In the current economic climate and bearing environmental issues in mind, which source of fuel is the best to use is a question that is regularly asked when people are looking to provide heating for their premises.
Options
The site heating requirements, whether that’s for the whole area at factory temperatures, frost protection or just the spot heating of certain areas, quite often dictate the most suitable fuel to use. That is because not all types of heating suit all types of fuel.
The fuel options that Harry Taylor can provide solutions for are:
- Natural Gas;
- LPG (Propane);
- Fuel Oil (Kerosene or red diesel); and
- Electric.
Natural Gas
At the present time natural gas is by far the least expensive and most adaptable fuel. We are all being encouraged to move away from fossil fuels but with gas priced as it is if you want to heat your building to recommended factory temperatures, or simply want frost protection or spot heating of areas, provided you install a fuel efficient system, gas is your best option.
Natural Gas heaters are available from as small as 10kW up to and over 300kW and would be sized according to site requirements and best options
LPG (Propane)
If the site does not have a Natural gas supply or the current supply is insufficient, LPG is generally the next most versatile option as it offers flexible solutions for locations to be installed on site and with multiple suppliers in the market-place, the costs although higher than natural gas, can be competitive. Like natural gas LPG (propane) is suitable for providing heating to the whole area, frost protection or spot heating of working areas.
LPG heaters are available from as small as 10kW up to and over 300kW and would be sized according to site requirements and best options.
Oil (Kerosene or red diesel)
Although not as widely used as the above options, running a heating system with fuel Oil is still an option, often because it is already installed on a site rather than it being for a new installation. However oil tanks can be supplied and installed again allowing flexibility of installation locations for the fuel along with heaters to the site.
However heating options for fuel oil are more restricted as only warm air heating, with heaters sized from 20kW up to and over 300kW, is available. However oil is generally a more costly option compared with Natural Gas or LPG options.
Electric
In recent times there have been more enquiries requesting electric heating as an option. Electric heating is flexible in terms of options available however there are limits on the size (kW output) of the heaters. Electric heaters require large amounts of electricity to power them and so other factors need to be considered on-site such as is there sufficiently large electrical supply on-site for a proposed electric heating system on top of other electricity uses on site. The other big factor to consider is the running cost of electricity which is likely to be 4 to 5 times more expensive than natural gas. Electric heating can be viable, but the points raised above must be taken into consideration and user made aware.
Electric heaters are available from 1kW through to 50kW.
To confirm which of the above fuels and which heating system is most suitable, a site survey is always recommended to assess site requirements. There are also fuel saving devices that can complement the heating system, destratification fans, optimised controllers etc that can help.
What a Harry Taylor site survey involves
When we visit a site, we assess the building dimensions, ceiling height, insulation, current heating equipment, fuel supply, and how the space is actually used day to day. We also factor in any specific requirements — unusual working environments, dust or chemical exposure, high ventilation demands, and so on.
From that assessment, we put together a clear recommendation: what is causing the problem, what will fix it, and a realistic picture of costs. There is no obligation. If your existing system simply needs a different configuration rather than replacement, we will tell you so — even if it means a smaller job for us.
We have been carrying out this kind of work since 1925. There is a reasonable chance we have seen your exact situation before.
Book your free site survey
If your warehouse or workplace is not reaching a comfortable temperature — or if your heating bills feel disproportionate to the warmth you are getting — a site survey is the fastest way to get a clear, honest answer.
Contact us to arrange yours. We work across the full UK mainland from offices in both the North and South of England, and there is no charge for the survey itself.
Call us on 020 8464 0915 (Southern office) or 0161 308 4550 (Northern office) for more, or click here for your free site survey.