Opinions on different heating systems

3 years ago

Hi,

I'm currently buying a 3bedroom 1970s property that has had a single owner and effectively no modern work done to it since being built other than some shoddy extensions.

Currently the property has no central heating, 2 old (1970s) storage heaters, and a small gas fire

As it's in need of major modernizing we are effectively doing a full renovation (limited slightly by the use of asbestos throughout and disruption/costs in removing) and are currently looking at our options for heating. We aren't bothered too much about current running costs - looking more towards 10 year salability and running costs in 10 years, which isn't an exact science given we don't really know which way gas/hydrogen networks are going to go or use of renewables and nuclear/energy crisis

As it's got a gas fire it does have a mains gas connection, however this is a single 15mm copper pipe from gas meter to gas fire.

So our options are as follows:

Gas CH(Combi Boiler) - This would require a boiler installed, with new gas pipe from meter to boiler as existing wouldn't meet building regs. Radiators installed throughout property and plumbing for that installed. Removal of existing hot water tank and cold water tank from loft(Asbestos product and no Asbestos disposal in our area so would need to be removed by an asbestos company)

Gas CH(Boiler + Tank) - Same as above, except existing tank would likely be replaced with an unvented tank - cold water still removed,

Air Source Heat Pump - Require altering part of garage to a plant room (Garage is too small to be useful anyway). new Unvented Water tank in plant room, removal of old tanks. 2x manifolds(one downstairs, one upstairs) for heating supply, retrofit wet underfloor heating downstairs + skirting heating upstairs, and altering the existing hot water distribution to go to new tank location.

Electric Underfloor heating downstairs + Electric Skirting heating upstairs - Simple installation, we will insulating and increasing floor height downstairs anyway to seal existing asbestos floor tiles, and skirting heating as an easy install. Not sure if this would provide enough heat.

Electric Radiator heating(modern storage heaters/stone core) - Simple installation of heaters.

The existing hot water tank will likely be replaced regardless of choice to an unvented system.

Assuming we can get the air tightness up we will also be adding mechanical heat recovery ventilation through the property.

If anyone has any experience with the different methods would be great to hear - either from a running cost and installation cost perspective or just a general installation or usage perspective.

Please refrain from answers of "Gas CH because that's how it's always been done", sometimes change can be good.

Combi Boiler

Boiler + Tank

Electric Radiators

ASHP

Electric Underfloor + Skirting

Featured Answer

Sarah L

3 years ago

I only have experience of gas ch in my own home, but given the choice I think I would opt for a renewable heat source for future proofing.

Comments (7)

PRO
Carbon Artisan International Ltd.
3 years ago
Dear Gareth, I am in this market for now 6 years and coming over with a partner to the UK. A special solution would be a carbon fiber heating. which is right now the most efficient heating system on the planet. I can send you some informations by mail, if you want and we can discuss your situation. best wishes and regards Lothar
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Victoria
3 years ago
I’d future proof and go for ASHP. We nearly did when we started our new build 7 years ago but opted for gas at the time as we had mains connections etc.
Tech has improved hugely, now I’d definitely go for it. Green credentials better. Aim for MVHR too, I think there might even be combi units. You can have UFH upstairs too.
Sarah U-S
3 years ago
I would also go for ASHP too (or ground source is that’s an option). Also - ASHP currently qualify in the government green deal, so you could get £5k towards it. Only thing is that the deal finishes in March I think. Gas doesn’t qualify as it isn’t a renewable energy source. https://www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures
Gareth Jones
Original Author
3 years ago
@Sarah U-S yeah, the government grant will help towards the ASHP, and we would get the remaining RHI as well. It still doesn't quite put the initial cost near the cost of gas, but it's better. (ASHP installation will be about 12k in total, less the 5k government grant)

The grant has now been extended until 2022 so that least helps with timecales

Thanks for all the opinions!
Sarah U-S
3 years ago
Good to know that the deal is being extended!

I have a gas combi boiler and am v interested in ground source heat pumps. There just doesn’t seem to be many people doing them though... (and even fewer people retro-fitting into draughty Victorian terraces 😂). in fact I’m sure I read somewhere that there are so few people doing them that it’s unlikely that anyone will actually have one fitted on the Green Deal. (Although I think that was with the March 21 deadline).
Jonathan
3 years ago
If you have the money to fund the initial acquisition cost of an ASHP this would tick your box of future proofing the house.
However there is an extra option- you put a gas boiler and tank in the garage, wet underfloor heating and then wait for ASHP technology to get cheaper and replace the gas boiler then. You might find a radiator system is cheaper to install but remember to slightly oversized radiators if you intend to gave an ASHP later.

Opinions on different heating systems

Sarah L

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Carbon Artisan International Ltd.

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Opinions on different heating systems

Sarah L

Comments (7)

Carbon Artisan International Ltd.

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