new heating system in non-gas area, any ideas?

[sharonanderson]

Im just starting on a complete refurb of a bungalow in Norfolk, there is no gas supply, and it looks a minefield of what sort of system I can fit. Anyone got any ideas? We have done a similar project and fitted a good quality hot water tank/immersion with booster switch for bath (we like baths!), a separate electric water heater which serviced kitchen sink/bathroom basin and then small convector heaters in every room connected to a central thermostat. Its all electric but not very economical. Does anyone have any other ideas? Its a tiny place, 2 beds/2 receptions/ kitchen/bathroom. Wondering about a slim jim electric boiler for the bath water to eradicate needing the bulky hot water tank.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

any chance for lpg, oil or biomass etc?

 

[PhoenixServices]

Personally I would say oil as it's the cheapest to run, especially at the minute.

 

[jtsplumbing]

LPG, then you can have a Gas Fire / Cooker / and combi boiler, at least if you have a power cut you would still have a Fire & Cooker that could be used + gas supplier would install tank and pipework up to property for free.

 

[SimonG]

Oil. Solid fuel. Biomass.

LPG as a last resort, unless you have deep pockets.

Oh and loads of insulation.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Oil. Solid fuel. Biomass.

LPG as a last resort, unless you have deep pockets.

Oh and loads of insulation.

lpg isnt that bad on the par with oil tbh

 

[SimonG]

Nowhere near oil. Theres only electric thats more expensive than lpg.

A cust of mine is regretting going lpg over oil. He looked at installation costs more than long term. Then again apart from roof theres no insulation.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Nowhere near oil. Theres only electric thats more expensive than lpg.

A cust of mine is regretting going lpg over oil. He looked at installation costs more than long term. Then again apart from roof theres no insulation.

Price round here is nearly the same about 3p difference

 

[Sparkgap]

lpg isnt that bad on the par with oil tbh

Figures I've got from march:
Kerosene @ 40.66p/litre = 4.61p/kWh
Gas Oil @ 52.44p/litre = 5.6p/kWh
LPG @ 38.32p/litre = 6.39p/kWh
Electric (on peak) = 14.9p/kWh

These figures also take into account boiler efficiency.

 

[Nostrum]

Where abouts are you?

Perhaps someone on here could advise you of the options?

 

[jtsplumbing]

As B4, I would go for LPG any system will relay on power to operate it if your prone to power cuts , with gas you could still have Heat (Gas Fire) and you can still cook (Gas Cooker) as for price of gas Bulk storage is cheaper than tanks, and prices vary between suppliers, it all depends on your budget as to what you can afford to have installed, you will get varying answers on here we all have our opinions as to what is best system.

 

[jtsplumbing]

But have the Government cut or are going to cut the tariff that is available (Like everything else they seem to cut) , and again what happens if & when you get a power cut, do you have other forms of heating as a back up !

 

[sharonanderson]

Its on the coast in Hemsby. After some comments here Ive now looked into getting a tank of gas buried in the garden as it sounds cheaper than electric, but as Im renting the house out eventually, i would have to get a gas test done every year, so Im not sure if the cost of that would make it better just to get electric.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Its on the coast in Hemsby. After some comments here Ive now looked into getting a tank of gas buried in the garden as it sounds cheaper than electric, but as Im renting the house out eventually, i would have to get a gas test done every year, so Im not sure if the cost of that would make it better just to get electric.

you still need a niceic test done every year if rented anyway

 

[sharonanderson]

Is that the electric test? (Ive always just called it "the electric test!"), but if we had gas, wed have to have 2 separate tests done every year.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Is that the electric test? (Ive always just called it "the electric test!"), but if we had gas, wed have to have 2 separate tests done every year.

yes and you would but the problem is for storage heaters / elec heating you will be about the same cost wise to install it as a new boiler installation would be

 

[Worcester]

Off gas new build or major refurb:

Rule 1) Insulate.
Rule 2) Insulate.
Rule 3) Insulate.
Rule 4) MVHR it'll reduce heat load by a bout 30%. (If technically feasible)

1) Ground Source Heat Pump
2) Air Source Heat Pump
3) Log or Pellet Boiler

Underfloor Heating where possible
COntrol each room with independent 'comfort' levels

With 1&2 Solar PV (FiT irrlevant)

We have 7 of these types of jobs going on at the moment
3 are Ground Source
2 are Air source
2 are Biomass

2 have MVHR

4 have PV

ALL have room by room heating controls (Heatmiser or Honeywell Evohome)
ALL have weather compensation

Conisderations that influence decision
1) Capital Cost
2) Revenue (on-going) cost or running heating system
3) Insulation (hence heat load) levels

 

[Worcester]

Quick solution, if well insulated, you could also use an Air-Air heat pump unit, quick and simple to install, cost effective to run.

We've done it on a fair few new builds here, the properties tend to be on the small side <100m2)

(Well small for us, we usually only work on properties >250m2)

 

[sharonanderson]

Dont they cost £50000 though? Were going to put tons of insulation in, floor, roof, walls and fit good new windows/doors

 

[Worcester]

How big a house? What is you final design heat load?

ALL of the above have a considerable payback over non-renewable solutions, - our clients don't do it to be green they do it for economical reasons.

You're focusing on capital cost not lifetime cost, if you do that, you'll go for lpg as they'll put you a free tank in and in 5 years time you'll be regretting that decision big time as you realise the running costs, and have to keep paying out and paying out and .....

Those that simply focus on the initial capital cost are not our clients and don't listen to us.

Same as when you buy a car or van, you also look at the whole life costs - insurance, mpg etc. So you SHOULD do with your heating system - our customers do, most people don't.

 

[Gray0689]

How big a house? What is you final design heat load?

ALL of the above have a considerable payback over non-renewable solutions, - our clients don't do it to be green they do it for economical reasons.

You're focusing on capital cost not lifetime cost, if you do that, you'll go for lpg as they'll put you a free tank in and in 5 years time you'll be regretting that decision big time as you realise the running costs, and have to keep paying out and paying out and .....

Those that simply focus on the initial capital cost are not our clients and don't listen to us.

Same as when you buy a car or van, you also look at the whole life costs - insurance, mpg etc. So you SHOULD do with your heating system - our customers do, most people don't.

Plenty of people regret putting in heat pumps too

 

[DirksPlumbing]

Plenty of people regret putting in heat pumps too

Plenty of people are regretting to have underfloor heating fitted. As some fitters do do real underfloor heating with little to no insulation under and indeed it heats under the floor literally.

Rule 1) Insulate.
Rule 2) Insulate.
Rule 3) Insulate.

Bad workmanship can make a brilliant concept a big load of something.

 

[DirksPlumbing]

If space would not be the problem I would have suggested a Thermaflow boiler. It runs on off peak only if you have the right meter.

The Thermaflow boilers are the only ones in UK I have found that run off peak for both CH and HW. If anyone knows other manufacturers that do something similar please let me know.

 

[Nostrum]

you still need a niceic test done every year if rented anyway

Are you sure?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Are you sure?

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