Best Way To Heat My House

[SaintQuootiepie]

Hiya...
My lovely house has only got 3 electrc radiators (that dont heat well AT ALL), and its cold now, so, lord only knows what its going to be like in January! We have no gas running here, so, putting central heating in is out of the question. SO is underfloor heating etc. as we would never get the money back in a house sale. How can I heat the place though? I know you can get oil and newer electric radiators, but, I dont know what are best. I like to leave something on during the night aswell, as it cool downs quickly... and dont know whats safe to do that with...

Thanks!

Can you put in night storage heaters?

cheapest and quickest to install would be night storage heaters and normal converctor heaters with timers/thermostats on them. But they tend to be expensive to run.

More expensive in the short term would be an oil fired central heating boiler plus radiators - much bigger job than the first option.

It depends on how long you are going to stay as to whether the second option is cost effective.

How is your water heated ?

have night storage, but cant work them. Water is heated in a big tank - immersion?

no garden.... We are planning to stay about... 2 years?

not worth spending much then - either get some normal free standing heaters (eg oil filled electric radiators, or convector ones).

What is wrong with the night storage heaters ? I think it is just a case of setting the timer so they charge at night, and then they keep you warm during the day. Just play around with them over a few days and figure out what works for you.

i cant work them

what do you mean you can't work them?

If you have them, just get an electrician or someone who has them to come in and show you! Here are some tips too

You will need to check that you are on Economy 7 too

they have so many knobs and buttons... I just fiddle until abit of heat comes out Dont know how to make them store the heat, or whatever they do

Great link!! Thanks! Thats solved the problem with 2 of the knobs.

oh good!
They can be really good if you use them correctly. Some of the more modern ones have a convector heater as well so that you can add heat from that if it gets very cold. Also make sure you keep doors closed to keep the heat in.

If you have old fashioned ones you could replace some with newer more efficient or flexible ones

wood burning stoves are green, economical and cosy and run central heating.

but only if you have a properly lined chimney.

And - as with other options - not worth installing if you are only going to be there for a couple of years.

If you can install oil based CH, go for underfloor heating. I can't imagine living in a house with any other sort of heating system now. It is a bit more expensive to install (it cost us an extra £1500 for an average sized house), but the running costs are a lot lower than other heating systems because you can run the system at a lower temperature (it's a more even heat and the heat rises). We have it throughout the house under concrete and floor boards and it works brilliantly. I can't understand why it's not installed as standard in every new house or conversion. The main drawback with it is that it is better for it to go into a new build or conversion because you have to put it under the floor so that is pretty disruptive if your house doesn't need any work doing on it. If you can though - do it. Our friends and family love it when they come round and are quite envious.

no chimney . Might think about underfloor next year, we just got carpets put in, but, have wrecked it in 2 places already, so, might replace next year.

no chimney . Might think about underfloor next year, we just got carpets put in, but, have wrecked it in 2 places already, so, might replace next year.

If it's not worth spending much and you don't mind free standing ones then you could try the new halogen heaters. They're about £20 each, have two or three settings (I've seen some with remote controls!). We've got a couple and they are brilliant - even the cats love them. They're cheap to run cost pennies per hour. The only drawback (which might not be a drawback anyway) is they throw out a lot of light. They also have automatic cut off if they're tipped over or moved; one of my cats banged into one and it wobbled a bit and switched itself off. I fell asleep with one on in the bedroom, on lowest setting, the other night, and no ill effects in the morning.

that sounds good

Firstly, if your house cools down quickly you probably need more insulation, check your loft and see if you have any.
Grants are usually available.

I would defo go for CH, a small gas combi would suit you for a quick and cost effective soln.

You will need to use LPG, either bottled (47KG bottle should last an av house around 3 weeks. (hot water and CH) in Winter. Or you can get a bulk tank put in, should be FOC from the gas supplier.

I would not recommend underfloor for two reasons, 1 you will not get cash back (selling house?)
2 underfloor heating creates layers of heat, not convected heat like a rad. In bedrooms this mean you tend to breath the same stale air and wake up with a headache, as I do whenever we rent a chalet with UFH!

Firstly, if your house cools down quickly you probably need more insulation, check your loft and see if you have any.
Grants are usually available.

I would defo go for CH, a small gas combi would suit you for a quick and cost effective soln.

You will need to use LPG, either bottled (47KG bottle should last an av house around 3 weeks. (hot water and CH) in Winter. Or you can get a bulk tank put in, should be FOC from the gas supplier.

I would not recommend underfloor for two reasons, 1 you will not get cash back (selling house?)
2 underfloor heating creates layers of heat, not convected heat like a rad. In bedrooms this mean you tend to breath the same stale air and wake up with a headache, as I do whenever we rent a chalet with UFH!

I hate the thought of bottles of gas in the house! But, it seems sensible Its an odd house, we have a spare room and hall downstairs, and the rest upstairs (2 bedrooms, lounge/diner, kitchen & bathroom) and its like a bridge flat (nothing underneath - just walkways). I would spend 1 or 2k on heating if it cost that much (underfloor) I think we'd get that back. No idea on price though! All this bottled stuff is quite new to me though... is it safe?

Ill have to send DH into he loft Its tiny... only about 2ft high. Shouldnt cost alot to insulate I guess

*the

The bottles sit outside, not in!!
A 47KG retails at around £45 per bottle. You would use two with an auto changeover valve.
Just like mains gas realy..

we dont have outside space... poo.