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Ripping out your current heating system and replacing it with something new is daunting, but not impossible. Many savvy customers are switching to infrared for its money saving benefits, and are also making use of the smart options available to them.

There is also another choice here too: should you go centralised? Or decentralised?

We’re here to pick it apart and hopefully provide some clarity on the matter!

Centralised Smart IR Heating

Opting for centralised is a default for many people as it mimics how most homes in the UK are heated - via a gas powered boiler, heating the many radiators throughout a given home.

Here are some of the reasons why this is a better option when configuring your new smart heating system.

Whole-Home Coverage

With a centralised system, you know that every room will be warm from a single thermostat. This means you can move freely throughout your house without having to worry that you might stumble across a freezing cold space!

It also has the advantage of protecting your home from damp and mould, as every room is getting warmth every time you switch your heating on.

A Single Thermostat

Centralised systems are almost certainly easier to manage, as you’re only dealing with one thermostat.

If you’re feeling cold, you know exactly where to go to put the heating on. And if you’re using a smart system, you don’t even need to go to your thermostat - you can just tell Alexa or Google to switch your heating on, without having to worry about whether you’re switching the right heater on!

A Tidier Finish

Chances are that centralised heaters may well give you a neater finish, because everything has to be connected, any wiring (or piping if you’re still using wet systems) will be hidden away in the walls, or under the floorboards.

And what with today’s interior decor trending towards minimalist designs, this option plays very nicely with a clean finish. Something to bear in mind if you’re renovating your property.

Decentralised Smart IR Heating

Decentralised systems are a much newer option for many households, and have only really become available as people move away from gas boilers.

Certainly the advent of electric heaters have made this even easier, and this is definitely the case with our infrared heaters. Here are some of the reasons why a decentralised smart IR system could work for you.

Heat Individual Rooms

The main beauty of a decentralised system is that you can switch the heating on and off independently in each room. If you know you’re going to be spending most of the evening in the living room, then you can heat it without wasting energy on heating the upstairs.

This is probably the biggest source of energy savings you can make with a decentralised setup. Imagine using less than 50% of the energy at any given time when heating your home!

Easier Maintenance

If you get faults with your centralised system, half the job is to identify where the fault is, and try to figure out where your wires or pipes go. Then you have to rip half your home out to get to the source of the fault!

Decentralised systems are way easier to troubleshoot and resolve, because each heater, or each zone, is independent from everything else. So if something goes wrong in your master bedroom, you don’t have to go on a wild goose chase to figure out where the issue is.

Simply fix or replace your master bedroom heater, and carry on! This leads nicely onto…

Reduced Risk

One of the main fears going into the winter for many homeowners, is that the boiler doesn’t break down…because if it does, that’s the whole heating system done for until it gets fixed (which, don’t forget, involves waiting for a plumber to be available, paying them an extortionate call out charge, and then paying a small fortune to fix the issue)!

Decentralised systems will never carry that same risk, because there’s a way smaller chance that your entire heating system will collapse. This gives much more peace of mind going into colder months, knowing that you’ll still have house warmth even if something goes wrong.

So Which One Should You Choose?

As much as it sounds like a cop out answer, the truth is that it depends on what you want from your heating.

Centralised Smart IR systems are comfortable because we’re used to them, they’re simpler, and way more ‘hands off’. You can walk around your home knowing that it’ll be warm wherever you go.

Decentralised Smart IR systems are probably more complex, but have far greater scope for saving money, and are by some distance easier to maintain.

The question really comes down to comfort vs control…

Do you want to prioritise comfort? Stick with a centralised setup.

Or do you want a higher level of control to save money? Switch to decentralised.

If you need more help deciding, you can always ask our team, they’re experts in all things smart, infrared and quotations, so give them a call on 0116 321 4124, or send an email to sales@surhaheating.co.uk.

Don’t forget that you can always reach out to us on our Facebook and Instagram pages too.