Which heating option would you go for?

Harryp_24

Hi all, im closing in on exchange of a house purchase now and im still stuck with which option to do.
The house im currently buying has no central heating, (the price reflected this). It is a terraced house and has a gas fire downstairs. (their is gas the woman who owns it ripped out the boiler and radiators).

I viewed in mid december and it was pleasantly warm downstairs and up.
There was no damp recorded throughout the house on the survey.
it has newly fitted double glazing throughout.
It uses solar panels which are privately outright owned by her to heat water and has an immersion to top up with. (she said she only used the immersion 2-3 times a month in the winter, in the summer the solar panels do all the water heating)

Im torn between getting central heating fitted (which would mean removing the immersion tank and solar panels for space for a boiler) or getting an electric heater in each bedroom for when its cold.
Or possibly a storage heater in each bedroom.

What would you guys do, thanks.

Cardew

I would get Gas CH, retain the HW tank and solar thermal panels(so not a Combi) and find room for a wall hung gas boiler - they are incredible small these days. Can even be put outside.

J_B

Cardew wrote: »

Can even be put outside.

When I looked last month, I could only find oil 'outdoor' boilers.
Can you find me a gas one?

Cardew

I think you build a simple enclosure for the external gas boiler.

However can you not find a space to hang one on an internal wall?

Cardew

Harryp_24 wrote: »

It uses solar panels which are privately outright owned by her to heat water and has an immersion to top up with. (she said she only used the immersion 2-3 times a month in the winter, in the summer the solar panels do all the water heating)


What would you guys do, thanks.

These solar panels are referred to as 'solar thermal' - not the more popular Solar PV that gets a subsidy - and if you do a search there are loads of posts on MSE and elsewhere about their value.

There were many complaints to Trading Standard offices about the outrageous claims of savings and this was subject to several watchdog type programmes.

Whilst they can indeed provide enough hot water in summer for some families, don't forget that the savings should be calculated using gas prices. a typical output(government tested) of a panel(there are two types) is 1,000kWh a year(virtually all in summer) which would save £30 to £40 a year against a new gas boiler. Don't forget that the solar thermal system needs to use electricity to run the pump and electronics - the cost of that electricity has to be set against savings.

I am not knocking solar thermal - but the installation prices charged by some firms was crazy - and don't be fooled by the previous occupants claims; savings in winter are negligible.

Ectophile

I take it that the 2-3 times a month in winter were the first week, the second week and the third week (and they were on holiday on the fourth).

Alex1983

I have solar thermal and they hardly do anything in the winter, summer there good but I still top it up with the gas boiler for a little in the evening. I disconnected a aga and fitted a wall mount sealed system boiler and its very efficient.
If I was starting from scratch like you I wouldn't let the solar influence you decision to much, you need to look at size of house and amount of bathrooms to make a decision on whether to fit a combi or system boiler.