Need help choosing a new heating system!

tim_p

Might be worth getting someone in to check the immersion, most common fault is a duff thermostat which cost <£20.  Any electrician worth his salt will be able to diagnose this.  Replacing an old faulty immersion element risks damaging the cylinder which would push the price through the roof though. 

If it’s not the ‘stat the electrician could easily wire the top (boost) element to the E7 circuit and you’d be better off.

Jules2054

rp1974 said:

Would some kind of grant help cover any of the cost of gas mains connection,or maybe part of it?.Even if you had to pay towards it running it costs a quarter of electric heating and hot water thereafter.Personally would not even consider a property without an operational gas supply,even with a substantial reduction,many others will think likewise so that might also be worth considering as a factor.

I qualify for a heating grant, but not the extra £7000 it would cost on top of the grant! See original post! 
I've lived here for 32 yrs.....it is fitted out for me, as I'm disabled,  so I dont intend moving anywhere else now I'm getting older!  I just want to have my home warm at a reasonable running cost! 
Thanks for your reply. 

Jules2054

macman said:

Get the 3 NSH's fixed or replaced, any other option requires capital outlay, which you don't have. Stop using any form of electric heating on peak rate E7, it's literally burning money.

Please read other posts before commenting.....
Thanks! 

Jules2054

matelodave said:

Any sort of portable radiator or heater, whether its oil free, convector, fan, radiant, filled with magic dust, clay or other exotic material will give out the same amount of heat for the same input and will use peak rate leccy (unless you only have it on during the night between midnight and 7 am). 

I know! 

Jules2054

So, after researching all day, I've come to the conclusion that there isn't too much difference between running NSHs compared to running bulk LPG. The big difference would be that I'd be living in a warm house with constant hot water with bulk LPG, compared to the 2 working NSHs I have now, and expensive hot water! The grant will pay to have the combi boiler, radiators etc put in for me, to do this, and I can get a deal for the connection, but I'm not sure about the amount of space I have outdoors will be enough, given the regulations for a bulk tank......will have to wait and see what the survey says! 
Also oil bulk tank, actually works out slightly more expensive due to the extra insurance costs, which I wouldn't have with bulk LPG. If I cant get the bulk LPG, then it's too expensive to have the 47kg cylinders......I'll just look at trying to get second hand NSHs and/or equity released on my home, to have the mains gas supply fitted, as a last resort! 😔
I am also considering contacting the other residents on this estate, if they want mains gas, to club together with me to try to get a deal and part pay to do this.....but that's going to take a lot of time to organise, and winter is nearly here! 😁 maybe something for the future! 😊 
Jules. 

rp1974

Jules2054 said:

I've lived here for 32 yrs.....it is fitted out for me, as I'm disabled,  so I dont intend moving anywhere else now I'm getting older!  I just want to have my home warm at a reasonable running cost! 
Thanks for your reply. 

You may not consider the advice constructive however,choices then,fix your electric heating and accept the running costs or fit another heating system.Cant offer any other advice since a mains gas supply isnt possible.I dont know anything at all regarding equity release,that would be a last resort.You might be onto something with the other residents idea.Hope you find a solution that works for you.

Gerry1

Getting second hand NSHs now and gas later seems a good strategy.  Don't worry if the NSHs are big ones, you don't have to use all the capacity, but it's better than having ones that are too small that would require topping up at expensive daytime rates.  You can always clean and paint them if they look a bit tatty.  With a bit if luck you'll get them free (try all the Freegle / Freecycle groups within a reasonable distance) so the only costs would be transport and perhaps a sparks to connect them.  Many councils are restricting access to their tips, so you might even find the seller / donor may be able to assist with transport just to get rid of them quickly, it's always worth asking.

Properties with GCH will be even more attractive when gas boilers can't be installed in new builds, starting in 2025 IIRC.

Many people wouldn't even consider an all-electric property at present so getting gas would be a very good investment, especially if you can get a critical mass of neighbours to agree.

theoretica

There do seem to be grants that might help with gas connection - how much research did you do?  They seem to vary depending on the area. 

https://www.freeheating.co.uk/gas-connection-grants/

https://www.sgn.co.uk/helptoheat/

Jules2054

Gerry1 said:

Getting second hand NSHs now and gas later seems a good strategy.  Don't worry if the NSHs are big ones, you don't have to use all the capacity, but it's better than having ones that are too small that would require topping up at expensive daytime rates.  You can always clean and paint them if they look a bit tatty.  With a bit if luck you'll get them free (try all the Freegle / Freecycle groups within a reasonable distance) so the only costs would be transport and perhaps a sparks to connect them.  Many councils are restricting access to their tips, so you might even find the seller / donor may be able to assist with transport just to get rid of them quickly, it's always worth asking.

Properties with GCH will be even more attractive when gas boilers can't be installed in new builds, starting in 2025 IIRC.

Many people wouldn't even consider an all-electric property at present so getting gas would be a very good investment, especially if you can get a critical mass of neighbours to agree.

I know a few of the bungalows on the estate have air source heat pumps, but my house is classed as moderately insulated, so not such a good idea for me! 
I'll put a notice up in the petrol station, on the estate, to start with......just get an idea of how many might be Interested,  then go from there! 
Thanks for your help.....much appreciated! 😊
Jules.

macman

Jules2054 said:

macman said:

Get the 3 NSH's fixed or replaced, any other option requires capital outlay, which you don't have. Stop using any form of electric heating on peak rate E7, it's literally burning money.

Please read other posts before commenting.....
Thanks! 

I have-what point are you making?
Why is your hot water expensive if it's from E7 cheap rate?