Cost of installing new gas central heating system.

Slinky

Our Economy 7 meters were marked up the wrong way round. Don't think the previous owners noticed, been wrong since 2006!

PasturesNew

On top of that there's annual servicing and any repairs.

For an owner occupier, it can be cheaper to go down the electric route because once it's in it's in and they're becoming smarter. Less disruptive to fit and, total cost of ownership when you break it down doesn't have to differ by much.

Toss in the fact that, if you believe Govt "maybe we will" statements talking of not installing new gas boilers in new builds from the year 20XX, then gas might, too, go out of fashion.

Undervalued

PasturesNew wrote: »

On top of that there's annual servicing and any repairs.

For an owner occupier, it can be cheaper to go down the electric route because once it's in it's in and they're becoming smarter. Less disruptive to fit and, total cost of ownership when you break it down doesn't have to differ by much.

Toss in the fact that, if you believe Govt "maybe we will" statements talking of not installing new gas boilers in new builds from the year 20XX, then gas might, too, go out of fashion.

Indeed.

Even if the boiler comes with a ten year guarantee (that is actually worth the paper it is written on!), at the very least a requirement will be an annual service. Probably £80 in today's money, so that is £800 to keep the guarantee.

There is no doubt that for the same amount of heat and hot water gas will be significantly cheaper. However there are lots of other factors in the overall equation.

Whether gas or electric, are they heating and using the place efficiently? What temperature do they aim for? Nurses are often a good example. Run around a hothouse of a hospital all day, wearing not a lot, then come home an shiver in a normally heated house!

It is often said that 1 degree hotter can need 10% more fuel.

sgun

amistupid wrote: »

My thoughts exactly. The house was bought by my daughter and her partner nearly 3 years ago. Unfortunately they did not ask for any advice, I'd have deterred them from buying anywhere with storage heaters, or had central heating fitted when it was empty before they moved in. It's a nice starter home and was bought for a reasonable price, with a huge garden for my two grand kids, and they intend staying there for the next few years. The only drawback has been the Economy 7 storage heaters, their electric bills have been astronomical. I'm trying my best to help them out. The houses in the area have a ceiling price of about 90 grand.

I have to agree with the others here, I had storage heaters for 18 years and my bills were lower than friends in similar houses with GCH. The key is to be using them correctly and getting on a good tariff. I spent £620 in 2018, we didn't have a cold winter but even during 2010/2011 I wasn't spending much more. I had a gas fire in the living room which used around £80 a year on top. So not expensive although I was on an excellent tariff. It was a 2 bed but large not like the poky newbuilds that you get now. The living room was 6x4.5m and the rest of the house in similar proportions. Both of us worked from home as well.

They never went wrong either so I had approx just short of 4k that I didnt spend on maintaining my heating system for 18 years - annual service (£70ish x 18years = £1,260) and probably a new boiler in that time (maybe £1500 fitted) and any other charges for the boiler going wrong (my parents have spent around £1200 on 10 years on theirs). I was quite happy with that saving!

I only put in the GCH when I was selling as no-one wanted to buy a house with storage heaters.

I think they need to check they are using the heaters correctly and see if they can get a cheaper tariff.

amistupid

At one time the estate they live on had no gas, all the houses had storage heaters. When a gas main was introduced in the late 1980's, the vast majority of householders changed to gas central heating, in fact, as far as they are aware they are now the only property still with storage heaters.

sgun wrote: »

I only put in the GCH when I was selling as no-one wanted to buy a house with storage heaters.

This is probably why the house, despite being on a much larger plot than most, had been on the market for three years before they bought it.

Undervalued wrote: »

Just a thought but are you sure there is not anything odd going on like some or all of them getting some or all of the energy at peak rate? It can happen. What about their hot water?

Immersion heater I believe. I asked them if they were on the cheapest Economy 7 rate and they assured me they were but their electric bill was £170 per month. Looks like I will now have to double check that they are!

Kids who'd 'ave 'em!

Undervalued

amistupid wrote: »

Immersion heater I believe. I asked them if they were on the cheapest Economy 7 rate and they assured me they were but their electric bill was £170 per month. Looks like I will now have to double check that they are!

Kids who'd 'ave 'em!

Well it will make a big difference if most of the water heating takes place during the 7 hours of cheap rate at night. Even assuming it does, then a couple of showers in the morning will use most of it so the immersion heater will turn itself back on at full price to reheat a tank that will then probably sit unused during the day.

If the 170 per month is a flat rate throughout the year then yes, that is a lot. c £2K per year. I think I read a national average for a smallish house is near £1200?

That said I pay £60 a month for electricity in a house that is heated with gas CH, gas hot water and a gas cooker. It is amazing how many electric guzzling gadgets we all have these days.

I would certainly check very carefully what is being used and when. Unless that brings it down significantly then you need to do some careful sums and factor in things like capital costs, disruption, how long they are likely to stay in the house, likely effect of house value and the full cost of running and maintaining a gas CH system.

If you do go down that route then a gas cooker would probably also make sense and give a worthwhile further saving......

Norman_Castle

amistupid wrote: »

At one time the estate they live on had no gas, all the houses had storage heaters. When a gas main was introduced in the late 1980's, the vast majority of householders changed to gas central heating, in fact, as far as they are aware they are now the only property still with storage heaters.

This is probably why the house, despite being on a much larger plot than most, had been on the market for three years before they bought it.

Potentially they paid less than if gsh was already installed, this should increase the value.

Have you checked if they're eligible for any grants?

amistupid

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Potentially they paid less than if gsh was already installed, this should increase the value.

This is another reason I think why fitting gch is a good idea. Many sites suggest that it could increase the house value by about 5% and if they ever move would make it much easy to sell. A point made here:

sgun wrote: »

I only put in the GCH when I was selling as no-one wanted to buy a house with storage heaters.

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Have you checked if they're eligible for any grants?

Yes, they do not appear eligible for any.