Now that meteorological spring has arrived, the days are getting noticeably lighter and there has even been the rare sight of some sun in north London. There should be a lot more of this to come over the next few weeks.

That might get some householders thinking about the possibilities of solar power and, in particular, ask whether having solar panels installed on their rooftop could help save money. The final winter energy bills may encourage this thinking as well.

Can You Get Grants For Solar Energy?

You may be able to get a grant for installing solar panels. If so, the benefits will be significant.

•       Your energy bill can fall by between 50 and 80 per cent
•       You can get paid for surplus energy fed into the national grid
•       They are VAT-free
•       You are contributing towards a greener world

Why Is Solar Energy Controversial?

Of course, there are some naysayers out there who are not so keen on solar energy. Solar panels have been a hot topic of late, as, like windfarms, they have faced some criticism and questioning by sceptics and NIMBYs.

•       Some have objected to the use of agricultural land for so-called ‘solar farms’
•       Some question whether they can work in a cloudy country like Britain
•       Some will ask what use they are in winter when the days are short and light levels are low

The first thing to note, of course, is that fitting them on house rooftops and other buildings has nothing to do with ‘solar farms’. Indeed, some people only support using more solar energy on the proviso that panels are mounted on buildings rather than in fields.

Secondly, solar power works from daylight, so there does not need to be direct sunlight on the panels. Clouds do not stop them. A simple example of this is a solar-powered device like an old pocket calculator, which was powered by daylight even when it was overcast.

Why Is Solar Power Still Useful In Winter?

The question of seasonal variations is a relevant one, because demand for electricity to provide heating and lighting is at its highest in winter and solar energy is most abundant in the long daylight hours of summer.

However, while that means solar power cannot meet all our energy needs, it is worth noting that even in the shortest days of the year in December, a panel in the UK produces, on average, around a fifth of the energy that it could generate in the long days of June.

This figure will vary depending on where you live in the UK, but it is worth noting that winter output will be greater here in London than in much of Britain, as the southerly latitude means days in the capital are not as short as they are further north.

Other factors can include what side of the house they are on (ideally south-facing) and how much shadow is cast by nearby buildings, trees and other objects.

We can help install panels on your roof this year. Some people might choose the spring and summer to fix the roof while the sun shines. You can have something fixed onto the roof that works in all daylight, whether you see any sunshine or not.

The use of underfloor heating in North London goes back a long way. Indeed, the very first years of London’s history saw the Roman hypocaust system in action. But modern systems are very different from that, so you may ask whether they are your best bet now.

While the hypocaust channelled hot air from a furnace down a flue into a cavity below the floors, from which it would rise, modern systems heat the floor itself. There are two kinds: wet systems that use hot water, which flows into pipes under the floor, while dry systems use electrical heating mats or cables embedded under the floor.

Wet systems are cheaper to run, but this can be offset by the higher installation cost. It is worth noting, however, that getting underfloor heating installed can raise your home’s value.

How Do I Know If My Home Suits Underfloor Heating?

There are several practical considerations to take into account when assessing the possibility of installing underfloor heating:

•       It may not be suited to some types of flooring, so you must decide if you want to change it. Unsuitable types include solid wood or thicker vinyl and laminate, which reduce heat transfer, while stone, engineered wood and carpet are fine.
•       The size of the room matters. Underfloor heating is more effective the smaller the room is.
•       How good your insulation is, with poor insulation making it less cost-effective.
•       Whether you have fitted furniture like wardrobes and kitchen cabinets, as these can block heat and cause the system to overheat.

If these factors do not pose any problems, then you can certainly benefit from the system, which tends to be more cost-effective than using radiators. You can also benefit from freeing up wall space by not having radiators there, which means you can place furniture in locations where they would otherwise block their heat.

Underfloor heating has come a long way since the days of Roman London. Could it be ideal for your home today?

It’s the time of year when you might be thinking about putting your central heating on. The weather is taking an autumnal turn and parts of the UK have experienced storms in recent weeks. 

But what if your boiler has decided to stop working? You might need a new boiler quote but do you understand all of your options? 

One of the most common types of boiler installed in UK homes is a combi boiler. But what is a combi boiler? And why are they so popular? 

Let’s start with the basics. A combi boiler is short for “combination boiler” and it’s so named because it provides both heating and hot water for your home. This is also why it’s the most popular option for households, because it is compact and doesn’t take up much space. 

You might still come across older types of boilers if you are renovating a property. The regular boilers used in years gone past could only provide central heating. This is why many older homes have a large hot water storage tank in addition to a boiler. 

Of course, this kind of conventional boiler takes up a lot more space, which is one of the reasons many have been replaced by combi boilers. 

That said, larger properties may still use a conventional boiler and separate water cylinder, because this ensures hot water is available in multiple locations around the house at the same time – for instance in more than one bathroom and the kitchen. Whereas combi boilers heat water on demand and therefore aren’t always suitable in bigger houses. 

We are Worcester-accredited installers and therefore we specialise in fitting Worcester combi boilers and other heating systems. 

Despite how hard so many boilers work to keep a house warm, make sure plenty of hot water flows and that showers maintain the right temperature to stay comfortable, most boilers simply need annual checks and small repairs in order to keep functioning efficiently for many years.

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With the spring equinox just days away, there have already been some warm days in London and while there may still be some chilly ones before the heat of summer arrives, it is undoubtedly a lot warmer most nights than it has been over the past few months.

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