€3,000 to spend on retrofitting

Tinder

Hi Folks,

I have approx €3k to spend on retrofitting my 3bed semi-detached cottage, my question is what should I spend it on?

A few details you need to know.

The house was built approx 20 years ago, has oil fired central heating with an open fire (fire heats nothing bit the Chimney and sitting room).

It has double glazing windows.

The size is approx 74m Square

I was thinking wall injection insulation and attic insulation. (the attic is insulated but it's the same insulation since the house was built.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

T

MicktheMan

What issue(s) or problem(s) would you like the works to address?

Tinder

Hi Mick

I think the main thing I wish to do is spend the money in something that will give a return on the investment such as insulation, solar panels, Stove that will heat rads.

The house is pretty warm but after a day with the heating on it is cold by 3am.

So with the money available I don't want to waste it on something that will make little difference.

Thanks

MicktheMan

First of all, most things will probably give a roi but how long to get that return is the question.
For example, stoves are much more efficient than an open fire so you could replace your open fire with a good stove but the roi depends on how often you light the fire and for how long. So your question is not that simple to answer without knowing more.

There are many many questions to be answered before deciding on which actions will give the biggest bang for the buck. Here are a few:

How efficient is my current ofch system setup (including boiler, pipework layout, boiler management, space heating control system)?
How much per annum do I spend on oil, coal, wood etc?
How do I currently heat my dhw and what does this cost?
Am I willing to do more work to keep a boiler stove fed with fuel?
How well insulated is my house?
How draughty is my house?
How dry is my house?
etc etc

Not sure if this is the answer you were hoping for

ShaunC

Don't forget you can get SEAI grants for upgrading your heating and insulating in the house. Upgrading to a condenser boiler would be a good place to start considering your own boiler is as old as the house. You will need to get a BER cert if looking for a grant. Also you have to upgrade your roof insulation. The grants will be worth 20-25% of the costs if they are available.
Early in the new year is the best time to apply for the grants.

doctorchopper

ShaunC wrote: »

Don't forget you can get SEAI grants for upgrading your heating and insulating in the house. Upgrading to a condenser boiler would be a good place to start considering your own boiler is as old as the house. You will need to get a BER cert if looking for a grant. Also you have to upgrade your roof insulation. The grants will be worth 20-25% of the costs if they are available.
Early in the new year is the best time to apply for the grants.

I heard they might be scrapping the grants in the new year, any truth to this?

archtech

I would advise on a fabric first approach of insulation, windows & door upgrades before going near the boiler unless it really needs to be replaced.

Reducing the heat loss with reduce the amount of energy required to heat the house. Replacing a boiler will still mean you will be loosing the same amount of energy (heat) through your walls, roof, windows and doors, only it will take less oil. Your house will still be every bit as cold at 3.00am unless you prepared to put the heating on at 3.00am which means no net saving on oil.

Engage someone with with retrofit expertise to have a look and advise, 3K won't do everything but used effectively would improve things for you.

ShiresV2

archtech wrote: »

I would advise on a fabric first approach of insulation, windows & door upgrades before going near the boiler unless it really needs to be replaced.

Reducing the heat loss with reduce the amount of energy required to heat the house. Replacing a boiler will still mean you will be loosing the same amount of energy (heat) through your walls, roof, windows and doors, only it will take less oil. Your house will still be every bit as cold at 3.00am unless you prepared to put the heating on at 3.00am which means no net saving on oil

Agree. You can look up the efficiency of your existing boiler here, if you are so minded:

http://www.boilers.org.uk/

Tinder

Thanks for the advice guys, I have decided to go one step at a time and see how much heat I can retain, firstly I am going to get the attic done and see what kind of a difference that makes, having looked into the boiler it is only seven years old and was installed just before we purchased the house, so no need to replace that. If there is no huge difference then I will get the cavity walls done and see the difference there. Just a quick question on vents, each room has a vent in it which is a waven pipe with a plastic cover on the inside. I have seen all the ads on TV but surely this is overkill is it not, they are high up level with the top of the windows.

The Parrot

maybe the best option here would be to look into a room sealed stove or a good quality stove that when you are not using it. it can be fully closed off as an open fire as nice as it is will bleed cold into the house when not lite.
next possibilty. get hrv installed and block off those vents. this way you still have the ventilation but with out the heat lose through the vents.

these are ideas. my personal plan of attack on this house would be the stove and roof insulation. see how that goes then wall insulation and if your still finding it getting cold about 3am look at the walls and some one to deal with the vents

archtech

The Parrot wrote: »

get hrv installed and block off those vents. this way you still have the ventilation but with out the heat lose through the vents.

A demand control ventilation system would work better from an overall energy perspective that MHRV, as the performance of the MHRV unit will be poor, costing more to run, in this instance unless a deep retrofit with significant improvements in the dwelling's air tightness was proposed. In reality with an approximate budget of 3,000 it wouldn't be achievable.

The Parrot

no worrys i was just throwing up ideas.