When planning to install a new heating system or upgrade an existing one, the first step we always recommend is to get a heat loss report for your property.
This report provides crucial information that helps you and us ensure the heating system is the right size for your home, maximizing efficiency and comfort while lowering your energy bills.
What Is a Heat Loss Report?
A heat loss report examines how your home loses heat through different parts of the building, such as walls, windows, doors, ceilings, roofs, and floors. It measures how well these materials hold in heat and how much energy your home loses through them.
This information is essential for determining the size of the heating system and radiators (or other emitters) needed to keep your home at a comfortable temperature, no matter how cold it gets outside.
Why Is It Important?
Knowing the heat loss of your home is especially important when using heat pumps, as they work best when properly sized. A heat loss report helps ensure you install a heat pump that is just the right size—not too big and not too small. This prevents wasting energy by overheating your home or causing the system to cycle on and off too frequently, which reduces efficiency and increases wear and tear.
Benefits of a Heat Loss Report
- Correctly Sized Heating System: A heat loss report makes sure your heating system is the right size for your home’s needs, which helps keep your home comfortable without wasting energy.
- Properly Sized Emitters: The report also tells you what size radiators or underfloor heating emitters are needed to maintain your desired indoor temperature, ensuring your system runs smoothly and efficiently.
- Improved Efficiency: By giving your system the right amount of energy for your home’s specific heat loss, you avoid unnecessary cycling, which can lead to lower efficiency and higher energy bills.
- Identifying Insulation Upgrades: A heat loss report shows how well insulated your home is. Sometimes, small upgrades like adding loft insulation, filling cavity walls, or improving windows and doors can significantly lower your heat loss, reducing your energy needs and improving overall efficiency.
Fabric First Approach
Taking a “fabric first” approach means focusing on improving your home’s insulation before installing or upgrading a heating system. Simple measures like adding extra loft insulation or upgrading doors and windows can reduce the amount of heat your home loses, meaning you can install a smaller, more efficient heating system. This leads to lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint.
The Bottom Line
Getting a heat loss report ensures that your heating system is perfectly designed for your home’s needs. It provides key insights to help you and your installer choose the right-sized heat pump and emitters, improving efficiency and lowering your energy bills. Plus, it helps you understand how small insulation upgrades can make a big difference in the comfort and efficiency of your home.
In today’s world, there’s no need to guess or rely on outdated rules of thumb. With the right data, you can enjoy a comfortable home with lower running costs and a longer-lasting heating system.
If you would like a heat loss report for your property, contact us today.
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