Heating recommendation for new building

[muggles]

The great disadvantage of ASHP is that it is least efficient when you're using it most; IE when it's cold and damp outside, the efficiency of the unit drops off and you end up burning more electricity, which costs you a lot more. I'd expect long-term maintenance costs to be higher than with an oil boiler as well...personally I'd be going for an oil boiler and an unvented cylinder

 

[flameport]

Electric radiators have a significant initial cost advantage, being about £350 each.

An oil filled radiator from Argos does exactly the same thing and costs £50.

The only difference is that the Rointe ones are filled with snake oil, and the Argos ones use normal oil.

 

[PullerGas]

The great disadvantage of ASHP is that it is least efficient when you're using it most; IE when it's cold and damp outside, the efficiency of the unit drops off and you end up burning more electricity, which costs you a lot more. I'd expect long-term maintenance costs to be higher than with an oil boiler as well...personally I'd be going for an oil boiler and an unvented cylinder

Nope. Not needed to touch my SMEG fridge since I bought it 20years ago. But service my oil boiler annually, new nozzle, filters & 2 oil pumps too. So c'mon M get real!!

 

[PullerGas]

The great disadvantage of ASHP is that it is least efficient when you're using it most; IE when it's cold and damp outside, the efficiency of the unit drops off and you end up burning more electricity, which costs you a lot more. I'd expect long-term maintenance costs to be higher than with an oil boiler as well...personally I'd be going for an oil boiler and an unvented cylinder

Granted that's true, so some form of supplementary heating is always wise. A cheap Chinese stove perhaps for these really cold days, 2-3 days a year on average?

 

[Davie Jones]

The great disadvantage of ASHP is that it is least efficient when you're using it most; IE when it's cold and damp outside, the efficiency of the unit drops off and you end up burning more electricity, which costs you a lot more. I'd expect long-term maintenance costs to be higher than with an oil boiler as well...personally I'd be going for an oil boiler and an unvented cylinder

Nope. Not needed to touch my SMEG fridge since I bought it 20years ago. But service my oil boiler annually, new nozzle, filters & 2 oil pumps too. So c'mon M get real!!

Ah! But your old fridge only really has one moving part.. The compressor a heat pump has not only that but a fan, shuttle valve, expansion valve a number of solenoids a pump and several thermistors to fail not to mention the coils which can and do get clogged with airborne debris such as those fluffy seeds that seem to get everywhere... And if the compressor goes pop, then you may as well weigh the damned thing in...And if you still need a cheap chinese stove, why not pay a little extra and get a decent stove and forget the airsource?

 

[PullerGas]

The great disadvantage of ASHP is that it is least efficient when you're using it most; IE when it's cold and damp outside, the efficiency of the unit drops off and you end up burning more electricity, which costs you a lot more. I'd expect long-term maintenance costs to be higher than with an oil boiler as well...personally I'd be going for an oil boiler and an unvented cylinder

Nope. Not needed to touch my SMEG fridge since I bought it 20years ago. But service my oil boiler annually, new nozzle, filters & 2 oil pumps too. So c'mon M get real!!

Ah! But your old fridge only really has one moving part.. The compressor a heat pump has not only that but a fan, shuttle valve, expansion valve a number of solenoids a pump and several thermistors to fail not to mention the coils which can and do get clogged with airborne debris such as those fluffy seeds that seem to get everywhere... And if the compressor goes pop, then you may as well weigh the damned thing in...And if you still need a cheap chinese stove, why not pay a little extra and get a decent stove and forget the airsource?

I know mate, I've got 'F Gas' quallies & fitted HPs of all kinds.

If you can source fuel & be arzed feeding it & cleaning it out - then yeah go for a stove.

 

[Davie Jones]

The great disadvantage of ASHP is that it is least efficient when you're using it most; IE when it's cold and damp outside, the efficiency of the unit drops off and you end up burning more electricity, which costs you a lot more. I'd expect long-term maintenance costs to be higher than with an oil boiler as well...personally I'd be going for an oil boiler and an unvented cylinder

Nope. Not needed to touch my SMEG fridge since I bought it 20years ago. But service my oil boiler annually, new nozzle, filters & 2 oil pumps too. So c'mon M get real!!

Ah! But your old fridge only really has one moving part.. The compressor a heat pump has not only that but a fan, shuttle valve, expansion valve a number of solenoids a pump and several thermistors to fail not to mention the coils which can and do get clogged with airborne debris such as those fluffy seeds that seem to get everywhere... And if the compressor goes pop, then you may as well weigh the damned thing in...And if you still need a cheap chinese stove, why not pay a little extra and get a decent stove and forget the airsource?

I know mate, I've got 'F Gas' quallies & fitted HPs of all kinds.

If you can source fuel & be arzed feeding it & cleaning it out - then yeah go for a stove.

Indeed so for ease of use and minimal hassle, oil would be my choice... But don't be rouchy about it..

 

[Steve Crook]

Don't want to interrupt the professional debate but thought I'd mention, I'm still sat on the fence between oil and Air Source (water or air).

The picture as I see it at the moment is:

Air-Air is very attractive: Not too expensive, high efficiency, cools as well as heats. As a negative, it does nothing to supply hot water for my taps and shower. Also might need an electric rad standing by if temperatures really dip. If I could find a reasonably cost efficient way to heat the water, this would be my winner.

Air-Water will do both heat and water by way of rads and unvented cylinder. Quite appealing but less so than the Air Cons. Reviews suggest it's warm water rather than hot, so rads need to be on for longer periods - No big deal.

Oil is the tried and tested, been around for years solution. It works well and is fairly reliable. Combi or Stored options to consider. Requires a big green tank outside. Future running costs are very hard to predict.

Is that a reasonable summary?

 

[Davie Jones]

I think that you have a pretty good handle on that Steve.

 

[endecotp]

Or, pure electric. Storage heaters maybe. Obvious advantages and disadvantages.

 

[PullerGas]

Or, pure electric. Storage heaters maybe. Obvious advantages and disadvantages.

Tariff dependant matey, but I can't see it being cheaper than a good COP Heatpump.

Perhaps clarification on the Hot Water requirements would be nice; quick shower or Roman Brothel?

 

[Steve Crook]

Perhaps clarification on the Hot Water requirements would be nice; quick shower or Roman Brothel?

Hi,

Probably one shower per day and a few hand washes. I'd like the shower to be a mixer type as I've had bad experiences with repeatedly replacing electric showers. Roman Brothel might be wishful thinking but I would like something with a good bit of heat and pressure.

 

[flameport]

Storage heaters have the disadvantage that you will be heating the building all day whether you want to or not.
Fine if you actually want it heated all the time - less useful if the building is unoccupied for long periods such as when people go out to work.