As you stroll through your school’s corridors on a cold autumn morning, you may begin to notice telltale signs that its heating system might not be performing as well as it should.

While there’s no denying that being exposed to the cold can be healthy, there is definitely a limit. Some classrooms may be uncomfortably cold and draughty, while others may be stiflingly hot, and breezes may creep through windows and doors despite them being closed. 

Many schools in the UK are struggling with legacy and inefficient heating systems, boilers, radiators and other types of equipment. Sadly, schools too often overlook upgrading their heating infrastructure in favour of other priorities. 

For headteachers and top-level educational decision-makers managing strict budgets, heating costs represent a considerable expense. If your system isn’t working efficiently, those costs can quickly spiral upwards, while, in turn, creating an uncomfortable environment for your students, staff and faculty members, which can affect overall performance. 

Signs your school heating system needs improving

• Leaking, rattling, rusty, noisy or corroded radiators
• Uneven heating distribution (e.g. in a classroom block where some are boiling and others are freezing)
• Poorly balanced and pressurised boiler systems
• Draughty classrooms despite adequate insulation
• A buildup of debris and dirt due to a lack of heating system maintenance
• Old, outdated boilers which don’t distribute heat evenly
• Rising energy bills and higher energy consumption

Energy bills are typically higher in autumn and winter every year, as the weather turns colder, but despite those spikes, if consumption increases year-on-year despite following average usage patterns, it’s usually a sign that efficiency has deteriorated.

Modern heating solutions for schools

Fortunately, modern commercial heating technology encompasses a range of solutions that can help schools reduce their long-term heating costs, optimise their energy efficiency and keep their premises warm. These include (but are not limited to):

• Heat pumps – these systems extract warmth from the air or ground outside, delivering efficient heating throughout the school. A typical heat pump is 250-450% more efficient per unit of energy, compared to a boiler.
  
• Radiant heating panels – particularly useful in spaces with high ceilings like sports and assembly halls, these systems warm objects and people directly, creating comfortable conditions more efficiently and reducing heat loss by ventilation.
  
• Air curtains – a smart, contemporary solution for entrances and corridors where draughts occur, creating an invisible barrier of warm air that prevents cold air infiltration. These systems capture and reuse heat that would otherwise be lost, often achieving high efficiency ratings.

School heating system zoning

School heating installations aren’t necessarily confined to simply replacing the old equipment with newer models. Many modern heating systems now incorporate intelligent zoning controls that allow different areas to be heated based on predefined requirements and specific usage patterns. 

For example, classrooms can be warmed up before pupils arrive and turned off before they leave for the day, while areas with large amounts of foot traffic can be given consistent temperatures throughout the working day.

Combining this with smart thermostats and building management systems will give schools more control and visibility over their day-to-day and long-term energy consumption.

The importance of heating system maintenance

Even the most advanced heating systems will underperform without regular preventative maintenance, servicing, and checks to determine their efficiency. Regular commercial heating maintenance and servicing ensures that equipment stays in solid working order all year round, allowing any potential issues to be isolated before they escalate into serious and costly issues.

Indeed, Independent Heating & Cooling (IHC) recommends that schools service their equipment every year, ideally during the summer when disruption to learning is minimised, and when systems are less likely to be used. A comprehensive PPM (planned preventative maintenance) programme should include radiator balancing, system flushing, filter changes, boiler pressurising, full deep cleaning, and more to remove any debris and replace deteriorated parts. 

Schools that implement proactive maintenance typically see substantial improvements in system efficiency, as well as reduced boiler breakdown rates.

Don’t overlook school heating upgrades

Research consistently shows that classroom climate, environment and temperature all affect pupil concentration and performance. If classrooms and learning environments are too cold or too hot, children can not only become irritated, distracted, or restless, but their health can also be put at risk. 

It’s an imperative duty of school leaders to ensure a comfortable environment for their students at all times whilst on school property. A well-designed and efficient heating system, which maintains consistent temperatures of between 20°C and 22°C, will give pupils the best possible environment where they can focus on learning rather than facing uncomfortable conditions.

Upgrading school heating systems can be costly – there’s no denying that. However, the long-term ends justify the means; the benefits of an energy-saving, efficient, low-maintenance and reliable system far outweigh the upfront costs. That said, upgrading doesn’t have to be immediate and large-scale; it can be phased over several months or years, which can help school leaders spread costs more gradually.

Addressing inconsistencies and inefficiencies now will give you the best chance at creating the optimal heating conditions for your institution and reducing your operational overheads at the same time.

By Dakota Murphey