Create a cosy living environment in your renovation project with Anamika Talwaria’s tips

The Greenstar 8000 boiler from Worcester Bosch (expect to pay under £2,900) comes in a sleek, modern design and features EasyControl technology that can integrate with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for full smart control

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eviewing your heating setup is a key part of renovating a home to suit a modern lifestyle. But before you make any decisions, you’ll need to understand the existing system and consider whether you want to invest in areas like better insulation and airtightness, too. If you plan to undertake extensive work, it’s a good idea to bring a heating specialist in to help you identify the best type and size heat source, distribution system and how effectively it will run in your renovated home. Here are the key things you need to know about.

Fabric first approach

A key part of the process is understanding the nature of the property as it stands. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has lots of resources online for people renovating period properties. You could also enlist a heritage homes expert to advise you on the best and most sympathetic ways to upgrade the bare bones of a characterful building. In any case, consider the following: does the house have solid walls, which might lead you to look at using internal or external wall insulation; or is there a cavity that can be packed with insulation? The roof is the largest culprit for losing heat, so consider adding insulation to the floor to prevent warmth escaping (or at rafter level if you’re converting the loft). Either way, ensure there’s still sufficient ventilation in the attic to prevent damp.