New home, No heating, HELP!

Poochywoos

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82174146#Comment_82174146

Luckily I do have quite a supply for now but I definitely appreciate going forward it wont be. I'm hoping to get through the winter and sort the heating and other bits in spring.

victor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82174154#Comment_82174154

There is a board dedicated to heat pumps...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/heat-pumps

It is a very confusing subject for many people though, myself included!

Ayr_Rage

I agree about getting a proper survey regarding a heat pump

Water temperature from an old back boiler will be very high whereas heat pump systems rely on much lower temperatures and greater radiator sizes, you may need a lot of pipe and radiator work.

House construction type and insulation are also important.

As for this winter, prepare to pay an arm and a leg if using any type of electric heating.

Eldi_Dos

@Pooochywoos

Buy and fit at least two carbon monoxide alarms as well as getting boiler and chimney serviced and swept by professionals.

One of the quickest and cost effective ways of cutting your fuel bills and making the house more comfortable will be doing any draught proofing that needs done.

Heedtheadvice

....…and if not there already get a smart meter fitted ASAP. This will then complete one of the basic requirements to getting on the potentially cheaper Time of Use tariffs for electricity.

I costs nothing ( or quite minor cost mods if space is needed or an updated consumer unit in the scheme of things) and future proofs your supply if you do go for a heat pump and/ or a battery.

In the short term for a bit of supplementary electric heating fan heaters are exceedingly

cheap to buy, versatile as they can be moved around to where required but, as expressed above, expensive to run on standard tariff rates so good control is essential.

Ectophile

Can I throw in a warning that a back boiler needs to be correctly plumbed in or correctly drained and decommissioned.

If someone has messed up, then it can turn into a bomb. The worst case is if someone has turned off valves to isolate it, or cut the pipes and capped them, but then left the boiler full of water.

MforumSManE

Get your electrics checked as a matter of urgency if not already done, old electrics could be fire/safety hazard.

Xbigman

Your getting a wall of advice coming at you. Its good advice but its overwhelming. I would say don't panic. Even a house that is expensive to heat will work out cheaper than the rent you were paying. Especially if you have a supply of fuel for the open fire. Take this winter as a learning experience and decide what to do during the summer. The only things to worry about are getting some safety checks done on the back boiler and electrics. Everything else is just not urgent.

Congratulations on becoming a homeowner.

Darren

Scot_39

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6687346/new-home-no-heating-help

do you mean back boiler - normally gas - or a simpke gravity loop tank in the fires flu.

and you may even struggle to get a new gas connection these - new builds and rebuilds have to go through environmental impact hoops - and dont fit gas..

conventional electric is much of a muchness efficiency and so cost wise - get the best tariff you can and run it at the cheapest rates you can for now - if largely mor ing and evenings - which might need a smart meter upgrade - somethiing maybe like eon next smart saver, octopus cosy, edf tous might be better than single rate.

or maybe e7 for nsh if thats what the old heaters are.

Longer term Id maybe lean towards heat pumps if can afford any insulation work - you might soon qualify for interest free loan scheme for extras and bus grant for actual boiler.

Scot_39

Oil rads only retain heat for minutes - maybe 10s minutes - not hours - their a bit better on tou rate swaps etc - but doubt any would run through say tge comon 4-7pm peak rate periods on my tou list above.