Achieving an efficient Victorian house

whiskey710

we are currently awaiting for a decision on our offer for a Victorian 3 bed detached house. The property is livable but will need a lot of work starting with full rewire and installation of a heating system, currently it has no central heating just two gas fires and an old aga cooker (smokeless fuel) in the kitchen, considering we are likely to be completely starting again what cost effective/economical heating systems have people installed or even recommended companies that have been able to give a true representation  of what different systems could achieve over cost.  
 As it stands with a epc rating of f I wouldn't expect any form of insulation and all the windows are all single glassed so this would obviously need addressing just as much as a heating system.

thanks for any recomendations. Dan

RelievedSheff

As you have gas to the property then a gas central heating system will be the cheapest to run and seems to be the obvious choice.

Without spending a fortune you are unlikely to achieve an efficient Victorian house. It is always going to cost more the heat and run than a modern build house due to the construction methods used. But adding double glazing and loft insulation will help.

What is the wall construction? Is it 215mm single brick?

tacpot12

RelievedSheff said:

As you have gas to the property then a gas central heating system will be the cheapest to run and seems to be the obvious choice.

Without spending a fortune you are unlikely to achieve an efficient Victorian house. It is always going to cost more the heat and run than a modern build house due to the construction methods used. But adding double glazing and loft insulation will help.

This is all correct. We live in a Victorian end terrace which unusually has a cavity wall on the end (gable) wall. Only an extensive insulation installation will made it efficient. The choice is internal insulation vs. external. If you need to re-roof, external insulation is better as it will preserve the internal space within the house; but you need to put a new roof on as part of the project. If you are not going to re-roof (e.g. the house has been re-roofed well in recent times), then internal insulation is the better option. Both routes are expensive, but if you know you will be staying in the house for decades, it could be worth doing, especially if you have family who will inherit the house. 

theoretica

I believe agas can be converted to gas which may be worth adding in to your considerations.

Also look at underfloor insulation and chimney drafts.

dunstonh

I believe agas can be converted to gas which may be worth adding in to your considerations.

They can be converted to many fuels.