Heating
Comfort withoutthe waste.
Heating works best when it is sized around a home that already loses less heat.
Explore heat pumps, hot water, underfloor systems and controls, and how they suit a lower-energy house.
Heating areas
- Heat PumpsSystems that move heat rather than burn fuel, working best at lower temperatures.
Hot WaterCylinders and storage sized around how a household actually uses hot water.
Underfloor HeatingLarge, low-temperature surfaces that suit heat pump systems well.
Heating ControlsZoning, scheduling and controls that match heat to occupancy.
Why heating matters
Warmth designedaround the house.
A home that loses less heat needs less heating. Getting the order right — fabric first, then an appropriately sized system — usually delivers steadier comfort and lower running costs.
- 01
Reduce demand first
Insulation and airtightness lower the heat a home needs, which allows a smaller, simpler system.
- 02
Size it properly
Oversized systems cycle and waste energy; undersized ones struggle. Calculation beats rules of thumb.
- 03
Lower flow temperatures
Heat pumps work more efficiently when the system is designed to run cooler over larger surfaces.
- 04
Control makes it usable
Good controls turn a capable system into a comfortable one, without constant intervention.
What to think about
Key decisionsfor heating.
Heating decisions are easier once heat demand, distribution and hot water are considered together.
Heat demand
What the house actually needs sets everything else, so it is worth establishing before choosing equipment.
System sizing
Equipment matched to a calculated load performs better than equipment chosen by floor area alone.
Distribution
Radiators, underfloor circuits and pipe sizing determine the flow temperature a system can run at.
Hot water
Storage volume, recovery and how a household uses hot water often drive the design as much as heating does.
Controls and zoning
Sensible zoning and scheduling avoid heating rooms that nobody is using.
Integration with energy
Solar generation, storage and tariffs can change when it makes sense to run a system.
Members
Companies working inheating.
Members of the Home community working in this part of the home. Explore their products, specialisms and expertise.
View all members
The Poured ProjectFamily-run Yorkshire studio handcrafting bespoke concrete radiators, basins, baths and interior pieces, including patented heated concrete designs.
Better Future RenewablesRenewable heating specialist designing and installing air source heat pumps, solar panels, EV chargers and smart heat pump controls for homeowners.
WärmetekExclusive OCHSNER heat pump distributor for England and Wales, supplying air and ground source heat pumps for residential and commercial projects.
CDI Innovative Construction MaterialsFamily-run supplier of high-performance structural floor systems, including concrete floor decking, insulated roof/floor systems and ground floor replacement systems.
Theben AGGerman manufacturer of KNX building systems technology, smart home controls, and presence and motion detectors for offices, public buildings and homes.- Total Home EnvironmentSpecialist supplier and installer of whole-house heat recovery ventilation, heat pump ventilation, air-to-water heat pumps and central vacuum systems.
Insights on heating
Articles, guides and project stories.
- GuideHeat Pump Before Insulation? The Order You Upgrade Your Home Matters
- GuideBuilding a Passivhaus: What Does It Actually Change?
- GuideWhat Actually Makes a Home Perform Better?
Understand the systembefore you commit.
Seeing equipment, pipework and controls together makes heating decisions far less abstract.
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All 10 Explore categories
- 01Building FabricInsulation, airtightness, thermal bridging, building envelope
- 02Structure + SystemsTimber frame, ICF, foundations, structural systems
- 03Windows + DoorsWindows, external doors, glazing, entrance systems, gates
- 04HeatingHeat pumps, hot water, underfloor heating, controls
- 05Ventilation + Air QualityMVHR, ventilation, air quality, air sealing
- 06EnergySolar, battery storage, energy management, generation
- 07Smart HomeControls, automation, monitoring, connected home
- 08Materials + FinishesRoofing, cladding, render, internal and external finishes
- 09Kitchens + LivingKitchens, appliances, lighting, interior products
- 10Water + ServicesWater conditioning, efficiency, building services