Alternatives to gas central heating.

steveblower

When my flat was converted about 15 years ago, they used a cheap and nasty system and installed it really badly. It keeps on breaking down.

It really needs to be ripped out and replaced.

The thought of that, though, is just too horrible, as well as expensive, to think about frankly, and I am wondering what alternatives there are.

I think I saw some electric space heaters, advertised as low running cost, in the paper a while ago, could these be a viable alternative I wonder?

What is the wisdom of the forum?

HappyMJ

Any electric heater cost the same to run as any other electric heater. You could possibly save money by installing Economy 7 heaters which load up with heat overnight at a cheap rate and release it during the day....but to take full advantage you need to be home during the day. Otherwise I'd just get onto the cheapest standard rate you can get and get the cheapest heaters you can find such as convector heaters (good for heating space), oil filled heaters (low level background heat-slow to start emitting heat but continue to emit heat once turned off-good for bedrooms) and a halogen heater (instant direct heating of yourself-good for sitting in front of one on the sofa).

jbainbridge

There's a reason most people use gas central heating - it is the cheapest to run. If you have gas that is the way to go.

See if you can get someone you know to recommend an installer. You can always post back here if you have questions about the quote / boiler etc.

macman

Removing gas fired CH and DHW will greatly devalue your property. Replacing it with all-electric heating costing 2 to 3 times as much per kWh would be insane.
All electric heating costs the same to run per rated output regardless of type. E7 and storage heaters is the only budget option.
It's unlikely that the whole system needs replacing, maybe just a new boiler. What's wrong with it?

steveblower

Thanks for your thoughts so far.

New boiler needed.
New controllers needed.
New pipes needed
New radiatiors needed.

HappyMJ

steveblower wrote: »

Thanks for your thoughts so far.

New boiler needed.
New controllers needed.
New pipes needed
New radiatiors needed.

Personally, if you can't afford to fix or replace it then I'd leave it all in position so if a future purchaser wants to use your outdated boiler, controllers, pipes and radiators...etc then they'll have that option. Then just just buy some portable electric heaters until you can save the money to fix it.

pinkteapot

Electric heating costs SO much more than gas central heating to run it's unreal. Agree with the last poster - either leave the broken system in situ until you leave or save up to repair/replace it. In the meantime, use electric heaters but be aware that your bills will shoot up.

If you replace gas central heating with an electric system, any future buyers of your property will buy the neighbouring flats before yours if they still have gas central heating.

Economy 7 storage heaters may be the budget option as far as electric heating goes but it's "budget" in the loosest possible sense of the word. I used to live in a 2-bed flat with a measly two night storage heaters. I now live in a 4-bed detached house with gas central heating. I pay the same for gas and electricity combined each month as I used to for electricity alone in that flat, despite the fact that utility prices have increased substantially since then!

yangptangkipperbang

steveblower wrote: »

I think I saw some electric space heaters, advertised as low running cost, in the paper a while ago,

...any electric heater that has "low running costs" just doesn't give out much heat !

I have just looked at such an ad - the heater is 400W; that would heat a small cupboard. The running costs are described as 1 - 2p per hour - I am not sure whether to describe that as a joke or a blatant lie.
With electricity costing 12 - 20p per kWh (depending on your package) that will cost a min of 4.8p per hour to run. It has no thermostat either - probably as it would never heat a room high enough to need one :rotfl::rotfl:

keystone

steveblower wrote: »

New boiler needed.
New controllers needed.
New pipes needed
New radiatiors needed.

Noone has actually said any of that. Pipes don't break, radiators don't break. They get a little gummed up and can be cleaned. Perhaps you would benefit from an upgraded control system but you don't say what you have now. Perhaps it does need a new boiler but you don't say what you have now. Neither have you given any clues as to why it "keeps" breaking. So stacks more data to be provided before any meaningful advice can be given except to reiterate this:

Conversion to electric only is indeed stark staring raving mad from an energy cost perspective.

Cheers.

pinkteapot

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

I have just looked at such an ad - the heater is 400W; that would heat a small cupboard.

Such a thing is being sold? I think it's generous to say it would heat a small cupboard. Our gas fire broke down last month and I borrowed an electric convector heater from my mum until we got the fire replaced. It was a 2kW one. Did a reasonable job of supplementing the gas central heating in our lounge in lieu of the fire. It might have been sufficient to heat a smallish bedroom but that would be about it.

I had to replace the night storage heaters in my old flat. If I remember rightly, the one in the lounge was about 3.5kW and the one in the bedroom 2.5kW. And I had to use extra free-standing electric heaters in the depths of winter as the storage heaters simply didn't provide enough heat.

stan5001

steveblower wrote: »

Thanks for your thoughts so far.

New boiler needed.
New controllers needed.
New pipes needed
New radiatiors needed.

Why? Get at least three different Gas Safe people in to look and give advice (make sure it's no obligation and free unless they do some work).

A new controller would cost £100 max to replace (you could buy one for £20 and fit it yourself)

We need to know what exactly is wrong with the whole system.

Whatever you do stick with GCH, any potential buyers will be put off by alternatives.