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Original poster

1900 house with no heating?!

33 replies

lollybabe12001 · 08/10/2014 13:52

After some advice please! Went to view a house built in 1900s it has no heating apart from two wood burning fires in the living room and dining room it also has a tank for the hot water supply! Can you put central heating in or what options could I use to heat the bedrooms? I'm not able to use heaters as I have a austitic child who would play with the switches! Thanks x

OP posts:
specialsubject · 08/10/2014 14:16

yes, you can put central heating in - is there a mains gas supply?

what else hasn't been done in a century - insulation, double glazing?

Seeline · 08/10/2014 14:18

Our house was built in 1903 and we have central heating. Runs off a gas boiler which does the hot water too.

TunipTheUnconquerable · 08/10/2014 14:21

You would need to get a couple of quotes for installing an entire system, boiler, radiators and all. Also take into account how much damage it will do to the decor with pipes through walls, under floors, etc (though I'm guessing the decoration isn't in great nick to start with). It's a big job.

I'm also assuming there's no listing that would restrict what you did.

On the plus side, at least it would mean you would end up with a totally up-to-date heating system which would add value to the house.

mateysmum · 08/10/2014 14:23

Er tanks for hot water are still really common (the pipe runs etc in our house are too big for a combi), but if you are going to put CH in then you should be able to do a combi boiler. On a house like this which is un-modernised, I would seriously advise a full survey, because as specialsubject says, what else might need doing? Re-wiring very likely and possible replacement of old lead pipework, plus what level of insualtion exists/could be added? All this work is possible but would be a bit messy and of course would cost, so all needs budgetting in to an offer price,

PigletJohn · 08/10/2014 14:35

some people think that all modern boilers are combis, but they aren't. a small home with only one bath/shower in use at a time is fine with a combi; the more bathrooms and users you have, the less suitable.

You may well need to replace the incoming water pipe at that age (there may be a subsidy to replace lead, you can get a free test of lead content in drinking water) which gives you an opportunity to put in a new, larger, plastic pipe, which will almost certainly give much better flow and pressure, unless perhaps you live at the end of a long country lane or at the top of a hill.

IssyStark · 08/10/2014 14:45

Do you have gas supply to the house? if not, it might be worth looking at using a ground source heat pump to run the central heating.

Original poster
lollybabe12001 · 08/10/2014 14:55

Thanks for all the replies the house doesnt have gas or double glazing it isn't listed either! Will get someone to come out and do a survey and see what they say before we make any decisions x

OP posts:
madamecake · 08/10/2014 15:01

Our house had no gas or heating when we bought it and it was easily sorted. National grid sorted out the gas connection from the mains to the front of the house (cost about £500 IIRC), then the plumber who installed the central heating did the rest (cost about £3000 for 7 radiators, new boiler etc).

Original poster
lollybabe12001 · 08/10/2014 15:04

That's sounds good! Thank you x

OP posts:
specialsubject · 08/10/2014 15:28

my question is 'where is the nearest gas supply?' If there isn't a main nearby you may be looking at a big bill, or alternative heating. Not a showstopper but adds cost.

get a full survey. Think about where the heat will go: big windows, open staircases....

MrsFlorrick · 08/10/2014 15:37

Our house is 1812. We put central heating and hot water in when we bought it.
Even if you did not have gas mains available you can get boilers that run off calor gas or oil fired central heating (expensive).

Or if you wished, you could get one of those super efficient wood burners with a back boiler and run central heating off that.

I believe Everhot stoves also have back boilers to serve central heating and hot water. Although that's quite an expensive option

Original poster
lollybabe12001 · 08/10/2014 15:43

The house is up track which is surrounded by fields you do pass one house on the way not sure if they have gas though! will have a look at wood burners aswell lots to think about that :)

OP posts:
MrsFlorrick · 08/10/2014 15:44

Sorry. I see now. No gas.

Look into oil fired if you can't get gas connection. Or if your home is relatively small, then a combi boiler run off calor gas. Although I would be least likely to choose that option.

Or wood burners with back boilers although given what you say about your DC perhaps that isn't such a fab idea.

