Wonder if anyone has experience of having air source heating installed and all of the incentives that go with it? My gas boiler is getting old and I am thinking about installing air source while there are still cash incentives about but its a bit of a minefield. I'd welcome any stories of good or bad companies, what to look out for or any information that can help me to decide where to go with this. Got to be someone out there who has been down this path!
Off Topic Air source heating
- Thread starter mplooney
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Don't bother, it will still cost you thousands, the rads will be massive because the system cannot generate enough heat like a normal gas boiler, you will have the air source heap pump on your drive somewhere and they are twice the size of a washer, and you probably will move before you get your money back in savings.
One of my customers had it done without telling me, what a pile of ****, she had one rad in her conservatory it was a 2.4m long triple rad, so heavy it took three blokes to lift it, and two rads in her lounge which took up a full 6m wall with a 200mm gap between them, I reckon the new rads cost about £2000.
Get a new combi, 10 years warranty cost you a fraction of the price.
One of my customers had it done without telling me, what a pile of ****, she had one rad in her conservatory it was a 2.4m long triple rad, so heavy it took three blokes to lift it, and two rads in her lounge which took up a full 6m wall with a 200mm gap between them, I reckon the new rads cost about £2000.
Get a new combi, 10 years warranty cost you a fraction of the price.
My Son has it in his home, it seems to work fine and saves him money. He has concrete flooring with underfloor heating and a heat capture unit in the loft as well. The pump is located outside in a timber box about the size of a tool store. They don't have radiators and the property is a bungalow.
They were an option for houses built in the 70s on Anlaby Common when it was fashionable. Almost all have had it it removed and replaced with GCH now.
If your building a new property and spec it up to accommodate under floor heating and have really well insullated walls, floors and roof then its ok to a point, not withstanding really cold winters then back up heating is usually required, but to install it in a property with existing heating, wood floors, forget it.
Because there's no subsidies for solar, which makes it unsaleable, the snake oil salesmen have switched to air source systems, buyer beware, its like the old double glazing scams from years ago, they promised the earth in heating, noise savings, load of bollocks usually, a correctly sized up heating system properly installed will give you plenty of heat and hot water without costing a fortune, free quotations always available.
I was pondering one of these too, but think I'll limit my spend to a new boiler and maybe a couple of new rads. Can't face getting new floors and underfloor heating installed downstairs.
What are people's thoughts about keeping an inefficient 25 year old glowworm boiler going until it dies? Local gas man says he has scrap parts should we ever need them, but I know it's inefficient and that probably contributes to a cold living room, as does the small bore piping through the house.
We have a magnaclean fitted and give the heating a 25 degree boost on occasion to flush it through. Any other advice welcome.
What are people's thoughts about keeping an inefficient 25 year old glowworm boiler going until it dies? Local gas man says he has scrap parts should we ever need them, but I know it's inefficient and that probably contributes to a cold living room, as does the small bore piping through the house.
We have a magnaclean fitted and give the heating a 25 degree boost on occasion to flush it through. Any other advice welcome.
I think you've kind of answered your own question there!
I've had a small bore system in the past, not impressed. I've also replaced a 25 yr old boiler with a new one and some new rads with very noticeable results, good that is...
Ive had loads of customers in a similar situation to you, hanging on to a heating system that is not fit for purpose, can you imagine driving a breaking down all the time car? You wouldn’t do it,
I use the analogy to some, why do you change your car every 3 years at a massive loss, then baulk at spending a couple of thousand or so every 10 years on a new boiler.
At some point, bite the bullet and replace your full heating system, yes I know it seems like a big outlay, but the savings in lost energy will be huge.
So, get rid of the small bore pipes too? Oh ****, how big a job is that? Existing system was put in when house was built 25 years ago. Only one room is a bit cool, and I suspected it was just due to being a bit bigger, north facing, having a cast iron fireplace and airbricks.
Any heat generated in that room will disappear up the chimney. Go for it. Brand new heating installation and replace the fireplace with a stove.
All electrical wires and cables have resistance, where energy is lost to heat when a current is passed. Piped gas (assuming no leaks) will not lose energy in transport. In truth the prices of both are artificially maintained and the public chooses the cheapest
To someone who does this work every day it’s not a big job there are two ways to do it, chase new pipes in wall and make good, obviously some decorating will be needed, or surface mount the pipes with up can boxing.
You will be amazed how quickly and how warm your house will get when the system is correctly installed. Those new house systems sometimes were only installed to supply background heating, virtually useless in a very cold winter, but it saved on material costs.