We all want warm, healthy homes. We’ve probably all experienced the opposite in some form or another. But if you’re renovating or building a home, when is the best time to consider your heating options?

Short answer: the design process.

In the design process, you’ll want to consider a heating solution that will fit with the overall look and feel of your home. It might sound strange because most of the time heating systems aren’t installed until the end of a build or renovation. But deciding on it early becomes a blessing in the long run. Your design process becomes your solid foundation. It’s the lengthiest part of the process and your build will swiftly follow suit when it has a clear direction.

For example, you may want a heating system recessed into a wall or a freestanding fireplace. These are important to include in your design (for structural purposes) and are a great option for homes that don’t have a lot of floor space, or have a tricky layout to work with (think triangular rooms or pitched ceilings). They’re also perfect for replacing existing freestanding wood burners without changing the structural layout of a room. 

A wall-mounted heater is ideally decided on early, but when building its positioning doesn’t need to be chosen until your framing is up and the electricians are about to start work.

On the other hand, a gas heater is another option. One important thing to note though, is that if you choose this form of heating you need to be aware of where its placement is as it needs ventilation. You can read more about flued and unflued gas heaters on the WorkSafe website.