Scenario:
3 Bedroom 1970’s bungalow 110m2 - off gas main. Run as self catering holiday let in South Devon.
Suspended timber floor. Loft well insulated following referb in 2010 with certificate.
Unknown if wall cavity insulated
Oil Worcester Heatslave 15/19 combi approximately 10-15 years old
10 radiators 1 towel rail
Shallow pitch 150m2 Unshaded East\West roof.
Small front garden – large rear, but with access limited to 2 side gates.
The boiler has been very – (very) unreliable over the last 3 years since I bought the property.
The property has been letting well, but the heating is causing the property manager, guests and I a massive headache with numerous failures, ranging from a substantial oil leak (~500l in ground under boiler) 2 years ago, to electrical problems, including cutting out, failing to start, low pressure, pressure high and currently - varying pressure and currently unhealthy noises from the circulation pump. Parts replaced over the last 3 years, include: prv, fuel pump, motorised valve, burner, 2 flexible fuel pipes, programmer, room thermostat and other bits I cannot remember. 5 different companies’ engineers have attended. I have it serviced annually and the reason so many different companies are involved is that faults are inevitably discovered at changeover on a Friday afternoon or reported shortly afterwards by the guests. Finding the same person available over the weekend has, until recently, been very difficult in the area.
I am very keen to move away from oil (or anything requiring scheduled delivery) and fully intended to look at a heat pump of some sort, doing the installation immediately prior to retiring to the property in about 2 or 3 years’ time. This will be a major upgrade including under floor heating, solar pv and solar thermal. However the frequency of failure of the current system is becoming so disruptive, that I’m being forced to bring forward to this winter (or even now), a change that restores reliability. To that end, I’ve closed for the winter – November to March. This should be enough time to get all (some of?) the work done. I’ve got a maximum budget of 20K today but can add to that when we sell up and move in permanently.
I don’t think that guests will cope without some form of ‘instant’ heating system, however I’m reluctant to spend too much on a system (or part of one) that isn’t part of the grand plan. I’ve contemplated the subject of low grade heating systems for the last couple of years and mentally committed to installing one but now that’s at risk if I have to make a hasty ‘fix’ ie a new oil boiler.
I have looked at electric boilers as a quick solution, however, their running costs seem prohibitive. If I installed a new oil boiler and wanted to change it again in 3 years, do they have any resale value second hand?
It seems todays problem (awaiting further information from engineer on site now) is air being entrained from somewhere. Access to the under floor area is possible but very disruptive. I am covered by insurance for the cost of access and making good, but not the repair itself. I’m also covered for loss of booking income due to failure of the heating system making the property uninhabitable. (With today’s outside temperature, heating failure makes that true!). So although I don’t want to, I can close to get on with repairs. What to do?
My choices seem to be:
1 Continue with the ad hoc repairs with all the stress and disruption that causes each time.
2 Replace the boiler, leaving existing pipework and radiators.
3 Replace the boiler and install under floor heating if the existing pipework and radiators are grotty enough to warrant it.
4 ? 5? 6?
If anyone who’s been patient enough to read through this epic first post, cares to offer suggestions I’d be really please.
Thanks,
John
3 Bedroom 1970’s bungalow 110m2 - off gas main. Run as self catering holiday let in South Devon.
Suspended timber floor. Loft well insulated following referb in 2010 with certificate.
Unknown if wall cavity insulated
Oil Worcester Heatslave 15/19 combi approximately 10-15 years old
10 radiators 1 towel rail
Shallow pitch 150m2 Unshaded East\West roof.
Small front garden – large rear, but with access limited to 2 side gates.
The boiler has been very – (very) unreliable over the last 3 years since I bought the property.
The property has been letting well, but the heating is causing the property manager, guests and I a massive headache with numerous failures, ranging from a substantial oil leak (~500l in ground under boiler) 2 years ago, to electrical problems, including cutting out, failing to start, low pressure, pressure high and currently - varying pressure and currently unhealthy noises from the circulation pump. Parts replaced over the last 3 years, include: prv, fuel pump, motorised valve, burner, 2 flexible fuel pipes, programmer, room thermostat and other bits I cannot remember. 5 different companies’ engineers have attended. I have it serviced annually and the reason so many different companies are involved is that faults are inevitably discovered at changeover on a Friday afternoon or reported shortly afterwards by the guests. Finding the same person available over the weekend has, until recently, been very difficult in the area.
I am very keen to move away from oil (or anything requiring scheduled delivery) and fully intended to look at a heat pump of some sort, doing the installation immediately prior to retiring to the property in about 2 or 3 years’ time. This will be a major upgrade including under floor heating, solar pv and solar thermal. However the frequency of failure of the current system is becoming so disruptive, that I’m being forced to bring forward to this winter (or even now), a change that restores reliability. To that end, I’ve closed for the winter – November to March. This should be enough time to get all (some of?) the work done. I’ve got a maximum budget of 20K today but can add to that when we sell up and move in permanently.
I don’t think that guests will cope without some form of ‘instant’ heating system, however I’m reluctant to spend too much on a system (or part of one) that isn’t part of the grand plan. I’ve contemplated the subject of low grade heating systems for the last couple of years and mentally committed to installing one but now that’s at risk if I have to make a hasty ‘fix’ ie a new oil boiler.
I have looked at electric boilers as a quick solution, however, their running costs seem prohibitive. If I installed a new oil boiler and wanted to change it again in 3 years, do they have any resale value second hand?
It seems todays problem (awaiting further information from engineer on site now) is air being entrained from somewhere. Access to the under floor area is possible but very disruptive. I am covered by insurance for the cost of access and making good, but not the repair itself. I’m also covered for loss of booking income due to failure of the heating system making the property uninhabitable. (With today’s outside temperature, heating failure makes that true!). So although I don’t want to, I can close to get on with repairs. What to do?
My choices seem to be:
1 Continue with the ad hoc repairs with all the stress and disruption that causes each time.
2 Replace the boiler, leaving existing pipework and radiators.
3 Replace the boiler and install under floor heating if the existing pipework and radiators are grotty enough to warrant it.
4 ? 5? 6?
If anyone who’s been patient enough to read through this epic first post, cares to offer suggestions I’d be really please.
Thanks,
John
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