Trying to separate Heating Bills for Granny flat

shamu2new

Im going to partition off part of my house as the mother is moving in with me - sort of internal granny flat - she will have own door etc and no internal shared doors but rather than building on Im modifying existing house.

If I want to get separate heating bills (kerosene) for each of us do I need to get two separate boilers installed or would anyone any ideas on products on the market which may help?

Sleeper12

2 separate boilers. What you are talking about here are 2 independent heating systems. If you have rads throughout the house they will need to be re pipped. You will either have to fit a combi boiler for her or install a 2nd hotpress boiler. If you don't get a combi boiler you'd need a 2nd water tank in the attic.

I'm guessing its a much bigger job than you thought.

esox28

You could zone the granny flat using a motorised valve and seperate timer, effectively given you a independents over each radiator areas.

Split the bills, even if you mom has the heating on all the time, she is you mother after all. Imo try to keep it as simple as possible, the extra expense of seperating with two boilers won't add any value to the house long term.

Have you to install new kitchen?

Dtp1979

Don't forget to charge your mother for water too:eek:

DGOBS

She gave birth to you, raised you and made you what you are today, and you just worried that she's going cost you a bob here and there, wow, your all heart.
She must be bursting with pride.

esox28

Amazing the way we all have simmular opinions on stuff.

Now if we could all agree to work for penuts we'd have something.

DGOBS

We could all take a vow of poverty and open a convent for us all....

jimf

DGOBS wrote: »

We could all take a vow of poverty and open a convent for us all....

nominations for the post of rev mother should be fun

Egass13

DGOBS wrote: »

We could all take a vow of poverty and open a convent for us all....

I've already taken an involuntery vow of poverty , does that count ?

esox28

Can I be a monk, I've already got the bald spot.

Nearly lost the whole head of hair, was a ferroli a few years back.....ive 'regained' some back since haha yeah right.

shamu2new

@sleeper12 thanks for your input its very helpful - I was thinking it might be along those lines, hadn't thought of the water tank and to be honest I would really prefer to just keep the one system and upgrade my own boiler which I was going to do anyway this year.

@esox28 again thanks v much - this is good advice and seems like a much more sensible option to me but I haven't yet been able to persuade her as she really wants to be able to be responsible for her heat and light - and yes I am putting in a new kitchen, bedroom, ensuite, bathroom, lounge and porch, patio area etc etc.

@DTp1979 - there is no way Im charging her for water - its bad enough she wants to pay for her own oil. Im hoping she wont even think of that.

@DGOBS - very easy for you to make a comment like that when you don't know me - I don't want separate bills - that is coming from her - and I would like to think she is proud of the way she reared me but not in your sarcastic way - I have no problem handing over half my house to her while I pay the full mortgage - I have been looking after her in her own home for years doing all maintenance, cooking, cleaning, hospital runs, etc etc aswell as working full time two jobs and keeping my house going so I don't think your smart judgement is fair at all.

I understand that it might have looked like this was me worrying about money but its not - its coming from someone who is now losing their mobility/independence whose health is deteriorating and even though I don't agree with her contributing to heating bills I can see why she would want to as she wouldn't take a handout ever in her life and she brought me up the same which is why Im not too happy with it either. Thanks for your contribution.

Can we get back on track - @esox would you have any kind of link I could look at to see what you mean re motorised valve and timer - does that mean she could switch her own areas on and off as she needed from her side - that would be ideal if I can persuade her to go that route.

Dtp1979

shamu2new wrote: »

@sleeper12 thanks for your input its very helpful - I was thinking it might be along those lines, hadn't thought of the water tank and to be honest I would really prefer to just keep the one system and upgrade my own boiler which I was going to do anyway this year.

@esox28 again thanks v much - this is good advice and seems like a much more sensible option to me but I haven't yet been able to persuade her as she really wants to be able to be responsible for her heat and light - and yes I am putting in a new kitchen, bedroom, ensuite, bathroom, lounge and porch, patio area etc etc.

@DTp1979 - there is no way Im charging her for water - its bad enough she wants to pay for her own oil. Im hoping she wont even think of that.

