Honda-SOHC
Other Stuff => Misc / Open => Topic started by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on January 31, 2025, 02:02:21 PM
-
I'm pretty sure I cannot justify the cost at my age (76) of even considering changing away from a Gas boiler for my heating.
The cost, upheaval, re-piping, new radiators, underfloor heating, tripple glazing, extra ground floor insulation etc, installing pipework trenches in the garden plus a base for the heat pump(s) etc.
It would be interesting to read a personal experience of someone here in the UK who is not a paid influencer or part of the GovUK Nudge Unit who has a ASHP.
-
I agree with your analysis, Ted. I would respectfully suggest that changing to an ASHP is simply not a viable economic option. Especially as you mention you would have to upgrade to much larger radiators to handle the low circulation temperature. Your electrical costs will also escalate, admittedly supplemented by the saving in gas costs. TBH, it wouldn’t be too hard to knock together a cost/benefit assessment, probably using an NPV model. If you have got PV and are not currently using all the generated power, it could offset some of the electrical running costs. I can’t vouch for reliability I’m afraid, or noise in operation. I was involved in some ASHP schemes in their infancy…the experience was not a wholesome one!
-
I don't
Just had my bill for time between
28th dec and 28th of January,
In round figures
£50 lecky
£100 gas
And just had an email saying they are reducing my monthly payments to £66
I am about £300 in credit
55year old 3 bedroom house
I am fairly happy with that
Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk
-
I'm pretty sure I cannot justify the cost at my age (76)
These considerations at 25-45 years of age are valuable. Age changes things ..... it's a lot of effort/expense to get rid of a comb-boiler. Getting rid of the gas supply will at least save on the standing charge.
Not requiring a connection to the electricity grid is also important. But more difficult.
-
I don't
Just had my bill for time between
28th dec and 28th of January,
In round figures
£50 lecky
£100 gas
And just had an email saying they are reducing my monthly payments to £66
I am about £300 in credit
55year old 3 bedroom house
I am fairly happy with that
Sent from my SM-A546E using Tapatalk
Yes but you are always our riding and eating icecream. No heating needed?🙃
-
I'm pretty sure I cannot justify the cost at my age (76)
These considerations at 25-45 years of age are valuable. Age changes things ..... it's a lot of effort/expense to get rid of a comb-boiler. Getting rid of the gas supply will at least save on the standing charge.
Not requiring a connection to the electricity grid is also important. But more difficult.
I also cook by gas so I would also need a new. Hob as well 😁
-
Whenever I work at a customer's house with an air source heat pump I realise how much the drone it makes outside irritates me.
-
I've seen a FB post about someone who had to put sound insulation panels on his fencing to appease a neighbour.
A common thread amongst complainers is they do not keep the house warm enough with substatngtial electric bills when the outside temperature drops below 5 C.
It's hard to tell if some of the positives I've read are genuine or paid influences posts.
-
I know a several people who've had them fitted to old houses (150+) that have substantial electric bills, they really need to be fitted to properties with modern insulation and well sealed. We got a wood pellet boiler installed 3 years ago, it runs all of our hot water and heating and as its an indoor stove it heats the kitchen itself. It's fully programmable via WiFi and pretty cheap to run, the government pay back the cost of us fitting it under the RHI incentive
-
New tech...costly...shouted about a lot without all the issues or implications being admitted to or highlighted - some people have a vested interest in them and they often shout the loudest! I pop them in a box with electric cars....parking machine apps..etc. wouldn't swap my old boiler for one!
-
A mate installed one when he built a home extension. He was told by the engineer to locate it down the side of the house where its size and ugliness wouldn't be seen. He had to move it after a few weeks incurring more expense to the rear of the house following complaints from the neighbour due to the endless noise it made. He has to supplement the heating with electric heaters when it’s cold.
-
I’m afraid noise is an issue the ASHP promoters are completely ignoring- deliberately. Low frequency noise is an issue even at relatively low levels of dBA; the sound can carry a long way. The accumulative noise from multiple units can be quite alarming! However, if you are one of those folks living next to a busy main road or motorway you are not likely to notice it. Of more concern is the noise generated in outer urban and country settings. The noise also increases as the units age.
-
Hi Ted,
I have an air source heat pump running the heating and hot water in the house. We significantly rebuilt the house 2019/20 including roof off. Downstairs has underfloor heating installed with insulation under the circuit piping and upstairs oversized rads to suit low temp heating system. House was insulated as well as you could retaining the existing walls and floor slab, i.e. 150mm of insulation board in roof.
No gas in village so either oil or electric. Air source is an efficient way of using electricity for heating water, but it does have limitations. Higher the temperature required the harder the heat pump must work. The lower the outside air temp the less efficient the heat pump is.
The heat pump fan does generate noise and needs to be in a suitable location. You can’t box it in as it needs air flow! It also condenses water from the atmosphere on cold days so that need somewhere to go.
We managed to get a government grant to cover the additional costs of the heat pump over an oil boiler. That scheme is now closed.
So for a new build with good insulation and a low temp heating (underfloor heating) it works well. To retrofit and existing house with a conventional heating system it is a problem (and a cost) to get the required water temperature to mimic the boiler.
So if you just want a simple replacement the I would keep the gas boiler.
I will say we love the underfloor heating, so does the cat! It can struggle if you get long period of sub zero outside temp. That’s why we have another forbidden item, a wood burner.
The other major point to make is that the sells / installers are at the same stage as double glazing was 30 years ago, full of cowboys. Be very wary, we got stung with up front payments and the supplier going bust.
Michael
-
150+ year old house, no gas in village so use oil, no quarterly standing charge for that 😁😁. Bosch Worcester boiler must be well over 30 years old, fitted by previous owner. It's a super efficient system for heating and hot water. Graham services the boiler once a year and fits a new jet. Also have 2 log burners, it's never cold in this old house.
-
My parents house was oil fired central heating, as my Dad worked in the car trade he was able to buy fuel oil at trade prices via Esso who sold the company Petrol for the forecourt.
For many years it was very economical as it used to be a cheap option in Rural Areas. I suspect that back in 1966 he odd tanker load went on the company books. lol
I can't remember the make of boiler except it was a huge industrial model that was boxed off in the corner of the car port. When It first fired up you could hear it for a few seconds when it ignited. It never broke down except on year when the House Martins built a nest on the frost stat in the car port!