Central Heating cost

getfit

I am awaiting a quote from a plumber which is labour only. He says if he gets the job he will do up a list of all items needed, but that I will have to order/purchase and get them delivered etc. I have no issue with this.

Anyway would anyone have a general idea what the cost of materials would be for a bog standard central heating system
spec
gas boiler (new efficient ones)
about 17 rads - none that big
back boiler from a stove
3 zone system
solar panels
I'd guess a 400 litre tank connected to gas, solar and back boiler
Obviously a lot of piping!

Am I looking at 10k or 15k or 30k. I don't want to go annoying builders providers with such a limited knowledge. I don't mind looking for quotes for roof slates or metal lintels or concrete lintels or 30N concrete - as I understand the basics of the building process/workings of these things, but I'm completley clueless on the elements in the central heating and would just ask silly questions.

Any advice on general costs would be greatly appreciated.

Ted10

Got a couple of quotes for material & labour for around 25k for much the same spec. Would be interested to hear how much it would be for labour only.

thekooman

it'll be around 100 euro per rad, on average, mixing small and big.
a waterford stanley stove with built in back boiler is about 1800 euro.
copper is expensive; 1 inch is over 30 euro per length, 3/4 is over 20 euro, not sure about 1/2 inch.
rad valves (not those colour coded ones) are about 15 euro per pair; the colour coded "stat" ones (which aren't stats!) are double that.
we got a 300L stainless steel cylinder (triple coil cos of solar panels) from Pat Lee in wicklow; 1700 euro delivered.
2 solar panels were 3100 not incl installation
1 towel rad; 200 euro.
1 firebird condensing oil boiler; 1800 euro i think.
2 100 gallon tanks and 1 300 gallon oil tank were another couple of 100, ~600.
we used a Systemlink for zoning the rads, i aint sure how much a 4 zone system is but if you want a 4 zone with gas boiler and stove, you will need to buy a 4 zone. your plumber might mention something else.
A systemlex(goes with the systemlink) to wire up the zones was 280 euro (had to buy 2 of them for our system).
5 stats for our zones were 55 euro each.
7 circulating pumps are 90 euro each.
4 Trevi showers, these are pumped to get that "hotel" feeling cost 700 euro excl the slide bar and hose.

our sanitary ware for 5 bathrooms was 2500. 1 of them was fairly basic for a small toilet off the utility.

all up; it has cost us 19000 for material excl the solar panels. this is including the sanitary ware, trays, stove, boiler, etc.

the labour.... the brother is doing it; will be paying for the rest of my life.
he reckons it would have cost 10k in labour, at least!

whitelightrider

Ok guys Im looking for an idea of price for the below. We're building a 2200sq ft storey and a half house in Galway. We are looking at the following:

Oil fired central heating with the boiler in the garage.
Solar panels on garage roof.
UFH upstairs and downstairs in the house with zones.
Towel rails in the main bathroom and en suite
Pumped shower in 2 rooms, electric shower in 1.

Think thats about it. Any ideas on what kind of money we could be looking at?

ircoha

thekooman wrote: »

it'll be around 100 euro per rad, on average, mixing small and big.
a waterford stanley stove with built in back boiler is about 1800 euro.
copper is expensive; 1 inch is over 30 euro per length, 3/4 is over 20 euro, not sure about 1/2 inch.
rad valves (not those colour coded ones) are about 15 euro per pair; the colour coded "stat" ones (which aren't stats!) are double that.
we got a 300L stainless steel cylinder (triple coil cos of solar panels) from Pat Lee in wicklow; 1700 euro delivered.
2 solar panels were 3100 not incl installation
1 towel rad; 200 euro.
1 firebird condensing oil boiler; 1800 euro i think.
2 100 gallon tanks and 1 300 gallon oil tank were another couple of 100, ~600.
we used a Systemlink for zoning the rads, i aint sure how much a 4 zone system is but if you want a 4 zone with gas boiler and stove, you will need to buy a 4 zone. your plumber might mention something else.
A systemlex(goes with the systemlink) to wire up the zones was 280 euro (had to buy 2 of them for our system).
5 stats for our zones were 55 euro each.
7 circulating pumps are 90 euro each.
4 Trevi showers, these are pumped to get that "hotel" feeling cost 700 euro excl the slide bar and hose.

our sanitary ware for 5 bathrooms was 2500. 1 of them was fairly basic for a small toilet off the utility.

all up; it has cost us 19000 for material excl the solar panels. this is including the sanitary ware, trays, stove, boiler, etc.

the labour.... the brother is doing it; will be paying for the rest of my life.
he reckons it would have cost 10k in labour, at least!

Nice setup here, pretty similiar to my own except for the range.

Just wondering what the B/boiler from the range is heating: just the coil in the hot water cylinder?

The reason I ask is that the rest of your system I presume is a closed system and the b/boiler must be an open one with xpansion pipe and separte feed tank.
Thanks

thekooman

ircoha wrote: »

Nice setup here, pretty similiar to my own except for the range.

Just wondering what the B/boiler from the range is heating: just the coil in the hot water cylinder?