As for lead pipes. If you make an appointment with the Water company they will inspect your supply and they will, with a 6 to 12 week wait, replace lead pipes on your land to the edge of your house for free. Once the pipes is inside the house you will have to pay.

In 2009 the water companies took over responsibility for water supplies outside buildings even on private land. The only snag is you have to wait for them to schedules it.

Original poster
lollybabe12001 · 08/10/2014 15:47

Excellent thank you for the information x

OP posts:
specialsubject · 08/10/2014 17:25

look at access rights, who maintains the road, what conditions are like in winter etc etc.

forget mains gas. Look at oil or LPG. Look up the details of both. Oil with a new boiler is no more expensive than mains gas, prices currently at a 3 year low.

I have to say this shouts 'remote fixer-upper' and you have a LOT of research to do.

Original poster
lollybabe12001 · 08/10/2014 17:34

Yeah def doing my research at min lots of info been given that I never thought to look into xx

OP posts:
mateysmum · 08/10/2014 21:24

A full survey could cost you over a grand, but it is worth every penny as it could save you as much again. It is not normal to have a survey done until you offer has been accepted, but you might be ok to ask if you can send a builder round to quote before you make an offer.

If you want to put in UPvc double glazing there are lots of people that will compete for your business. If you need custom made timber ones, that can cost a LOT.

The down side of a project is not knowing how hard it will be and how much it could cost. The upside is you could end up with the house of your dreams!

Original poster
lollybabe12001 · 09/10/2014 07:47

The house is on the market for £700,000 with two acres of land if we have a doing up budget of 60,000! Can see the potential in this house which would be amazing place for the kids to grow up in! gonna make some phone calls today and see what can be done re surveys builders etc :) X

OP posts:
FightingFires · 09/10/2014 07:54

My house is really old, more like 1600 than 1900. We have a hot water tank, works fine mostly, but you do have the put the shower head on the floor to get the water running because pressure issues - so make sure you check the water pressure, has been the source of many a confusing problem.

We have no gas main nearby, but have oil fired central heating, which is pretty modern and works well if we use it. Tend to stick to the log burner and thick socks though. Good luck!

FightingFires · 09/10/2014 07:58

The oil also heats the water.

In your position, starting from scratch, I'd be excitedly looking at the new eco fuel burner systems. If the names of them come to me I'll let you know. Also, solar. You can get some fab subsidies on buying them to sell power back to the grid.

Alwayscheerful · 09/10/2014 08:00

We have a biomass boiler runs on pellets, definitely worth considering.

FightingFires · 09/10/2014 08:05

That's exactly what I meant Always, I've just got back from night shift and I've lost my words Blush

Original poster
lollybabe12001 · 09/10/2014 08:14

Thank you will look at that aswell x

OP posts:
purplemeggie · 09/10/2014 09:27

There are lots of options these days, Lolly if you're off-grid for gas. If you've got the space - sounds as if you might have? - a biomass boiler might be an option. Or a heatpump? See if you can get someone to do a survey who is able to advise on all your options, rather than being wedded to one particular technology, as you may find that your ideal solution is actually a combination of elements that work together. The big energy companies all do this sort of thing now, so you could get them to come out and do a report for you.

Does the house need lots of other work done?

Good luck with this - sounds like an exciting project.

wonkylegs · 09/10/2014 09:50

60k might be a bit optimistic for the house.
We bought a large 5bed 1870's house last year and have spent the past year & 100k doing it up.
We've had to do new windows, rewire, new boiler & HW cylinder but no pipes or rads (thank god as there are 22 of them!), new kitchen, new bathrooms x 3, new gutters, new water main (was lead), new insulation, decor, bits of repairs, new lighting, fixed doors & new locks etc.
Ours was nice but dated and only the electrics & few other things were desperate but many bits of the house were coming to the end of their lives.
The land 1.5 acres has also cost us quite a bit as various bit have been neglected so we've spent a bit on a tree surgeon & equipment (lawn tractor, hedge trimmers etc) to just get it to a tidy stage.