Best heating system for your home: a guide

These days you can find a wide range of heating systems for homes of all different shapes and sizes. But which one is right for you? Today we’re looking at the pros and cons of some of the most popular heating systems on the market, so you can figure out how best to save money while maintaining a comfortable home.

This guide will help you figure out which heating sytem is the best fit for you and your home. We’ll start by looking at the different heating systems available and then we’ll consider their advantages and disadvantages. Next, we’ll help you decide which system matches your needs. To finish off, we’ll consider how you might want to optimise your heating system with smart devices. 

Read on to learn more about heating systems and which one is best for you!

What are the main types of heating systems?

People have been heating their living spaces for as long as they’ve had homes, but we’ve come a long way from crouching around a fire. We now use a variety of fuel sources like wood, gasoline, electricity, and ground sources to keep our homes warm during the winter.

Here are the four most common heating systems in the UK:

• Furnaces
• Boilers
• Heat pumps
• Radiant systems

Furnaces (forced air)

We’ve been using furnaces to heat our homes for a long time now. In a forced-air system, a central furnace is located in the basement of a home and heats it using ducts and vents. Fuels like natural gas, electricity, wood or propane are the best options when using this heating method. The main limitation of a furnace is that you need to install ductwork, in order for it to work effectively, and this can be expensive. What’s more, heat can leak out of tears and holes in the ducts, reducing its efficiency. Lastly, some report that air heated by a furnace is uncomfortably dry.

Pros: 

• Heats up quickly and generates a consistent temperature.
• Ductwork can also be used with air conditioning systems.
• Quiet and reliable operation with few moving parts.

Cons:‍

• Costly to install if ductwork is not in place.
• Possible inefficiencies caused by ductwork tears.
• Air quality in the home might become uncomfortably dry.

Boilers (hydronic)

Many consider boilers to be one of the best modern heating methods. These devices start by boiling water to convert it into heat. After this, underfloor heating pipes spread the heat equally across all parts of your home.  A boiler thermostat can make your heating even more efficient. Also, boilers are sometimes used in combination with water underfloor heating to provide optimum results.

The disadvantages of a boiler are similar to that of a furnace, because it requires pipework to function. This means that again, tears and holes can cause hot air to leak, leading to inefficiencies.

Pros:

• Modern boilers can be highly efficient, helping you save energy.
• Combi boilers are particularly space saving because they don’t require a hot water tank.
• Consistent heating and quiet operation.

Cons:

• Possible inefficiencies caused by leaks in pipework.
• Conventional boilers require a hot water cylinder and cold water tank, which can take up a lot of space.
• Annual servicing is required to ensure safety and prevent inefficiencies. 

tado° compatibility

‍tado° X is compatible with boilers that have a relay or OpenTherm connection – which covers the vast majority of models on the market. Use our product finder for more details.

Heat pumps

Heat pumps are a low-carbon, energy-efficient way to heat your home. They draw air from the outside and heat it using electricity. In the UK, a government campaign launched in 2025 means you could receive a grant of up to £7,500 if you switch to using a heat pump.

There are various types of heat pumps. Let’s take a look at the three most common.

Ground source heat pumps

The heating systems we’ve looked at so far have all been air-source or hydronic options. However, heat pumps offer ground source variants too. These devices make use of the relatively warm surface temperature of the ground surrounding your home. This warmth is transferred to your rooms using heat exchangers, fans, and blowers. Alternatively, they might use outside water as a heat source.

The benefit of this heating system is that you are using natural warmth, rather than exhausting or exploiting an energy source. You can even expand this system’s efficiency by using it with smart heating and smart home integration. Just remember that you will need to have the right kind of heat-retaining soil or groundwater around your home for this system to function.

This option is an extremely environmentally friendly and efficient way to heat your home. The only drawback is the high initial installation cost and time it takes to set up the highly-specialised machinery.

Pros: 

• Highly efficient, resulting in reduced bills and low environmental impact.
• Heat pumps can last over 20 years and underground loops can last over 50.
• Easy to maintain and quiet to operate.

Cons:

• High installation costs.
• Specific land requirements because you need a large outdoor area to dig trenches.
• Lengthy and disruptive installation process.

Ductless heat pumps (minisplits) 

As the name would suggest, a ductless heat pump does not require ductwork: it is an airless heat pump. These devices can work independently and have to be installed individually in each room. You can control them using an infrared remote control or a Smart Thermostat. The latter option allows your smartphone to do the controlling.

As well as being energy-efficient, these devices are inexpensive and installation is quick and painless. What’s more, you can use them for both heating and cooling. However, the downside is that the initial cost of installation is quite high. In addition, you will not find ductless heat pumps very effective in extremely low temperatures.

Pros:

• Since they don’t rely on ductwork, you don’t lose any heat through holes or tears.
• Having a unit in each room means you can control zones independently.
• Installation is easy, making it a great option for old homes and smaller spaces.

Cons:

• Expensive to install.
• Sometimes considered less aesthetically pleasing because units are visible in each room.
• Performance isn’t great in extremely cold temperatures.

Reversible heat pumps

Another popular home heating solution is the reversible heat pump, which moves heat from one place to another. These heat pumps are called ‘reversible’ because they can also cool your home by drawing hot air outside.  Reversible heat pumps are sometimes known as air-source heat pumps. This is because they use a refrigerant to extract hot air from the outside and draw it inside. Following this, ducts and vents circulate and distribute this hot air into the various rooms and sections of your living space.

