Installing heating in a flat

garry81

I am moving into an older building on the third floor, where there is a 3 bedroom flat.

At the moment there are three old 80s type gas heaters fitted installed, two don't work but one dose not. I would like to replace then and install more modern heating in the flat but I am unsure how and what to go with.
Should I replace these gas heaters with more modern gas heaters? Look at gas central heating? or electric radiators?

Who would I contact and what would be the best method.

 

princeofpounds

Assuming you have access to mains gas - have one central gas boiler (probably a combi boiler in a flat that big? see what others say) and hot water rads around the flat feeding from it. If old heaters were run from bottled gas, your options may be more limited.

Also, for some works you may require freeholder approval. Read your lease.

AdrianC

If you've got gas, go GCH with a combi-boiler. No brainer.

What's the hot water currently? Cylinder and immersion?

tacpot12

Yes, if you have mains gas, a gas combi boiler would the most economical option to heat the flat in the long term. As it is on the third floor, your install might be slightly more expensive as the installer may need to hire scaffold or by a flue terminal that can be installed from inside the flat. 

If you are very environmentally conscious, an air-source heat pump (ASHP) would be the "greenest" option. In this case it will be more efficient to use (electric) instantaneous water heaters for your hot water, and just use the ASHP for heating; unless you know that you want a hot water system that stores hot water waiting for you to need it. You can get ASHPs that include a hot water tank and even an immersion heater as a backup in case the heat pump fails. 

What ever you decide, look for a local installer, ideally someone that you receive a personal recommendation for. Try to get at least two comparable quotes. If you can't get a personal recommendation, try to find a local installer than has a physical office, and then ask to speak to a recent client who can vouch for the firm. Ask any such client if they have any family relationship to the firm. Another technique is to watch out for vans belonging to heating engineers who are working in your local streets, then approach the householder to ask if you can contact them after the install is done to see if the engineer was any good.

princeofpounds

Your neighbours are unlikely to thank you for installing an ASHP...

macman

If you go the combi boiler route, it is quite likely that the existing gas supply pipe will be inadequate. If it has to be upgraded all the way to a 3rd floor flat, then that may well require freeholder consent. Where is the metering? Inside the flat, or in a communal area downstairs?

Subject to that, it's the best option, though initially the most expensive. Your chosen RGI can advise.

AdrianC

If upgrading the gas pipe requires freeholder approval, you can bet that hanging an ASHP off the outside will...

eddddy

If you want central heating with radiators, you'll have to find a way of routing the pipework. Putting them under the floor is usually the tidiest method, but it depends on the type of floor construction (and the lease).

For example, if the floor is floorboards on suspended timber joists (and the lease says you 'own' those joists), it might be possible to put the pipes under the floor - but carpets (and/or laminated flooring etc) would need to be lifted. So it might be a lot of disruption.

But if the floor is concrete slabs, it may not be possible to hide the pipes under the floor. You might need to run them along the walls and through the walls. And/or you might want a carpenter to box them in behind the skirting boards, which would add to the cost. And you might end up with long, awkward pipe runs to avoid doorways.

(Suspended timber floors are more likely in converted flats, concrete slab floors are more likely in purpose-built flats.)

TripleH

We had element heating installed in our flat kitchen and tiled over it but this only works efficiently if a small area. Gas central heating or uf you can't oil filled radiators?
Remembervto get advice on right size you don't wantbthem too big or too small