Gas Central Heating - Is it really worth getting installed?

[MmeLindor]

We have moved into a house which needs LOTS of work.

New windows, bathroom, kitchen, flooring.. the works.

We have electric storage heaters at present and I have just had the first bill. For the 6 weeks we have owned the house (although we didn't move into the house for 2 weeks so it is actually usage for 4 weeks) - £120

Now, when we were staying with my parents I paid their electric/gas bills and they came to £130, which was always a little over-payment but not loads. They have gas central heating and almost identical house.

I know that we will use more electricity in the winter, but don't yet know how much but even if we were to go up to £150 it would still not be much more than my parents are paying.

Installing GCH is going to cost about £3 - 4k.

if we 'save' £20 a month for a year, that is £240. The investment doesn't make sense, does it?

I am assuming that gas prices have risen so much, and that is why my parents pay so much. Is this going to be about gambling on the rise in energy prices?

We are also considering installing a wood burning oven in the living room / dining room, where we spend most of our time.

Actual usage in August was £120

good grief!

you mean on electricity?

I would really defer the new kitchen until you've had the floors up and the walls chased for rewiring and installing CH. It's dirty work and you'll need to redecorate afterwards.

Get your order in fast for free insulation. You will find some gas and electrity companies do it even if you aren't their customer, but try your own supplier first. (they have energy-saving subsidy agreements with the government)
for free schemes see e.g.
www.edfenergy.com/products-services/for-your-home/winter-saving/
or
www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/energy-saving/home-insulation.html?bglink_id=imm10030

The nearer we get to winter the harder it will be to find anyone who can fit you in.

I joined EDF's Fixed Price to April 2014 offer when SSE announced their increase. It was very popular and may be fully subscribed by now.

PigletJohn
Well, that was actually the 6 weeks since we bought the house, but we didn't move in until 2 weeks later. And we have had the heating on since then, so it didn't seem so much more than my parents are paying.

I do take on board that a new boiler will be more efficient than my parent's ancient boiler.

We are aware that it will be messy, which is why we were thinking about doing it before we put new flooring down, or the install the kitchen etc. Same with the rewiring. It was just the fact that my parents don't pay much more that made me wonder if it was worth it.

The convenience of it being the right temperature is more of an argument than the cost (unless we really are a whole lot more expensive that we would be for gas). That and the re-sell value. I presume too that remortgaging the property (to bring part of the costs of the renovation into the mortgage) will be easier with GCH installed.

Funnily enough someone was at the door earlier asking if I was interested in free insulation. I think they are the guys who would be sent from the Energy Trust folk, so that was handy. They will phone by end of the week to make an appt.