The main advantage here is that you can use reversible heat pumps to efficiently heat and cool your home. In addition, you can use controls to regulate your heating in individual rooms. For example, a room thermostat or digital thermostat can help you maintain your desired room temperature. The downside is that you need ducts for reversible heat pumps to work. If you don’t already have ductwork, this option can be quite expensive. It’s also possible for tears or holes to cause leakages within the ducting. 

Pros:

• Work for heating and cooling, meaning you can use them all year round. 
• Since they move heat rather than generate it, they can be very energy efficient.
• Offer a low-carbon alternative to air conditioning, which usually requires a lot of energy.

Cons:

• High installation costs compared to other heating systems.
• As with ductless heat pumps, performance in extremely cold temperatures might be a problem.
• Consume a lot of electricity, which could increase your electricity bill if your rate is high.

tado° compatibility

‍tado° is compatible with many hydronic heat pumps, including models from Panasonic, Daikin, Atlantic, Vaillant, Saunier Duval, Fujitsu and many more. Use our product finder to check whether your specific model is supported.

You can learn more about how heat pumps work in this dedicated article →

Radiant systems

Radiant heating systems produce heat at the source itself (for example, a metal coil is heated with electricity). You might have radiant panels or radiant underfloor heating. These systems work by transferring infrared radiation to heat a room. 

They allow you to maintain a consistent temperature without wasting much energy. The only drawback is that installation costs are high, especially if you go for the underfloor heating option. With underfloor heating you might also need to rethink your décor choices, for example you won’t be able to keep any thick carpets.

Pros:

• The consistent temperature produced by radiant heat means increased comfort.
• Lack of ductwork reduces energy wastage, making systems more efficient.
• No fans or blowers make this a better alternative for people with allergies.

Cons:

• Expensive to install and maintain, requiring highly skilled professionals.
• Slow to heat up and cool down, making systems less responsive to sudden temperature changes.
• Limits flooring choices if you have underfloor heating.

tado° compatibility

tado° Smart Thermostats are fully compatible with water-based underfloor heating systems. Use the product finder to check compatibility with your specific setup.

What type of heating system is best for me?

As you can see, there is a wide range of different heating systems and solutions on the market, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. So how do you pick the right one for you? You might want to consider the following:

• ‍Home size: do you live in a large house or a small apartment? Consider that underfloor heating works great in single-storey homes, while a ductless heat pump offers a great solution in a small space.‍
• Geographical location: what is the climate like where you live? If you live somewhere very cold, a boiler or furnace might work best. However, in milder climates, a reversible heat pump is a great option.‍
• Land access: do you have a large amount of land around your home? Remember you won’t even be able to install a ground source heat pump unless you have access to an outdoor space where you can dig trenches.‍
• Age of home: older homes often require more heating. You might consider a modern boiler or a ductless heat pump, if you lack existing ductwork. ‍
• Budget and existing infrastructure: this is likely to be the most significant factor for many people. If you are operating under a tight budget, you will want to work with the infrastructure that is already in place. For example, if you have ductwork, consider operating a furnace or reversible heat pump. 

Tips when buying a new radiator

If you decide to heat your home with a boiler, furnace or heat pump, then it is likely that you will also need to install radiators throughout your home. While devices like boilers and furnaces generate heat and transfer it through pipes or ducts, a radiator uses convection to circulate this heat throughout each room. Since your radiator is effectively the final device in your heating system, it is important that you install the right radiator for your home. 

Here are some factors to consider before investing in a new radiator:

• ‍Radiator size: the size radiator you need depends on the size of your room. In the UK, we use British Thermal Units to measure the heat required in a space. This can help you pick out the perfect size radiator. Ask a heating engineer for advice.‍
• Style: radiators come in various shapes and styles – from traditional to modern or minimal to ornate. Ultimately, it all depends what look you’re going for. The best heating radiators are either made of cast iron or fabricated steel. Metals need to withstand high degrees of heat.‍
• Location: where you choose to install your radiator is going to make a significant difference to the efficiency of your home heating system. Consider a central location for uniform heating and determine where you and your family might require some extra heat.‍
• Connection: if you want your radiator to work properly, you need to pay attention to how it connects to your pipes or ducts. A poor connection can result in heat loss and inefficiency. Also, make sure radiators are properly maintained. For example, if you notice that only part of your radiator is warming up, then you might need to bleed your radiators. 

How to use your heating system more efficiently

Once your new heating system has been installed, you’ll want to consider how to use it most effectively. Fortunately, there is a wide range of modern devices that can be used to optimise your system. This will boost your energy savings and help you to save money on your heating bills. tado° products are compatible with virtually all heating systems like boilers, heat pumps, and underfloor heating.

Smart Thermostat

The best heating systems these days are “smart” ones. They can sense intuitively when you need more heat and when you don’t. To control these, you’ll need either a Wired Smart Thermostat or a Wireless Smart Thermostat. They allow you to heat your home before you get back in the evening and turn off the heating when you leave.

Smart Radiator Thermostat

If your home has radiators then you can use a Smart Radiator Thermostat to regulate the amount of heat they produce. Also, you can set times for your heating system to switch on and off. The tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat X fits directly onto your existing thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) and allows you to control the temperature in each room individually. You can set room-by-room schedules, prevent rooms from heating when they're unoccupied, and let tado° Room Link technology ensure your boiler only fires when a room actually requests heat.

Conclusion

Although heating systems can appear complex, the wide range available means you're certain to find a cost-effective solution for your home and lifestyle. Whether you opt for a gas boiler, heat pump, furnace, or radiant system, pairing it with a smart thermostat will unlock real, measurable energy savings. Not sure which tado° product is compatible with your existing heating setup? Use the tado° product finder to identify the right solution in minutes.