I’ve admitted defeat early this year: the jumpers have come out of hiding and the heating thermostat has been notched up earlier than usual. Perhaps it’s the result of spending more time at home (a hot water bottle has even made the occasional appearance during our virtual Homebuilding & Renovating team meetings), or a preoccupation with the pandemic, but the cold weather seems to have arrived overnight.
Which brings me swiftly on to the important topic of choosing a heating and hot water system for your new home. It’s a key decision in any self-build or major renovation project but, arguably, a more complex decision than ever before. This is, in part, due to the number of choices available to us now - renewable technology, smart controls and underfloor heating have opened up our options. We’re also much more aware that we can no longer make this decision just before first fix. Ideally we should be planning our heating and hot water system in conjunction with designing the fabric of the building, with the aim of reducing our heat demand in the first instance.
CLAIRE LLOYD has been a member of the Homebuilding & Renovating team for over 12 years. She’s recently completed her renovation.
IMAGE: JEREMY PHILLIPS; COVER IMAGE: NICK YARSLEY C/O WELSH OAK FRAME