New Central Heating or switch to Electric

tartanphoenix

We have recently bought a new (to us) house, which has an old central heating system... boiler is about 25-30 years old, in good nick for its age. There are rooms without radiators as well.

Here is the question:
- replace the whole system; install combi-boiler, replace pipework and install new radiators to all rooms?
OR
- switch to electric radiators? Like iRads from Feature Radiators

Any thoughts?

rogerblack

A gas installation costs lots more.
But gas price is around a third of electricity price per unit heat, or moderately under the price of electricity, if you use storage heaters, and economy 7.

So, the answer depends somewhat on the amount of energy used.
The more costly gas installation could be paid off in as little as a couple of years, or less in some cases.

macman

Why change a system that is still working well? Add rads to the rooms as required, or change the boiler if necessary. Why would you rip out all the rads just to change the boiler? And why necessarily fit a combi?
Electric heating on standard rate is about 250% more expensive, and will greatly devalue the property.

tartanphoenix

macman wrote: »

Why change a system that is still working well? Add rads to the rooms as required, or change the boiler if necessary. Why would you rip out all the rads just to change the boiler? And why necessarily fit a combi?

Reason is that it is microbore pipes and again they are over 30 years old, and will need to support an additional 6 rads

Pincher

Under floor heating.

You can connect a heat pump instead of a gas boiler in the future, so more options.

The low temperature returning water encourages condensation, boosting efficiency.

Plastic pipes do not rust, minimising leaks.

Radiators take up wall space, UFH does not.