more homeowners are exploring alternative options to heat their properties and save money in the process.
You might have heard of warm air heating systems and be wondering what they are and how they work, so here’s our quick guide to give you an overview of these products and help you work out if they’re a suitable option for your property.
What is warm air heating?
It might sound obvious, but warm air heating is a process of heating your home by warming the air. Warm air systems are known as “dry heating systems” because they don’t require any water in the system to generate heat, like standard radiators do for instance.
Perhaps the easiest way to think of them is like reverse air conditioners. Instead of forcing cool air into your rooms, these systems pump out warm air, heating your space efficiently and quickly.
How does warm air heating work?
Warm air heating systems can either work through units – like air conditioners – fitted in different rooms of your home, or they can use a ducted system. This means the warm air is pumped through ducts into different parts of the home ensuring it’s evenly distributed.
The air is heated by a boiler, with fans used to then push the air around a property via the ducts.
Some properties in the UK from the late 1970s through to the 1990s were fitted with older versions of warm air heating systems, which means they already have the ducts in place. In many cases, these older systems would benefit from an upgrade to one of the newer, more energy efficient options now available.
These days, some warm air heating systems use air-source heat pumps to generate warmth rather than a gas boiler, while others use ground-source heat pumps. While ground-source heat pumps are very energy efficient, they are costly to install and they’re not suitable for every type of property.
Modern warm air heating systems are also fitted with thermostatic controls that automatically monitor a home’s temperature and adjust the heat being produced as necessary. This has the dual benefit of keeping your property warm while also reducing fuel use.
Speak to a warm air heating engineer to find out what the most appropriate type of warm air heating system is for your property.
How much does a warm air heating system cost?
The cost of installing a warm air heating system will depend on whether you are upgrading an old version to a new, more efficient setup, or whether you are installing a heating system from scratch.
In the latter case, it may not be cost effective to do so as you will need to have ducts installed within your property to allow the warm air to circulate. If you’re in the process of fully renovating or building a new home, however, you may want to explore a warm air heating system rather than a traditional wet central heating system.
The cost of making the switch to a warm air heating system will also depend on the size of your property, but it is usually over £5,000. If, however, you already have warm air heating then you’ll only pay for the installation of a new, more energy efficient boiler or heat pump, which will save you money on your energy bills.
For instance, it’s estimated that a Johnson & Starley WarmCair heater can reduce your energy bills by 28 per cent each year.
Are there any other benefits of warm air heating?
Yes! Depending on the system you choose, your new warm air heating system could include air filtration to remove much airborne pollution that’s found in our homes, including pollen, tobacco smoke and dust.
This makes it an excellent option if you or someone in your household suffers from asthma or another bronchial condition. However, having an effective air filter benefits all of us given that indoor air pollution has been linked to a range of health conditions including increased risk of cardiovascular or respiratory disease.
Another advantage to modern warm air heating systems is that they are compatible with hydrogen-blend fuels. This means if the UK switches towards hydrogen-based fuel rather than natural gas, your property will be ready.
Depending on the system, you may also be able to switch it to cool your home during the warmer months of the year. This could prove to be a significant advantage as climate change makes the UK summer’s hotter.