Keep The Home Fires Burning

Throughout the nineteenth century and in the first half of the twentieth, most homes were warmed in the winter by coal fires.

This was when the pea soup smog fell down in all the major western world cities. London was particularly well known for this and it's hard to appreciate how dense it could be. If a person stretched their arm out, they couldn't see their hand.

West of Birmingham lies the Black Country. So called because this heavily industrialised area belched plenty of smoke from coal fired foundries.

It wasn't until the middle and latter part of the twentieth century that most homes started to convert to central heating. The quality of the air quickly became a whole lot better. Although car exhaust is making sure we're not completely clear of air pollutants.

Most central heating is gas fired and pound for pound this is still probably the best deal. And the most popular type of system runs on a combi boiler.

A combi boiler has many advantages over an older conventional one. New ones are generally much smaller and can therefore be more easily tucked away. They also do away with the need for a separate water tank.

Radiators have evolved hugely in the past few years and as a result there are some eye-catching designs.

But it doesn't matter how efficient a system is if we don't make efforts to insulate the home properly. In old properties the easiest way to lose heat is through gaps in doors and windows.

The obvious ways to save on heat loss includes loft insulation and double glazing but wall cavity insulation is often overlooked.

If the heating system is on full tilt but the inner walls are cold to the touch then this type of insulation is probably needed.

Another often quoted way to save on bills is the simple one of turning the thermostat down a few degrees and wearing warmer clothing about the house.

It's reckoned that even one degree less can make a noticeable difference to gas or oil bills.