no gas and cess pit - what does that mean to me?

Greenwellies_2

I went back to the EA details, and it is a cesspit not a septic tank. There is no information as to whether is it shared with others in the terrace etc.

Any ideas on how much installation of a septic tank and oil heating could be?

If I install a septic tank, what would happen about growing my own (fruit and veg)? Would it become contaminated?

Thanks

GW

Mary_Hartnell

poppysarah wrote: »

You can look up whether it has broadband. Nearly everywhere does. Just rural is slower.

Cess pit = a lot cheaper water bills in theory

No gas = either gas cylinder or tank, or solid fuel.

Or Heat Pump ground source or air source, IF you have good insulation it will work out cheaper than mains gas.
What sort of terraced building is it? When was it built?
What sort of energy rating has it been given on its HIP?
What is the existing heating.
Are you proposing to do major works to it, to make use of the permitted development rights brought in last year?
www.planningportal.gov.uk/house

The other alternative is to burn wood - but the smell of wood might wind up your neighbours.
A living room log burner complements a heat pump by making a focus for the living room and helping out when the outside temperature is really low in January.
Larger properties could consider pellets or wood chip.

The cost of having every litre of water taken away in a tanker is crippling.
There are 1000 litres to the tonne = one cubic meter.

Talk to the neighbours and think very carefully about buying something with expensive heating and sewage bills.

I converted my cess pit in 1970 something to a septic tank and have not had to empty it since:D, but I have access to pasture land for the land drains that take off the excess water; and I have opted out of the sewerage charge.

Greenwellies wrote: »

If I install a septic tank, what would happen about growing my own (fruit and veg)? Would it become contaminated?

The extra moisture keeps the garden moist in the summer, stopping problems with cracking of the house foundations. I know where the land drains are so grow runner beans over the top of them - magnificent crop.

Greenwellies_2

Mary_Hartnell wrote: »

Or Heat Pump ground source or air source, IF you have good insulation it will work out cheaper than mains gas.
What sort of terraced building is it? When was it built?
Around 1830
What sort of energy rating has it been given on its HIP?
Hip not seen yet
What is the existing heating.
Storage heater
Are you proposing to do major works to it, to make use of the permitted development rights brought in last year?
www.planningportal.gov.uk/house
It's in a 'granny state' so will need kitchen, bathroom, etc, etc. We will look into more details as we discover they're needed e.g. solar panels, and the cesspit!!!!

The other alternative is to burn wood - but the smell of wood might wind up your neighbours.
Really? Do people get annoyed with it?
A living room log burner complements a heat pump by making a focus for the living room and helping out when the outside temperature is really low in January.

Larger properties could consider pellets or wood chip.
On my budget, this is small!

The cost of having every litre of water taken away in a tanker is crippling.
There are 1000 litres to the tonne = one cubic meter.

Talk to the neighbours and think very carefully about buying something with expensive heating and sewage bills.

I converted my cess pit in 1970 something to a septic tank and have not had to empty it since:D, but I have access to pasture land for the land drains that take off the excess water; and I have opted out of the sewerage charge.

The extra moisture keeps the garden moist in the summer, stopping problems with cracking of the house foundations. I know where the land drains are so grow runner beans over the top of them - magnificent crop.

Thanks, replies in pink

poppysarah

smell of burning wood isn't a problem in a properly maintained chimney & stove.

But putting household rubbish on makes lots of nasty ash and stink.

Check smoke free zoning & rules on what you can burn

Greenwellies_2

Wow, really! (smoke free zone)
The more I want to move, the harder it's becoming.

I'm getting more and more despondent about our move. We really, really want to move, but I don't see 'realistically' priced homes out there (in the area we want to be) and there is only about 12 places available in the area, (in budget) with 10 of them being in 'less nice' areas, 1 having a tiny garden, and the other one is the one we want....

*sigh*

GW

Strapped

Greenwellies wrote: »

I went back to the EA details, and it is a cesspit not a septic tank. There is no information as to whether is it shared with others in the terrace etc.

Any ideas on how much installation of a septic tank and oil heating could be?

If I install a septic tank, what would happen about growing my own (fruit and veg)? Would it become contaminated?

Thanks

GW

An old boyfriend of mine had a cesspit at his house. They used to have it emptied down the garden onto the fruit and veg - it always seemed to grow well (but I sure wanted to wash it well!!!!)

ETA: No mains gas here - we have an oil tank ATM but boiler on its last legs so we are thinking wood pellets maybe next. Broadband only 1MB too....waiting for the governments marvellous upgrade roll-out lol.

Debt_Free_Chick

Mary_Hartnell wrote: »

The cost of having every litre of water taken away in a tanker is crippling.
There are 1000 litres to the tonne = one cubic meter.

£60 per 1,000 litres here in Sunny Sussex.

Depends on usage, but we share a septic tank with our neighbours, so only the sludge gets taken away - just once a year. (Four adults and one teenager).

A local pub has 3,000 litres extracted every ....... WEEK! But that's a busy pub!

Debt_Free_Chick

Greenwellies wrote: »

Any ideas on how much installation of a septic tank and oil heating could be?

Septic tank could be £8-£10k or even more. You'll need to call around for quotes. It may be less if the existing site can be utilised with little additional modification. But the site will need to be assessed and work done for the run-off of liquid. Massive environmental considerations for new installations - even replacements - but the installer will advise.

Oil - well gas CH for a 3 bed semi is around £3-4k (I think). Add another £1k for an oil fired boiler as they simply cost more! Plus another £1k for an oil storage tank. Plus another £1k to lay all the piping.

This is not a quote, but just a guesstimate based on what I know will be required.

Mary_Hartnell

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

£60 per 1,000 litres here in Sunny Sussex.

Depends on usage, but we share a septic tank with our neighbours, so only the sludge gets taken away - just once a year. (Four adults and one teenager).

A local pub has 3,000 litres extracted every ....... WEEK! But that's a busy pub!

How about a composting toilet:rotfl:

Let us pretend that a litre is two pints.
2000 / 60 = 33 pints per GBP = 3 pence per pint if the customer fails to take his purchase home
Blimey even a cup of tea works out at a penny.

AGE OF PROPERTY: Around 1830

Presumably this means nine inch solid brick walls ? Suspended floor boards to ground floor? Slate roof with slipping nail sick slates?
Draft proof everything.
Putting up to a foot of insulation in the loft should be a possibility, or is there a room up there?
If you are redoing the ground floor installing underfloor heating running at 30 degrees C on a thick bed of insulation should be a possibility. Two of your walls could be insulated by next door?!
The back wall might be a candidate for external insulation.
That just leaves the front, where presumably you would want to keep the original appearance? so it would have to be internally insulated.
Windows - original sash ?
Fireplaces - lead to chimneys designed to suck hot air out of houses.?

http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Air-source-heat-pumps

http://www.iceenergyecodan.co.uk/?gclid=CO6Sxdy1z5oCFYV_3god6H_0RQ

The featured heat pump incorporates a new technology, that is most profitably being introduced to the millions of air conditioning motors worldwide. The motor can go slower and faster rather than just turn on and off, like your fridge. You might need to partially shield the unit from the neighbours and your patio - not everyone wants something "ticking over" just the other side of the fence.

Take care with the above company, there are other installers, how can I put it? There are not a lot of jobs for trainee car salesmen in the present market.

ixwood

Do you have to buy now? We are in the middle of a housing crash here. Id live cheap, save as much as possible and bide my time for a year or 2.