@DGOBS - very easy for you to make a comment like that when you don't know me - I don't want separate bills - that is coming from her - and I would like to think she is proud of the way she reared me but not in your sarcastic way - I have no problem handing over half my house to her while I pay the full mortgage - I have been looking after her in her own home for years doing all maintenance, cooking, cleaning, hospital runs, etc etc aswell as working full time two jobs and keeping my house going so I don't think your smart judgement is fair at all.

I understand that it might have looked like this was me worrying about money but its not - its coming from someone who is now losing their mobility/independence whose health is deteriorating and even though I don't agree with her contributing to heating bills I can see why she would want to as she wouldn't take a handout ever in her life and she brought me up the same which is why Im not too happy with it either. Thanks for your contribution.

Can we get back on track - @esox would you have any kind of link I could look at to see what you mean re motorised valve and timer - does that mean she could switch her own areas on and off as she needed from her side - that would be ideal if I can persuade her to go that route.

Fair enough. How bout get her to pay for her %.. As in if the granny flat is 1/4 the total size of the house, then get her to pay 1/4 the bill. It's not going to be totally accurate but it'll give her peace of mind and save you money altering the heating system unnesessarily

esox28

Sure, there's even grant assistance http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Better_energy_homes/

Don't mind us, the lads including myself get a bit giddy on a Sunday evening no harm was intended. We can just pick things up and run with it.

again just keep it simple, if you upgarde your boiler to include heating controls while you are in the market, simply having two timers one for you and one for your mam controlling the same boiler for the respective rads, imo leave the one hot water cylinder but again have the seperate timers controlling the cylinders heat demand.

So just to clarify your mam will have a two channel time clock, controlling here side of the house independently rads and hot water. You will have a timer controlling your rads and hot water.

Just take an senearo such as your mam haveing heated the cylinder which is now full of hot water, now you come home and set the timer for hot water because your cylinder thermostat is satiaifed it won't call the boiler for additional heat as the stats are interlocked.

Hope this helps, wish there were more people like you.

scudo2

We all wish you and your Mam well.

Sorry, but our humour sometimes takes over.
Fair play to you both.
If we can help with serious advice we can and will.
So please do not hesitate to ask or PM us.
If you have any questions.

DGOBS

@DGOBS - very easy for you to make a comment like that when you don't know me - I don't want separate bills - that is coming from her - and I would like to think she is proud of the way she reared me but not in your sarcastic way - I have no problem handing over half my house to her while I pay the full mortgage - I have been looking after her in her own home for years doing all maintenance, cooking, cleaning, hospital runs, etc etc aswell as working full time two jobs and keeping my house going so I don't think your smart judgement is fair at all.

I understand that it might have looked like this was me worrying about money but its not - its coming from someone who is now losing their mobility/independence whose health is deteriorating and even though I don't agree with her contributing to heating bills I can see why she would want to as she wouldn't take a handout ever in her life and she brought me up the same which is why Im not too happy with it either. Thanks for your contribution.

Apologies, I was very harsh and quick to judge, stems from a bitter experience I saw first hand with my dear Gran in her final years and very mean son of hers

shamu2new

no worries thanks for the help so far I just want to find a way to try keeping her happy without her feeling indebted and same goes for me. Anyone come across a timer which has an hour counter built in then I could do a rough calculation for both per hour based on sizes prob not too accurate but at least some basis for calculation. Sorry if I was a bit touchy just a big project and my knowledge is v low on stuff like this. Google certainly my friend these days.

antoinolachtnai

This would appear to do what you want in terms of measuring the number of hours that heat is being 'called' by each zone:

http://ie.farnell.com/panasonic/th638cej/hour-meter-220v-ac-without-reset/dp/1614686

I suppose you'd need two, one for your zone and one for the zone in the flat.

Of course you should get advice from an electrician or other professional who is actually going to fit the device for you.

You can get a meter that measures the amount of heat used in a zone, but it is a bit more elaborate.

shamu2new

Looks like that could be what I need alright - thanks a million for taking the time to put that link up will talk now to a plumber and take it from here - cheers!