Which heating system??

newhouse_2

Hi we are considering buying a 1960's house that has no heating system. Well actually thats a lie. The house was built with a open fire with back boiler. The back boiler has long gone, but the pipes, pump and rads and fire place are still in place. The previous owner used 2 storage heaters. Given the size of the house they must have been cold!!

The rads around the house are very very small for the room size's.

If we buy the house we will be really short of cash. So does anyone know what would be cheapest route forward? There is no Gas in the area !! The hot water cylinder has been replaced with a version that can only be heated by electric. The old back boiler header tank and pipes into the airing cupboard are still in place.

Potential options:-

1) Wood burner with back boiler in the fire place connecting to existing pipes. Existing rads need increasing in size.
2) Fit a 2nd hand oil boiler into the kitchen and connect up with existing rad circuit. (Again new rads needed and an oil tank).
3) Go all electric with those new Electric radiators that can be controlled individually. Perhaps have a wood burner put in the fire place.
4) Any other alternatives.

In our existing house we are on oil and find this great and costs about 600 - 700 per year (only used between Sept & April).

Thanks