switch to gas central heating?

abdn_girl

Hello, hope someone can help.
I bought my first flat in March. It's a one bed in Aberdeen and only has electricity supplied; it has a storage heater in the living room and electric panel heaters in the bedroom and kitchen.
I know there is gas in the area as neighbouring properties have installed GCH. I would love to install GCH myself as I believe it will add value to my property but I cannot afford to do it without a loan. Do you think it would be worth it in the long run, or would the interest etc on the loan outweigh the benefits?
Thanks so much for any help you can offer!

bengasman

The old adage that says when you buy cheap, you get cheap, most certainly applies to central heating. If you don't want to pay for a quality install, keep what you have now as you are bound to get very expensive repair bills before long.

macman

But is there already a gas supplyin the building that your flat is in? if not it will be expensive, and you will need the freeholder's permission. Cost that out before you worry about the cost of the CH install.
Having said that, it's one improvement that will certainly increase the value of the property.

HappyMJ

abdn_girl wrote: »

Hello, hope someone can help.
I bought my first flat in March. It's a one bed in Aberdeen and only has electricity supplied; it has a storage heater in the living room and electric panel heaters in the bedroom and kitchen.
I know there is gas in the area as neighbouring properties have installed GCH. I would love to install GCH myself as I believe it will add value to my property but I cannot afford to do it without a loan. Do you think it would be worth it in the long run, or would the interest etc on the loan outweigh the benefits?
Thanks so much for any help you can offer!

I personally don't think it will be worth it. The boiler itself depreciates over 15 years the heating system depreciates over 30 years. Take that into account when calculating the savings.

What are your current electricity usage levels in kWh split between your day rate and night rate? How much of that is attributed to heating. How do you heat water and what amount could be moved from the night rate immersion to the gas boiler in summer?

Boilers have monthly service charges (insurance) and annual gas boiler maintenance checks to consider and that usually outweighs the savings on small installations.

abdn_girl

Macman - I'm not sure if it's in the actual building, I just know that it's in the street. As far as a freeholder goes, I don't think that complication applies in Scotland, but I might be wrong.
HappyMJ - I don't really know how much of my electricity costs are heating yet as I only moved in in March and have only had heating on for a few weeks so far.
Thanks for your help folks - looks like I'll hold off for a wee while yet anyway!

macman

The first get a quote for providing a mains gas service-it could be prohibitive if it has to run through other properties to reach yours.
But live in the flat for one winter first and see what your costs are using E7.

SYNERGY

Do as others have suggested IE initially get a price from a gas supplier for supplying and fitting a meter.

In the mean time, when you get to know your neighbours, ask around to see if anyone else has got a flat in the same building with gas central heating and what it took to get it fitted.

Have a walk around the building, and others if there are similar buildings in the vicinity.

Can you see any external gas pipes going to flats ?

Can you see any boiler flues sticking out of any walls ?

Any signs of gas meter cupboards ?
What floor are you on ?

The reason I ask is that depending on the building type, ( purpose built, conversion etc ), the gas main to your flat may have to be run externally.

There would also have to be access to an external wall for the boiler flue, though the hole can be drilled from inside, access is needed externally to seal the flue to the wall.

Depending on the height this could entail the use of scaffolding, at extra cost.

Pincher

You will not save much compared to Economy 7 with storage heaters, due to initial cost.

Ask estate agents what difference it will make in rent and resale value.

If it costs £2,000 to put in, and the price goes up by £2,000 or more, then it's worth doing.

bengasman

Pincher wrote: »

Ask estate agents what difference it will make in rent and resale value.

Since when do estate agents:
A. Have a clue
B. Tell the truth.

Pincher

bengasman wrote: »

Since when do estate agents:
A. Have a clue
B. Tell the truth.

Grumpy.

The police never recovered my two bicycles, nor caught the burglar from six years and thirty years ago, but I still call them out of old habit.

At least, it doesn't cost anything to ask an estate agent. Just time it before you were going to have bath anyway, so the extra slime doesn't matter.

brenda50

What about the new ceramic heaters?

http://www.eltiheating.com/