1980's council house central heating new install

landmarkjohn

We are planning to install central heating in this house for the first time. Heating is currently from Stanley No 8 range in kitchen (hot water also) and open fire sitting room. Hot press is beside the range.

We are at the planning phase and would appreciate any shared experience
and advice. For instance if you replaced your range with a stove did you miss it?

The house is a terraced 3 bedroom, kitchen, sitting room, 1 bathroom, typical of the era with concrete bunker garden shed.

What would you do? Refurbished range or boiler stove in kitchen (heat more important than cooking option of range)?
Incorporate a new stove in sitting room with central heating (is this possible?). I guess there will be 6 radiators (none in kitchen).

Any real gotchas and pitfalls to avoid. Thanks.

Dardania

Who is the primary user (and without being indelicate, is this upgrade occurring because of reduced mobility in age to be dragging in solid fuel)?

Suggest you check out the SEAI grants available:

http://www.seai.ie/Grants/Better_energy_homes/homeowner/Step_1_Decide_on_work_to_be_done/

They lead to a high quality install.

My personal suggestion is to look at a combi boiler (that generates hot water as you need) and claim back the storage space in the hot press

And then you can do as you need for cooking or stove without needing to connect to the heating - more simple that way

If you do want to integrate the space heating with stove & range you can link them, with a cylinder such as in the hot press, but there are many threads of people having problems if this isn't designed correctly...

landmarkjohn

Dardania wrote: »

My personal suggestion is to look at a combi boiler (that generates hot water as you need) and claim back the storage space in the hot press

Sorry, should have said solid fuel is the preferred option, there is no gas mains available.

OwenM

I would suggest leaving the range alone if it is in good order, get an oil combi boiler and put TRV's on the rads. If the range is on its last legs get a new one and heat the rads with it. Is there such a thing as a dual fuel range? i.e. you can run it with oil or solid, if there is I would go with that.

landmarkjohn

OwenM wrote: »

I would suggest leaving the range alone if it is in good order, get an oil combi boiler and put TRV's on the rads. If the range is on its last legs get a new one and heat the rads with it. Is there such a thing as a dual fuel range? i.e. you can run it with oil or solid, if there is I would go with that.

Range is on it's last legs. I am under the impression, rightly or wrongly that a range would be less efficient at heating the radiators i.e. throwing more of the heat into the room.

Water John

Depends on budget and people living there.
Does anybody now want a system that means a house is cold until someone gets up and lights a fire. Then you have the wait for the fire to start to heat rads.

A good look at insulation and draught proofing is first item on the agenda.
This is very cost effective and there is no point in spending money on heating that is going to waste.
If that is in good nick, since you are putting in rads for the first time, might I suggest an alternative. Install Aluminium Rads connected to an air to water Heat Pump. I would only do this with a good insulated property.
This will give a nice heat. As said above use TRV's or connect each rad back separately to a manifold and control each room with a thermostat.

The air to water HP could also be used at a different Temp to provide hot water.

I would use one dry stove, wherever people relax in. It depends on layout.
You can get dry stoves with two fronts facing into two rooms.
Can be lit any time to suit occupants and thermostats will pull back the heat in the rads automatically.

Cooking is a separate function and have an electric cooker.