New-builds in the UK now stand at just 67.8 square metres, on average – just half the size of houses belonging to our continental neighbours in Denmark. As a result, homeowners are now turning to plumbing and heating installers to make the most of the available space.
Whether it’s a result of reducing living space or just an interior design coincidence, minimalist décor has also become highly attractive and seems to be here for the long haul. A perfect blend of the two means installers are being increasingly asked to advise clients on how they can best save space with regards to their heating systems and bathroom fittings.
At boiling point
Space savings can begin with the heating system itself. For smaller homes, it is advisable for customers to use combi boiler and remove the need for a storage cylinder.
Removing hot water cylinders and storage tanks with homes that have conventional or system boilers can free up loft space. Many decide to even turn airing cupboards into additional space to store more than just towels.
There are a range of combis that have been designed specifically with smaller living spaces in mind. Options such as the Ideal Logic Plus 24, Vaillant ecoTEC Pro 28, and the Greenstar 25i from Worcester Bosch, offer heating outputs of 24 kilowatts and flow rates between 9.9 and 11.1 litres per minute but sit comfortably in most kitchen cupboards.
Removing radiators
If the customer is looking for something a little less disruptive, replacing radiators can be a great place to start. Traditional radiators are often considered an eyesore and while more attractive wooden covers provide smaller homes with an extra shelf for books and plants, they can be bulky. They are also one of the best ways to block the rising convection currents that heat a customer’s home.
We have come a long way from the invasive cast iron radiator that massively protrudes from the wall it is hung on. For the space-conscious homeowner, there are a wide range of stylish, narrow and vertical options to return some of that all-important wall space.
Going under
For customers that want to banish radiators and panel heaters altogether, underfloor heating (UFH) is a great way to free up space.
Once UFH has been installed, sideboards and other units can be installed to improve storage space and give customers more freedom to design their home without having to plan around traditional radiators.
UFH also gives customers better control of heat in certain areas of their home and because UFH systems distribute heat more evenly, the water they use is heated to a lower temperature – usually between 35-55°C. This can offer marked improvements in efficiency and energy costs.
A similar but lesser known alternative to UFH is skirting board heating. Working in a very familiar fashion, it offers high levels of efficiency but is only suitable for very small homes or flats.
Bathing in space
In addition to the heating system, there are plenty of space-saving measures that can be that can be taken in a customer’s bathroom.
One measure for customers with small bathrooms is to remove the largest fixture – the bath - and replace it with a shower enclosure or wet room with a screen. Though a shower enclosure uses less surface area than a wet room, the latter can maximise space to make the bathroom appear bigger.
Wet rooms can also add a contemporary touch not achieved by a standard bathroom and in some cases, increase the value of the home.
Conceal for appeal
Traditionally, pipework has always been boxed in to create a tiled shelf or ledge. Today, installers are even fitting them behind the plasterboard, so they don’t interfere with the available space.
This is also happening with toilet cisterns and basins. As homeowners and landlords opt for more modern styles, wall-hung toilets with concealed cisterns are becoming more popular and with nothing external on display apart from the bowl, installers can give back an average of 233mm back to their customers.
Hiding the cistern and relevant pipes can sometimes be off-putting to customers as they can be perceived to be difficult to access in the event of maintenance needs. This problem can be easily overcome by ensuring an inspection panel is factored into the installation.
Wall-hung options are also a good place to start when it comes to saving space with basins. There also a variety of wall-hung basins that double-up as vanity units for storing bathroom essentials like toilet rolls, cleaning goods, kids bath toys, almost-empty shampoo bottles, used razor heads, and all the other weird and wonderful bits that can be found in your average customer’s bathroom.
Expert advice
During a time where space comes at a premium, plumbing and heating installers now play a vital role in ensuring their customers can live as comfortably in smaller homes as they could in houses with more space.
From underfloor heating and wall-hung toilets to complete boiler system replacements, there are a whole host of measures installers can offer to customers looking to maximise the space in their home.