You would be forgiven for thinking that the majority of properties now come with central heating as standard.  In fact, there are many properties around the world which still rely on electric fires, gas heaters and even wood burning stoves.  Whilst these methods can be effective at heating a home they are generally more expensive and more time consuming than a good plumbing and heating system installed by a professional.

It is worth considering the following items before committing to a specific system:

The Right Firm

There are many businesses which profess to be experts at installing plumbing and heating systems.  However, not all of them are as adept as they appear or even as cost effective.  If you live in the Regina area of Canada then you can talk to Smile Heating and Cooling.  They are licensed and insured and dedicated to providing the best possible service to every one of their customers.  Alongside this they are also incredibly knowledgeable.  They will talk you through the various options, discuss the price and even assist with arranging financing if necessary.  Using a good firm will help to ensure your installation goes smoothly and stays within the price already agreed.

Type of System

There are different methods of installing an effective plumbing and heating system.  It is important to have a basic awareness of each method and choose the one which best suits your property and needs.  You should be aware that a retrofit system may need to run along the walls in places and the pipes may be left exposed.  This can be a feature it is also useful to be aware of as the pipes will get hot.

You can opt to have a stand-alone heating system or an independent hot water system as well as combination system which does both at the same time.  The decision as to which of these systems is best suited to your needs will need to be taken after considering the current location of various items; including the bathrooms and where the supply pipes currently go in and out of your house.

Having two independent systems may be more costly but it will provide you with peace of mind.  It is unlikely that both systems will fail at the same time so at least you will always have either hot water or heating!

Ongoing Costs

Finally it is essential to consider what ongoing costs are attached to each of the proposed systems.  Different boilers have different life expectancies and different service requirements.  A cheaper initial system may require more servicing or be more likely to break in the future making the mid to long term cost more than an alternative system.

It is difficult to answer this part of the question accurately as even the best systems can encounter issues and these can ruin your experience with a system.  However, a reputable firm will be able to advise what is best for your needs according to their experience and knowledge of the local marketplace.  It is worth taking this opinion into account when making the final decision.