Old radiators and my in-laws big bills

Mr_Forgetful

My in-laws are 85/75 and are suffering from very large gas bills like many others. The gas bill is now being altered to £170 per month as they live in a largish old 3 bedroom house (1930s) with the heating being on nearly all the time over the colder months. They have a one pipe system which I have been told can not have TRVs attached to the radiators so they cannot isolate any rooms that they do not use so much. They have had cavity walls/loft insulation and are changing the boiler. Does anyone know if the radiators could be altered without a large cost to get these gas bills down or is the boiler change likely to be enough to get the cost and the worry down?

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere before. And thanks.

KimYeovil

Some DIYer or engineer can jump in and tell me I am writing nonsense but I wouldn't change the boiler until or unless you are prepared to change the whole system or at least you have more information about what the problem is. I fail to see why changing only the boiler will have any significant effect whatsosever on the rest of the system. Why was it suggested that the boiler be changed in isolation?

There are some TRVs that work on single pipe systems but they may well not work on yours.

There is a separate DIY section in these forums - there may be more experts reading that section and you may get a quicker, expert response if you post there.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=39

PeterDuckett

Do you mean a single pipe in the terms that the Exit for one radiator feeds the entry to the next or a separate floe and return with branches off to all the radiators.
If it is the first option you are correct TRV would cut the flow to the whole system and perhaps put the boiler in lock out mode (IE wont pump or light) these are also very bad as towards the end of the system the radiators are generally colder.
YOu will see a very big benifit replacing the whole system though not in the short term

Mr_Forgetful

I believe it is a single pipe so shutting off one stops the flow to the rest. 1 plumber has suggested we cannot do anything but I just wanted to put it to the vote. I think they are too 'mature' now to fork out on a new system. They have got the new boiler as the old one was a teenager and kept having strops. I guess they had advice on it but I can't be sure. I have just got a new gas/electric plan for them so I guess that is all they can do except argue about who left the fire on. Thanks for your help.

meg72

Mr_Forgetful wrote: »

My in-laws are 85/75 and are suffering from very large gas bills like many others. The gas bill is now being altered to £170 per month as they live in a largish old 3 bedroom house (1930s) with the heating being on nearly all the time over the colder months. They have a one pipe system which I have been told can not have TRVs attached to the radiators so they cannot isolate any rooms that they do not use so much. They have had cavity walls/loft insulation and are changing the boiler. Does anyone know if the radiators could be altered without a large cost to get these gas bills down or is the boiler change likely to be enough to get the cost and the worry down?

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere before. And thanks.

I thnink it may be worthwhile to contact Age Concern for advice.

My parents 89 and 87 were about to get a complete new system fitted
at no cost due to some scheme or other. Worth a try I think