Heating options and costs

The number one plan for heating our house during the cold winter months is to install triple glazed timber framed windows with a low U value (0.65), improve insulation and air tightness and install an MVHR system (mechanical ventilation heat recovery system) and ducting. The last of the these plans will not be straight away as we cannot afford to do all of it at once. But its important that we consider the ducting at this early stage as it is a lot harder to retrofit once the walls and ceilings are made good.

In the meantime, we had hoped our oil fired boiler and radiators would see us through the first winter. But this was not to be (see earlier post). We also were considering a wood burning boiler stove for our hot water and downstairs radiators and room heating upstairs in the living area. However, after a great deal of research, this was not only costly but we felt it was overcomplicated for what we required.

We are now planning a wood burning stove for upstairs heat requirements, which we can fit ourselves and get signed off by Building Control. In addition to possibly a air source heat pump for downstairs underfloor heating and domestic hot water. Or simply an immersion heater and PV solar panels. We would like to take advantage of the government green grant but its not been that easy. We could not find any trustmarked insulation fitters who were able to give us a quote, I imagine the few in this area have been inundated. It is probably cheaper for us to fit our own insulation. Triple glazing is included but only as a secondary measure. We weren't keen on solar thermal. So the air source heat pump (ASHP) is our only other option.

How about costs?

Here is some rough indicators of quotes we have had

Triple glazed low U rating timber windows (fit ourselves): circa £20k up to £30k for Alu-Clad.

MVHR system only design and supply (install ourselves): £4200 + £800 to commission

Wood burning stove: £1600 + flu design and materials £1,400 + hearth + building control sign off visit

(We were quoted £7k+ for installation of a wood burning boiler stove.)

PV solar panels through Solar Together Scheme (Cambridgeshire Council): £3555

plus battery: £2,798

ASHP and thermal store: £10k (£5k off this paid by Green Homes Grant).

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