No gas central heating - avoid?

neil3k · 20 May 2015 at 12:18

Can you not just get a calor gas tank sunk in the garden ?

cheesyboy · 20 May 2015 at 12:26

Oil heating isn't so bad. Especially with low oil prices at present.

I budget £75/month for oil, for a 4 (double) bed victorian/edwardian house. Not especially well insulated.

Electric heaters, on the other hand, are very expensive indeed. Oil would be less than half the price (on a KWh basis), but that would still mean a long payback period for installation of an oil heating system - probably 6-8 years.

mattyg · 20 May 2015 at 12:42

I'd change that woodburner to one with a back boiler and that'll provide your CH. Maybe even add a solar panel for HW.

Skiddley · 20 May 2015 at 12:46

I used to have a barn in the middle of a field so used LPG. Worked pretty well. 4 bed, 4 bath, central heating running off it. 2000litre tank buried under front lawn.

It was just the £1K to fill it that was the issue

FuriousGeorge · 20 May 2015 at 14:08

My dad has a modern flat, built ~2005 I think if i remember correctly. He only has electric heaters despite it being in the middle of a city.

However his bills are tiny, <40 a month (and hes probably in credit by miles) because its super insulated. Its normally too warm even with heaters off because the heat just doesnt dissipate. So i would think if its been insulated to modern standards its probably not that expensive to run?

Wouldnt put me off, anyway.

Dave85 · 20 May 2015 at 15:37

I have a 1 bedroom flat built in 80s but retrofitted with electric heating that are of modern design set to 22c all year. Did all the insulation etc and my monthly bill is £30 and in credit by 200 when summer rolls around. You do miss gas for cooking though and this flat previously had gas

cheesyboy · 20 May 2015 at 15:40

Dave85 said:
I have a 1 bedroom flat built in 80s but retrofitted with electric heating that are of modern design set to 22c all year. Did all the insulation etc and my monthly bill is £30 and in credit by 200 when summer rolls around. You do miss gas for cooking though and this flat previously had gas

Yeah, wouldn't want to lose gas for cooking - I buy in propane cylinders for my gas hobs. Get through 2 19kg units per year (£40 each)

Infidelus · 20 May 2015 at 19:31

Central heating is for wimps

Never had it in this house. We've got a calor gas fire and a halogen heater for when it's REALLY cold.

Suck it up

LeeUK · 21 May 2015 at 00:41

If you live in a poormans postcode you can get gas installed for free. Can in Northern Gas Networks area anyway. I did.

covenantuk · 21 May 2015 at 13:25

If you like being warm, electric will definitely cost you more in the long run.

If you're prepared to only heat rooms you're using you can keep it under control, but I'd never go for electric heating myself unless I had solar or something similar to offset the cost.

Blackjack Davy · 23 May 2015 at 23:05

OpenToSuggestions said:
Electric is 3x the price of gas where I am, but having the ability to heat just the room you are in could half that additional cost.

Don't forget to factor in the cost of replacing the boiler every X number if years my mother is having to replace the boiler after 16 years... cost £2000. 10-15 years seems to be the average.

If you're just renting then probably not a problem but if you're a house owner worth thinking about.