This is a question that many people are asking in this period, in view of a winter that will see huge increases in heating costs.

It is not easy to decide the most cost-effective form of heating system.

What we do know is that specific technologies inevitably lead to lower consumption and therefore, a higher initial investment will mean lower energy costs.

In general, the costs for each heating system will depend on four variables:purchase price, installation costs, maintenance costs and finally the costs of the fuel used.

This article will look at the different heating system most commonly used and highlighting the characteristics and costs they involve.

Gas Boilers

The gas-fired boiler is by far the most commonly used heating system in Italy.

It is quite simple to install: it connects to the mains supply of methane gas, which is the fuel it uses.

The mains gas supplies a flame inside the boiler, which serves to heat the water.

This water enters into two circuits: one supplies the pipes to the taps supplying hot water for washing or cooking purposes, while the other supplies the domestic heating system, generally via radiators.

A gas boiler can last around ten years and it costs about 1,500 euros, including installation.

The highest cost on this system of heating is decidedly that of the raw materials, i.e., methane gas, which has continued to increase sharply in price over the last year.

Under-floor heating

Under-floor heating is a good alternative to a gas boiler, which radiates heat through radiators.

It is a form of heating that can be hydraulic or electric, using radiant panels which are installed under the floor, and heat the room by radiation, evenly, up to the ceiling.

It has the great advantage of working well with water in its circuit heated to 30-40°, while for standard radiators, water needs to be heated to 70°. This means consuming less gas to reach the same temperature.

However, under-floor heating is by no means cheap, especially when it is a new installation.

For a house approximately 100 sq m, it may be necessary to spend 10,000 euros.

However, it is a cost that pays for itself over time, through lower gas consumption.

In fact, on average, under-floor heating costs some 25% less than a traditional system in terms of consumption.

Condensing boiler

The most modern gas-fired heating system uses a condensing model in place of a traditional boiler.

It operates in a manner similar to a traditional gas-fired boiler, with water being heated for domestic use and for heating, whether under the floor or in radiators.

The difference lies in the fact that condensation models are able to recover heat from the fumes and vapours produced by the gas combustion process, which in a traditional boiler are expelled (and therefore, lost) via a flue.

A condensation boiler is therefore a system that keeps emissions to a minimum as well as recovering energy (heat) directly from its own waste, and therefore, notably lowering the need to burn mains gas.

This can achieve savings of up to 30% due to the lower consumption of gas.

However, the cost of a system of this type, including installation, can reach up to 3,000 euros.

Heat pump

The more modern houses, with smart home automation systems, heat pumps are becoming more and more widely used.

In this case, combustible fuel is abandoned in favour of simple electricity.

In this system, electric current heats up the water and produces heat as the water evaporates.

It also provides hot water from the passage of water from its gas to liquid state inside a closed circuit.

Or, in the case of air-to-air heat pumps, the air is taken from the outside and it is emitted, heated, inside the home.

Clearly, avoiding the use of natural gas, especially in this period, will notably cut a family’s energy costs.

However, in particularly cold areas, a heat pump system is not always able to provide suitable thermal efficiency, especially if the heating system uses radiators.

This type of system also requires a good deal of space because of its size and has a rather high cost.

For a system that uses water, the costs can easily exceed 10,000 euros.

Moreover, recently, the cost of electricity has also increased substantially, and a system of this type may turn out to be extremely expensive.

Biomass, closed fireplaces, and wood burners

There are alternative heating systems that use different types of fuel.

For example, heating with a biomass boiler, which uses organic/natural material (including wood and wood pellets) as well as recycled industrial waste.

This is definitely a more eco-friendly solution, since it releases no carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.

There are significant costs, however.

The biomass to be used as fuel, must be chemically treated: this may lead to a higher cost compared to fossil fuels such as gas.

The cost of this type of system, which does offer an excellent performance in terms of thermal efficiency, also depends a good deal on the type of fuel used and the type of system.

Classic pellet stoves or closed fireplaces using wood can cost up to 5,000 euros.

For a genuine biomass boiler, the costs rise notably and can reach up to 20,000 euros.

Why is installing a smart heating system such a good idea?

There is no such thing as a cheap system for home heating that is cheaper than others.

Where the system is cheap, the price will be higher in terms of consumption and vice versa.

To heat a home cheaply, it is necessary to look hard at the type of control used on your system, rather than at changing it completely.

In this sense, it may be very useful to fit a  smart heating system such as the one by IRSAP NOW.

The system adapts to any type of system, whether gas boiler, condensing boiler or heat pump, and it offers savings through a more careful management of consumption by totally eliminating waste.

It is possible to transform your traditional system independently of the type of fuel it burns, into a multizone wireless system that can be customised to suit any type of home.

With a  wireless thermostat by IRSAP NOW it is possible to set the temperature in different rooms, optimising consumption because they are reduced in proportion to the real needs of those who live there.

The different remote control functions guaranteed by the app make it possible to detect system anomalies in real time, as well as intervening in good time to save on costly maintenance.

It is also possible to monitor moisture and quality levels for the quality of the air inside the home.

IRSAP NOW’s smart heating system guarantees truly superior living comfort.

Thanks to  smart thermovalves, each room in the house is controlled and maintained at the required temperature, preventing avoidable waste of resources, independently of the type of fuel used for heating.

Smart management can really make a difference

How to save on heating is a question that seems difficult to give an unequivocal answer to.

Even the traditionally cheaper fuels are increasing notably and this is reflecting on families.

We have seen that to heat a home cheaply, it is a good idea to use a smart system, such as IRSAP NOW which can be adapted to all types of system or boiler where it can automatically regulate consumption, avoiding all forms of waste.

Today, smart management of heating can really make a difference in terms of cost.