recommendations for heating small house

danrv

it’s ok. There a post on Diynot that discusses the fitting of Quantum storage heaters on a 
32a ring main.
https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/dimplex-quantum-qm150-storage-heater-off-peak-electric-supply-wiring-help.453766/
Ideally should be on a dedicated off peak circuit so will need to look into routing the Electricaire wiring to each room downstairs.
Otherwise the ring main will have a constant high current load on it during off peak hours.

worlestone

Nothing much to add, but will follow this with interest.

We're in a similar boat to danrv, recently moved to a 4 bed detached house in a village with no gas.  Were on E7, mostly Dimplex XLSN storage heaters downstairs, with a big old Creda for NSH in the hall and Storad NSH in dining room. Upstairs are Creda panel heaters on standard tariff, plus a big open fire (Keddy Superfire with built in heat exchange/blows warm air into other rooms!)

We've looked at the options, but I keep coming back to updating to Dimplex Quantum or similar. We've taken early retirement and plan to stay here for next 20+ years.  So far quotes have been for installing... oil @ £16,368, LPG £12,404, ASHP £21,409 and still waiting on quote for biomass boiler (though a neighbour has one and it's huge and his garage is filled with bags of pellets!).  Hot water is courtesy of immersion tank, with manual switch, split main/top up, as there's only two of us have taken to switching on for an hour or so each morning for shower and washing up.

It's such a difficult decision as there seems to be no one who is able to give genuinely impartial advice, there's always an angle.  I'd be happy to pay for a service, but finding it is impossible.  I did think the Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol would be able to help, but their service is really for people in vulnerable positions/benefits in need to energy advice, not off gas grid advice - quite rightly really.

Just realised that I've almost written an essay!

Gerry1

worlestone said:

It's such a difficult decision as there seems to be no one who is able to give genuinely impartial advice, there's always an angle.

Energy Cost Comparison

Fuel Prices

Fuel Comparisons

Update

I copied and pasted the above links from my bookmarks, but on closer examination they now seem far less reliable than they used to be, so treat with caution.  They're not all up to date, and some assumptions (such as not including E7 tariffs) are daft.  Perhaps they haven't been peer reviewed recently because of coronavirus, or have just fallen into relative disuse because of lack of enthusiasm or resources.  They may have some use in comparing the relative pros and cons of different fuels, but don't believe the silly prices.

matelodave

I'm not sure that I'd agree with the costings shown in Gerry's list of comparison sites - who pays over 4p/kwh for Gas or 20p for leccy. I'd guess that some of the LPG, wood and oil costs are a bit suspect too. IMO you are better off doing your own research and your own sums.

I was in a similar predicament to worelstone when we moved to our bungalow out in the middle of the Cambridgeshire fens just over ten years ago. The place needed a fairly major refurb and was fitted with eight manky rusty storage heaters and a clooged up hotwater tank with an immersion. The previous owner had been using portable LPG heaters. As are retired and we intended to stay for a decent period of time I had to decide the best way to heat the place bearing in mind that we spend quite a lot of time at home.

I investigated, LPG, Oil and heatpumps. We also decided that we'd like underfloor heating rather than radiators all over the place and found an overlay system (Polypipe Overlay, other systems are available) which sits on top of the existing flooring.

The cost of a heat pump was about three times the cost of an LPG boiler but we'd have to sort out the tank etc. The HP was less than twice the cost of an oil boiler with tank and associated base and pipework and the running costs seemed to be on a par or even a bit less than oil (although that really does depend on how your heatpump is set up and how you use it) - there was the vague promise of the RHI which didn't actually materialise for another three years but it did and we've got over £5k back in payments (last one comes next January) which more than covered the extra cost over an oil installation and probably balances it out against LPG.. We did not consider biomass and TBH I wouldn't consider it even now.

We dont have a big oil or gas tank in the garden (or a shed for biomass pellets) The ASHP unit sits neatly beside the building. It's nowhere near as noisy as some people think - yes you can hear the fans when fairly close to it but not otherwise. I wouldn't put it under a bedroom window though. I can hear the external oil boiler from the bloke who lives over the other side of the road so IMO the noise is a red herring chucked out by detractors.

A heatpump is not for everyone and needs a lot of thought but we are more than happy with it and I think I made the right choice. It does what it should, we find it economical to run, we don't have to worry about gas or oil tanker deliveries two or three times a year like most of our neighbours.
I did spend a lot of time researching, getting quotes and doing lots of sums before I made my decision because it can work out very expensive if you don't get it right. If anyone wants a write up of what we did and how much it cost (with piccies) you are welcome to PM me

worlestone

Gerry1 said:

worlestone said:

It's such a difficult decision as there seems to be no one who is able to give genuinely impartial advice, there's always an angle.

Energy Cost Comparison

Fuel Prices

Fuel Comparisons

Thanks Gerry1, but that's just part of the decision process which needs to be weighted against the installation costs, staring from scratch installing a complete 'wet' system is a big financial decision, plus the aesthetics - oil tank in centre of garden?

matelodave - thanks for the information on your decision process, lots to think about!

Gerry1

matelodave said:

I'm not sure that I'd agree with the costings shown in Gerry's list of comparison sites - who pays over 4p/kwh for Gas or 20p for leccy. I'd guess that some of the LPG, wood and oil costs are a bit suspect too. IMO you are better off doing your own research and your own sums.

worlestone said:

Gerry1 said:

worlestone said:

It's such a difficult decision as there seems to be no one who is able to give genuinely impartial advice, there's always an angle.

Energy Cost Comparison

Fuel Prices

Fuel Comparisons

Thanks Gerry1, but that's just part of the decision process which needs to be weighted against the installation costs, staring from scratch installing a complete 'wet' system is a big financial decision, plus the aesthetics - oil tank in centre of garden?

See the disclaimer above that I've added: the sites have gone a bit rusty !

Pennylane

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry I haven’t been back much but have a very poorly Mum.  An electrician recommended Gel Heaters then I spoke to a couple who had them and they said their electricity bills went sky high.

matelodave

Pennylane said:

Thanks for all the replies. Sorry I haven’t been back much but have a very poorly Mum.  An electrician recommended Gel Heaters then I spoke to a couple who had them and they said their electricity bills went sky high.

It really doesn't matter whether they are filled with gel, oil, magic clay, fairy dust or any other exotic material these are peak rate rate heaters, not storage heaters and they will cost you lots of money to buy and even more to run.

Avoid them completely unless there really is no alternative. In which case a £30 oil filled radiator from Argos or B&Q will produce exactly the same heat for as a similar sized "exotic" heater and cost the same to run.For another £15 or so you could use a wifi plug and remotely control it from your smart phone or even Alexa etc.

macman

Any sparky recommending these is either incompetent, or on a bung from those magic clay boys whose name I can't remember...

Petriix

It's probably either pay loads up front for a heat pump, or pay loads every month for electric heating.

It might make sense to look at getting solar panels if they can be utilised during the day.

Other options include a wood burner with a back boiler or some kind of thermal store with multiple inputs.

Whatever you do, prioritise bumping up the insulation to prevent as much heat loss as possible.