The reason I ask is that the rest of your system I presume is a closed system and the b/boiler must be an open one with xpansion pipe and separte feed tank.
Thanks

with the systemzone, the boiler goes into the left of the unit. this feeds the 4 zones (well six in our case but thats getting complicated). but then the stove feeds into the right of the systemzone as well as into the cylinder. this also feeds the 4 zones but with using the Systemlex and manually managing the pumps with switches, certain zones can be put on.

one of the zones off the systemzone also feeds the cylinder. so if the stove is on, you can have 2 coils been heated in the cylinder. if the oil is on, then 1 coil is been heated, i.e. the one of the systemzone.

its explained better in the pic but we have changed it since cos there was a need for a pump between the 2 systemzone units. don't mind the comments, we were trying to figure out what was going on!

thekooman

whitelightrider wrote: »

Ok guys Im looking for an idea of price for the below. We're building a 2200sq ft storey and a half house in Galway. We are looking at the following:

Oil fired central heating with the boiler in the garage.
Solar panels on garage roof.
UFH upstairs and downstairs in the house with zones.
Towel rails in the main bathroom and en suite
Pumped shower in 2 rooms, electric shower in 1.

Think thats about it. Any ideas on what kind of money we could be looking at?

i would be say around, 30K material (3 flat panels would be 6k+ fitted?) and another 13k+ for labour. plumbing is the most expensive part of any house and if there is a huge difference between prices that you get, question it... there is a reason why!! the cheapest man isn't always the best man!

whitelightrider

thekooman wrote: »

i would be say around, 30K material (3 flat panels would be 6k+ fitted?) and another 13k+ for labour. plumbing is the most expensive part of any house and if there is a huge difference between prices that you get, question it... there is a reason why!! the cheapest man isn't always the best man!

Thanks Kooman. I take it that rads are a cheaper option that UFH?

thekooman

whitelightrider wrote: »

Thanks Kooman. I take it that rads are a cheaper option that UFH?

definitely. 30 rads cost us 2800 and then the copper on top of that (2/3k, not sure exactly) but if we went with UFH on a 3200 sq ft house the mortgage would be gone by now! more screed would be wanted and then the insulation to go under the UFH.
tough decisions but if u went with UFH you always have the option of going Geothermal in the future.

whitelightrider

thekooman wrote: »

definitely. 30 rads cost us 2800 and then the copper on top of that (2/3k, not sure exactly) but if we went with UFH on a 3200 sq ft house the mortgage would be gone by now! more screed would be wanted and then the insulation to go under the UFH.
tough decisions but if u went with UFH you always have the option of going Geothermal in the future.

Right, that leaves us with alot to consider. I was hoping for UFH but didnt realise it was going to be that expensive!

thekooman

whitelightrider wrote: »

Right, that leaves us with alot to consider. I was hoping for UFH but didnt realise it was going to be that expensive!

get a few quotes, i could be totally out. could also do a mix of UFH and rads. might bring the cost down; a lot of people go that way.
but based on my costs of 20K + 3k for solar panels for my heating i would think it wouldn't be far off the 30k.
best of luck with it!

whitelightrider

thekooman wrote: »

get a few quotes, i could be totally out. could also do a mix of UFH and rads. might bring the cost down; a lot of people go that way.
but based on my costs of 20K + 3k for solar panels for my heating i would think it wouldn't be far off the 30k.
best of luck with it!

Yeah I got a quote from Systemlink in Dublin and it was something like 7k just to supply all the parts for the UFH. I'll try a few local plumbers and see what they come back with.

ircoha

thekooman wrote: »

with the systemzone, the boiler goes into the left of the unit. this feeds the 4 zones (well six in our case but thats getting complicated). but then the stove feeds into the right of the systemzone as well as into the cylinder. this also feeds the 4 zones but with using the Systemlex and manually managing the pumps with switches, certain zones can be put on.

one of the zones off the systemzone also feeds the cylinder. so if the stove is on, you can have 2 coils been heated in the cylinder. if the oil is on, then 1 coil is been heated, i.e. the one of the systemzone.

its explained better in the pic but we have changed it since cos there was a need for a pump between the 2 systemzone units. don't mind the comments, we were trying to figure out what was going on!

Thanks for the pic: much tidier than mine:)

If the range is fueled with solid fuel, which I assume when u use the words back-boiler, what happens if u have a power failure: if the stove is powered with gas or oil or something that goes off with the elec, then not an issue

Fony Soprano

getfit wrote: »

I am awaiting a quote from a plumber which is labour only. He says if he gets the job he will do up a list of all items needed, but that I will have to order/purchase and get them delivered etc. I have no issue with this.

Anyway would anyone have a general idea what the cost of materials would be for a bog standard central heating system
spec
gas boiler (new efficient ones)
about 17 rads - none that big
back boiler from a stove
3 zone system
solar panels
I'd guess a 400 litre tank connected to gas, solar and back boiler
Obviously a lot of piping!

Am I looking at 10k or 15k or 30k. I don't want to go annoying builders providers with such a limited knowledge. I don't mind looking for quotes for roof slates or metal lintels or concrete lintels or 30N concrete - as I understand the basics of the building process/workings of these things, but I'm completley clueless on the elements in the central heating and would just ask silly questions.

