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Vaunnie · 07-07-2011, 14:04

Hi,
I'm just looking for general advice as to what's out there and rough costings re: installing from scratch an oil/LPG/wood-burning boiler system for general domestic heating and hot water requirements.
My mother's house is a 40 years old, ex-council, 3 bed semi-detatched. When it worked the house was heated by a solid fuel Stanley range in the kitchen that heated water in the back boiler which did the bathrooms, rads etc. My mom has been ill and left minor repairs go and last winter's freeze finished everything off.
She can't set fires because the chimney is blocked. Apparently in the chimney lining (terracotta pot-like things that are stacked/balanced loosely on top of each other) one of the pots has broken about two thirds of the way up the chimney and fallen in, blocking chimney and dislodging everything above it. Would need to call in builders to rectify by going in through one of the bedroom walls (big job).
And during the Christmas freeze pipes froze in the attic - mess. I've gotten her wall cavity and new attic insulation in preparation for next winter. So the time has come to install a decent heating/hot water system. My mother is getting on in years so the main aim would be ease of use and maintenance and of course cost efficiency.
We're in Kerry so not on the Natural Gas Network. As I know absolutely nothing about these kinds of things I'm just looking for general advice as to what's out there and rough costings re: installing from scratch an oil/LPG/wood-burning boiler system for general domestic heating and hot water requirements. She lives alone so she would have pretty basic heating/hot water requirements.
Or do people think it might be more cost effective to spend on builders repairing the chimney and get the 20 year old Stanley range re-conditioned or replaced?
Lost in a fog here. Any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

heinbloed · 07-07-2011, 14:53

The costs depend on demand and usage.

The heating demand should be calculated, EN12831 the European tool to do this.
Without a demand calculation any aproach would be very costly, hardly a chance to get a good deal, a suitable heating system.

Stove Fan · 07-07-2011, 17:03

With the price of oil and LPG I would definately get the chimney repaired.

It may be acceptable to remove the loose pots and then line the entire chimney in a stainless steel liner.

As the range is 20 years old I would bin it and get either a stove with backboiler or a dedicated central heating boiler like a trianco TRG gravity fed boiler. The thing with these is they have a large hopper and so only need filling once a day and it's totally automatic once lit. You can even have a programmer to get the heat on in the morning. Opens the damper on the boiler and a fan starts and gets the fire blazing from a slumber. The only thing though is you have to use smokeless anthracite grains/peas.

If this is to expensive you could always just go for an ordinary solid fuel stove with boiler but buy one with the optional thermostat to control the fire/ water temperature. The only thing is you have to keep feeding it every 1-2 hours depending on stove, but you dont have to keep opening/ closing the air inlet slides to control the heat needed to run the rads etc.

As there is no natural gas I think the best option for her is to have an oil condencing boiler for the 2nd fuel although expensive but a bit cheaper than LPG.

I would have thermostatic valves fitted and have the house zoned so that there is an upstairs and downstairs circuit and a hot water one. At least then the whole house does not have to be heated and get each zone programmed seperately, so if you only want heat upstairs for 3 hours you can etc.

Insulation helps greatly

Stove Fan

kerryplumbing · 07-07-2011, 21:22

I really think your best option is to get some one over to give you an expert opinion. The costing for the new heating system is extremely hard to assume as there are just too many variables that would need to be taken into account - for an approx I would normally charge in the region of 5 thousand for a complete install but in all likelihood you probably wont need this as there already rads installed
For ease of use I would probably have a fully zoned programmable heating system. Grants are still available through SEAI and you may also find that Kerry County Council may also help financially

07-07-2011, 14:04	#1
Vaunnie Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6 Adverts \| Friends	installing from scratch an oil/LPG/wood-burning boiler for domestic heating/hot water Hi, I'm just looking for general advice as to what's out there and rough costings re: installing from scratch an oil/LPG/wood-burning boiler system for general domestic heating and hot water requirements. My mother's house is a 40 years old, ex-council, 3 bed semi-detatched. When it worked the house was heated by a solid fuel Stanley range in the kitchen that heated water in the back boiler which did the bathrooms, rads etc. My mom has been ill and left minor repairs go and last winter's freeze finished everything off. She can't set fires because the chimney is blocked. Apparently in the chimney lining (terracotta pot-like things that are stacked/balanced loosely on top of each other) one of the pots has broken about two thirds of the way up the chimney and fallen in, blocking chimney and dislodging everything above it. Would need to call in builders to rectify by going in through one of the bedroom walls (big job). And during the Christmas freeze pipes froze in the attic - mess. I've gotten her wall cavity and new attic insulation in preparation for next winter. So the time has come to install a decent heating/hot water system. My mother is getting on in years so the main aim would be ease of use and maintenance and of course cost efficiency. We're in Kerry so not on the Natural Gas Network. As I know absolutely nothing about these kinds of things I'm just looking for general advice as to what's out there and rough costings re: installing from scratch an oil/LPG/wood-burning boiler system for general domestic heating and hot water requirements. She lives alone so she would have pretty basic heating/hot water requirements. Or do people think it might be more cost effective to spend on builders repairing the chimney and get the 20 year old Stanley range re-conditioned or replaced? Lost in a fog here. Any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

07-07-2011, 14:53	#2
heinbloed Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,623 Adverts \| Friends	re. The costs depend on demand and usage. The heating demand should be calculated, EN12831 the European tool to do this. Without a demand calculation any aproach would be very costly, hardly a chance to get a good deal, a suitable heating system.

07-07-2011, 17:03	#3
Stove Fan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,073 Adverts \| Friends	With the price of oil and LPG I would definately get the chimney repaired. It may be acceptable to remove the loose pots and then line the entire chimney in a stainless steel liner. As the range is 20 years old I would bin it and get either a stove with backboiler or a dedicated central heating boiler like a trianco TRG gravity fed boiler. The thing with these is they have a large hopper and so only need filling once a day and it's totally automatic once lit. You can even have a programmer to get the heat on in the morning. Opens the damper on the boiler and a fan starts and gets the fire blazing from a slumber. The only thing though is you have to use smokeless anthracite grains/peas. If this is to expensive you could always just go for an ordinary solid fuel stove with boiler but buy one with the optional thermostat to control the fire/ water temperature. The only thing is you have to keep feeding it every 1-2 hours depending on stove, but you dont have to keep opening/ closing the air inlet slides to control the heat needed to run the rads etc. As there is no natural gas I think the best option for her is to have an oil condencing boiler for the 2nd fuel although expensive but a bit cheaper than LPG. I would have thermostatic valves fitted and have the house zoned so that there is an upstairs and downstairs circuit and a hot water one. At least then the whole house does not have to be heated and get each zone programmed seperately, so if you only want heat upstairs for 3 hours you can etc. Insulation helps greatly Stove Fan Last edited by Stove Fan; 07-07-2011 at 17:06.

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07-07-2011, 21:22	#4
kerryplumbing Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: County Kerry Posts: 36 Adverts \| Friends	I really think your best option is to get some one over to give you an expert opinion. The costing for the new heating system is extremely hard to assume as there are just too many variables that would need to be taken into account - for an approx I would normally charge in the region of 5 thousand for a complete install but in all likelihood you probably wont need this as there already rads installed For ease of use I would probably have a fully zoned programmable heating system. Grants are still available through SEAI and you may also find that Kerry County Council may also help financially