Gas/central heating vs electric

markin

krlyr said:

As this was bumped up - I've actually just sold the property this post was about. The electricity costs weren't too crazy - I was paying around £50/month by myself, which increased to around £70/month when my fiance moved in.

Obviously gas would have likely been cheaper per month but as I only stayed for the 3 years, this came to £1000-2000 less than I would have paid for the gas/boiler/central heating installation - plus COVID affected the sales price so I doubt I would have recouped what I'd invested. So the decision to stay on electric paid off!  

Having had an EPC done to sell, the inspector did suggest a different kind of electric heating which is more economical - these cost around £800-1000. So something I perhaps would have considered had I been staying longer and not wanted the disruption of fitting gas, but not something I need to worry about anymore (new property has gas, hooray!) 

Did you insulate, new glazing? what was the EPC before after?

I wonder if getting the gas to property but simply using it for a cooking stove would have made far more profit?

BananaRepublic

Ectophile said:

onomatopoeia99 said:

movilogo wrote: »

It is not always the case the electric heating is more expensive compared to gas.

Given the difference in cost per kilowatt hour between electricity and gas (typically threefold), it is always the case that electric is more expensive, even with economy seven..

That may depend whether you're counting the cost of the fuel, or the total cost of ownership (especially if the OP already has electic installed).

Storage heaters need no yearly maintenance, and should last a lot longer than a combi boiler will.

My last gas boiler service bill was £60 so it’s insignificant. A gas boiler should last 10-15 years. 

krlyr

markin said:
Did you insulate, new glazing? what was the EPC before after?

I wonder if getting the gas to property but simply using it for a cooking stove would have made far more profit?

Didn't bother - I'd renovated downstairs with a new kitchen & flooring, took out a stud wall and fitted some fancy shelving under the stairs and still sold for a grand less than I paid for it (wasn't supposed to but had issues with lender valuation due to COVID and had to drop £5k). Downside of selling my previous house in a high was that I bought this one in a high. Equally though, sold it in a low and bought the next (bigger, better) place in a low so I'm quids in, really. 
Low turnover on the road (so very little in sales history to justify higher pricing) and COVID pretty much dashed my chances of making a profit on it so I was glad I hadn't gone too mad with what I spent on it. I enjoyed the new living room/kitchen, the flooring proved invaluable with an elderly, slightly incontinent dog, and it was never bought as a money-making endeavour - it was a roof over my head without the hassle of renting with 2 large dogs after splitting with my ex. 
EPC was 54 before, 50 after - I messed up and forgot the new light fittings I bought came with non-energy saving bulbs, haha, had a box to replace them too and didn't realise until after the visit! But to be honest I was just glad to sell it. It sort of fell in a niche of being a good buy for the area for what you got (cul-de-sac, own parking, end-terrace with a bigger garden) so worth the pitfall of no gas/central heating/low EPC score - I happen to know 2 previous owners and have spoken to the new owner and it's very much a first step on the ladder kind of place. 

coffeehound

krlyr said:

EPC was 54 before, 50 after - I messed up and forgot the new light fittings I bought came with non-energy saving bulbs, haha, had a box to replace them too and didn't realise until after the visit! 

That goes to show what a blunt instrument the EPC is.  Now people are being coerced, at threat of having their home devalued, into ripping out perfectly sound older storage heaters for something that even the manufacturers said were flawed.  Besides the costs and upheaval to citizens, I wonder what the real-world environmental impact is.

krlyr

coffeehound said:

krlyr said:

EPC was 54 before, 50 after - I messed up and forgot the new light fittings I bought came with non-energy saving bulbs, haha, had a box to replace them too and didn't realise until after the visit! 

That goes to show what a blunt instrument the EPC is.  Now people are being coerced, at threat of having their home devalued, into ripping out perfectly sound older storage heaters for something that even the manufacturers said were flawed.  Besides the costs and upheaval to citizens, I wonder what the real-world environmental impact is.

Aside from the recommendation to change the bulbs for a cost of £25, the other two suggestions were loft insulation at a cost of £350 to save £125 over a 3 year period and to insulate the (concrete) floor for £6000 to save £210. Yeah, no thanks..