Any advice on general costs would be greatly appreciated.

<Snip>

getfit

Hey lads.

Seeing as I kicked off this post I'll pass on the quote I received back.

The labour quote includes instillation of
>17 rads
>3 zones
>gas boiler
>hot water cylinder
>back boiler from stove
>3 bathroom suites
>piping for 2 sinks (1 kitchen, 1 utility) and I assume dishwasher etc.
Quote does not include Solar panel instillation
He will do up a list of all materials needed and I will source and supply

All in for labour was 7,529 (incl vat)

I'll be honest - I was expecting it to be closer to 5k - and felt that would be on the steep side. The guy comes highly recommended - from very good people in the business!
Am I being unrealistic expecting under 5k - or is it a case you get what you pay for????

thekooman

getfit wrote: »

Hey lads.

Seeing as I kicked off this post I'll pass on the quote I received back.

The labour quote includes instillation of
>17 rads
>3 zones
>gas boiler
>hot water cylinder
>back boiler from stove
>3 bathroom suites
>piping for 2 sinks (1 kitchen, 1 utility) and I assume dishwasher etc.
Quote does not include Solar panel instillation
He will do up a list of all materials needed and I will source and supply

All in for labour was 7,529 (incl vat)

I'll be honest - I was expecting it to be closer to 5k - and felt that would be on the steep side. The guy comes highly recommended - from very good people in the business!
Am I being unrealistic expecting under 5k - or is it a case you get what you pay for????

that sounds like it would be right for labour.

thekooman

ircoha wrote: »

Thanks for the pic: much tidier than mine:)

If the range is fueled with solid fuel, which I assume when u use the words back-boiler, what happens if u have a power failure: if the stove is powered with gas or oil or something that goes off with the elec, then not an issue

good point! hadn't thought of that. it would probably boil over into the expansion tank?

getfit

the kooman - as for your back boiler things. My plumber (assuming I go with his quote) stated that we will need to select a ground floor zone for the back boiler hot water to flow to if power is out. It's safer and doesn't waste the heat generated.

thekooman

getfit wrote: »

the kooman - as for your back boiler things. My plumber (assuming I go with his quote) stated that we will need to select a ground floor zone for the back boiler hot water to flow to if power is out. It's safer and doesn't waste the heat generated.

its plumbed now with a circulating pump on it and feeding into the systemzone so we are kinda caught with the way it is now. the intention is to put in a change over switch so that if the power ever goes off, i can run some of the house on a generator. but its a good point.... must talk to the brother!!

blast05

One piece of advice ... i put all circulation pumps, manifold for underfloor, thermostats etc in the utility room. I made the mistake fo planning the kitchen (including units in the utility room) before all the plumbing stuff was in place and thus had to re-jig the plans for the utility room.
Some of the labout prices i see above are a bit mad. I have a 2900 sq ft house - 5 beds, a study, 3 en-suites & toilet off utility with rads (2 zones), and hallway, sitting room, kitchen, dining room and conservatory with 3 zone underfloor heating
Top quality workmanship all in for €5500

getfit

Hey blast05 - did your price include the sanitary stuff also?

towbar

thekooman - on your systemlink the stove pump appears to be pumping water towards the systemlink - systemlink recommends that water is always pumped away from the systemlink. Makes sense if you look at the water flows but unfortunately my plumber also plumbed like yours with water pumped towards systemlink - anyone know if it matters? What setup do others have

thekooman

towbar wrote: »

thekooman - on your systemlink the stove pump appears to be pumping water towards the systemlink - systemlink recommends that water is always pumped away from the systemlink. Makes sense if you look at the water flows but unfortunately my plumber also plumbed like yours with water pumped towards systemlink - anyone know if it matters? What setup do others have

we ripped out the left systemlink unit as it had to be fed by the first zone of the 5 zone unit. i'll post an updated pic of that later. the systemlink can be fed with 2 heat sources as in the attached pic. i took this from the systemlink specifiers guide. boiler in our setup is on the left now and the stove is on the right. it'll work like a dream! :-)
i know, it goes against the flow of the systemlink but the systemlink info says it'll work and i know of a few people who have it done similarly.

actually, figure 5 in that specifiers guide is more clearer for when using a stove http://www.systemlink.ie/documents/SystemLink%20Specifiers%20Guide.pdf

blast05

getfit wrote: »

Hey blast05 - did your price include the sanitary stuff also?

No, 5.5K was labour costs only.
I would recommend anyone to pick their own sanitary ware rather than leaving it to a plumber.
For the record, bought all sanitary ware in B&Q - great selection and great value. They don't have the top of the top of the range but good enough for a holiday home

getfit

blast05 - sorry for not being clearer, I was wondering did his quote include labour for putting in the sanitary ware... I assume it does.

As for B&Q - I agree 100% - great selection and prices are grand

smooth operater

thekooman wrote: »

i know, it goes against the flow of the systemlink but the systemlink info says it'll work and i know of a few people who have it done similarly.

I think its somethin to do with water hammer....and for better control that the pump is placed on the return...