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Seeing the topic asking about preparing a house to rent reminded me of my little dilema.
Bought my flat while doing my PhD and had to live the last 3 years with no central heating as the back boiler was not safe/economical and I had an electric shower and dog to keep me warm.
Just had the place tanked due to damp so will be all nice and new inside but I need to install some heating to either live in it or rent it.
1. Can't install a new back boiler as chimney length too high and I don't want to anyway as a hot water tank in a 1 bed flat is a waste.
2. Combi boiler - Grade 2 listed basement flat so will need listed consent for a combi flue - and it will have to go in the living room (boxed in low with shelves above to hide it).
3. electric - I am put off electric heating as 1kw of electricity is about 4x that of gas. But electric can be more efficient (under floor etc). For the kitchen and bathroom hot water I would have to install instant water heaters.
I know electric is going to cost more to run but....
1. it could be cheaper to install
2. if I rent it out I don't have to worry abour CO2 or annual servicing and certificates.
3. it's only a 1 bed flat - maybe I should just knock £300 a year off the rent to account for the increased cost.
Any thoughts?
PS flat is in Bristol, comes with a parking permit, own BBQ terrace + shared garden and is VERY bike friendly with a workshop and lots of bike storage 😀
If you must go electric, look at air source heat pump with a buffer tank to increase effociency by 2-3 times
listed building and basement flat so ASHP is going to be a no-go I fear. Would also require having pipes for the underfloor heating. Will look into any grants for one and see if it can go in the outside but enclosed workshop area but doubtful. GSHP also a no go as garden too small and shared.
just had a quick look at ASHPs again - unit cost is similar to a combi boiler, huge thing on the outside of the house, moving parts to go wrong and would require a tank etc and lots of extra expense. No way cost effective or going to happen in this case.
Would night storage heating be a possibility, I had it in a house a couple of years ago and wasn't expensive and worked fine.
No way cost effective
Have you factored in predicted RHI payments?
Night storage: urgh no. Had that once and it cost a fortune, wasn't user friendly and ugly.
RHI payments?
edit: googled it:
The RHI scheme does not apply to domestic systems until 2012
But they can in the interim claim the Renewable Heat Premium Payment, and will still be eligible for the RHI, when it does start to apply.
Why would a combi need to go in the Lounge?
Why would a combi need to go in the Lounge?
Only suitable location other than the bedroom and I don't want it in the bedroom.
Any other location would require £500+ of flue extensions + horrible boxing in which would ruin all the period features.
this is a possible for ASHP: http://www.rhincentive.co.uk/RHI/regulation/premium/
£850 grant.
But still going to be a nightmare trying to get listed building consent + it will be on a wall next to the bedroom which has single glazing so noise will be an issue. I am 99% sure that ASHP is a no go due to other owner objections to having such an ugly thing on the building. Was hard enough to get a telewest cable installed.
Flueless gas fires in living and bedroom, electric plinth heaters in bath and kitchen, job done, minimal maintenance and plumbing. Efficient too.
flueless is an idea - if only just to put in the living room when I rip out the back boiler.
Spotted this place: http://www.westcountryfires.co.uk/focal-point-midnight-flueless-gas-fire-free-delivery-p-624.html
Wouldn't bother with anything in the kitchen as it has no heating at the moment and is off the living room (double doors) in the middle of the building (no windows). Hall way is 6x1.8m so would need heating. Bathroom could be heated by an electric heater/heated towel rail. Only issue with fires is having controllers is nice - wonder if the fires can be set to come on with a programmer?
Oh and would have to go with a window vent in the bedroom as the place has been tanked so putting an air-brick in the wall would get me shot!