talk to me about electric heating/water costs and wooden floor costs

Glaucus

Glaucus

Glaucus

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just had a meeting with a developer. Everything went fantastically except one thing.
No gas to property. Which means electric heating, unless its going to bankrupt me, I'm going to take it.

Anyone know how to work out the costs? I know how big the flat is and I like it around 18c in winter, new build so upto date insulation. Only shower once a day and 5mins if that. One load of washing a week, which tbh most washing machines take cold water these days anyway.
google gives lots of price for running heaters per hour. But can't seem to find a calculator I can add info into to get a better idea? anyone know of any?
it'll come with dimplex epx heaters in all rooms apart from lounge/kitchen which has a dimplex duo.
https://www.dimplex.co.uk/product/epx-panel-heater-electronic-thermostat
https://www.dimplex.co.uk/product/duoheat-radiator

there is gas in the estate and so could probably get gas fitted down the line.
the other possibility as flooring hasn't been laid is I could add electric underfloor, but not sure if this is more efficient or not. although would free up wall space from ugly heaters.

also, any idea what installation costs would roughly be for 48sq meters of wood flooring. Or is this something that is DIY doable, but I've seen so many floors that after a few months gaps open up between the boards. Engineered hardwood seems to be about £30 per sqr meter.
 
Is there no option for air source heat pump for heating? They're hugely more efficient than old fashioned heaters, for example you put 1 unit of energy into a heat pump and get out roughly 4 where as you put 1 unit of energy into those heaters and get 1 out.
 
Air source heat pump all the way. I've got one and it's absolutely brilliant. Happy to help with any info. Especially with the RHI scheme it makes it even more attractive.
 
Certainly something long term I'm assuming we're looking at many thousands to buy and install. I assume it goes heat pump > water tank > heating/taps

Could still do with getting some idea what electric heating is going to cost in the mean time.
 
How big is the flat in total? If you’re having to lay flooring anyway I think you’d be bonkers not to put down zoned electric underfloor heating if you've got no gas. If anything it’d be more efficient than electric storage heaters on the walls. I’ve lived in a couple of rented new build 2 bed flats with electric heating and I can’t remember that the heating bill was wildly different to my relatively new 2 bed flat with gas heating. Sorry I didn’t keep a record of the exact costs.
 
Damn, underfloor heating is especially good in the bathroom!

We’re not talking about heating the royal Albert Hall here, so I think you’ve got the luxury of choosing the most aesthetically pleasing/practical option. I’d go for underfloor heating in a heartbeat in your situation.
 
perhaps i'll just stick some very cheap carpet down and try and get a decent amount of overtime in before winter. asIi really want wooden floors anyway and just the wood seems to be about 1500 then what ever underfloor heating costs
 
Flooring is easy enough to fit yourself to be honest.

Not sure how much complication adding underfloor heating is though. Wouldn't have thought much.


Not sure how accurate - But i was chatting to a guy who inspects laminate flooring for defects and he said even if it says so on the packaging you should never use underfloor heating with wood/laminate.

Not sure how true that is though.
 
I've been looking at underfloor heating for wooden flooring recently - only recommended option I've found is engineered hardwood flooring as the construction method minimizes the shrinkage and expansion.

Electric heating mats should be much simpler to install as they'll just go under the flooring - wet system typically have a concrete screed over them so a much bigger job.
 
We've got engineered oak flooring and was advised not to have underfloor heating with it. I think if you want underfloor it's pretty much either tiles or carpet without wanting to ask for issues.
 
We’ve got engineered wood and underfloor heating and it’s been fine. I think engineered wood is the only “wood” option if that’s what you’re after.

Electric heating mats are really straightforward to put in. If you’re going to the trouble of flooring and also adding electric radiators then you might as well go ahead. Would the developer knock the price of the radiators off for you?

Perhaps see if you can come to an arrangement with your flooring company of choice - see if they’ve got any offcuts or spare that they’d fit as a temporary measure. Only issue is that the underfloor heating mats don’t like being disturbed once they’re in, so you might have to be careful. You might get away with it, but it would be a shame to have a cold patch or at worst a completely dead may.
 
When we lived in a new build flat we almost never turned the heating on the insulation was amazing and we were on a middle floor surrounded by other flats.
 
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if it's not complete yet then you probably don't have the choice to change the heating - it will be tied into the sap calcs and epcs for the property so changing the heating system will mean the developer will have to have updated calcs to be able to get a completion certificate.
You can almost guarantee that the calcs are right on the minimum requirements so wouldn't allow much of a variation (until after completion...)
 
thanks, unfortunately can't change anything at all.
but gone for it, they would like to complete in April, but mortgage broker has said that's unrealistic. With early may as more like it.
reckoned 3-6 weeks for mortgage and 8-10weeks for solicitors.

here's hoping I pass the full mortgage application and everything goes according to plan.
 
the mortgage is almost in place just the valuation to do.
went and saw it today absolutely fine but:
I don't understand why they've done this but the hot water emersion tank, only supplies kitchen tap, two bathroom taps and a single bath. Both showers are electric, washing machine only has cold water feed. This seems an utter waste to heat an entire electric tank at what i expect is a couple of quid a night, just to wash a few dishes each day. Never use the bath.
Is there a way to turn of the emersion heater and drain it or somehow put it into a non used storage state safely?
was thinking maybe just fitting an instant hot water tap to the kitchen.

Also what is everyone's thoughts on laminate wood, its similar price to the carpet, engineered wood is just to expensive atm. Been looking at something along these lines
https://www.discountflooringdepot.c...m-laminate-flooring-v-groove-ac4-1-99m2-p1739
 
Glaucus said:
the mortgage is almost in place just the valuation to do.
went and saw it today absolutely fine but:
I don't understand why they've done this but the hot water emersion tank, only supplies kitchen tap, two bathroom taps and a single bath. Both showers are electric, washing machine only has cold water feed. This seems an utter waste to heat an entire electric tank at what i expect is a couple of quid a night, just to wash a few dishes each day. Never use the bath.
Is there a way to turn of the emersion heater and drain it or somehow put it into a non used storage state safely?
was thinking maybe just fitting an instant hot water tap to the kitchen.
Click to expand...

You can usually just switch the immersion heater off. It may be on a timer, or have an isolation switch you can turn off. We were in the same situation a few years back, and we just turned it off unless the wife wanted a bath, in which case she had to remember to turn the water on a couple of hours ahead of time. Otherwise we just used the electric shower.
 
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