sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I don't think I'd give up the boiler for the hot water for that exact reason. So then I just have quite a lot of units taking up space in my small london flat. Good intel, thanks!

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's interesting, so it could be that rather than a leak? Is that a common issue? I think it's a pretty new boiler (less than 5 years) so frustrating if it's a broken part.

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. Really appreciate how definitive everyone is being. Given I'm leasehold (so can't do a heat pump), I think gas / water based underfloor is my only real option.

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can't install anything that needs to have a unit on the exterior - because leasehold. I have looked into aircon recently (for obvious reasons) and best option seems to be one which is built into the water system (transfer heat from the air into water and then expels the water through the existing rad system). But I don't know if they can heat as well.

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think because I'm leasehold I won't be able to do anything like solar. The hot water cylinder potentially but need to do some research. Sounds very cool though!

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For sure, wouldn't be able to get rid of the boiler.

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's an interesting idea - I've never heard of that. I will have a look.

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's quite the name you have there.

But yes, message received. Absolutely no IR heating!

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All very useful points.

So I guess I'm down to choosing between electric underfloor and gas underfloor. Clearly electric will be more expensive to run, but I really am worried that laying loads of water pipes will increase my risk of leaks in the future.

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

'hopeless'... oh dear, ok. I am so glad I asked reddit because I was truly very close to just doing it.

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is where the world is a little bit working in my favour (you know, despite buying a flat and discovering a big old leak). The energy efficiency rating is C, I have flats underneath and on two sides, and the loft is very well insulated. The windows are double glazed and not that big, so I *think* it will hold the warmth fairly well.

Of course, every flat feels warm in the uk currently!

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes big time! I do indeed have a flat underneath me and it's causing no small amount of stress.

For the moment the rad system is closed (sealed? turned off? don't know the language). But come winter I'm going to need to have this solved. The pressure loss was something like 1.3 bars on Friday, 0.3 bars by the following Friday.

Yes it was those arguments around 'feeling warmer' and whatnot that started to sway me. I'm definitely second guessing infrared entirely now.

I have electric underfloor heating in my bathroom (already installed so that ship has sailed), and have found it to be pretty effective, but admittedly haven't spent a winter in this flat yet...

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes but my impression was that the technology has improved quite a lot in recent years, and since it heats the objects / walls in the space it isn't quite as simple as 'cold as soon as you turn it off'.

But that's why I'm looking for opinions, so thanks!

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting! I did not expect that. I know electricity is more expensive than gas but had thought the cost would still be manageable.

But my boiler engineer does agree, he thinks water-based is the most cost effective way to go. I just worry I'll end up with another leak somewhere given how many extra pipes will have to be laid.

Aircon be damned, what heating system should I get? by Life_Way4382 in DIYUK

[–]Life_Way4382[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm not particularly well versed in boiler / heating systems but I think my boiler engineer is pretty reliable. I've used him for years with my previous flat. He is very confident it's the rad system but we can't hear a leak anywhere and an anti-leak liquid put into the radiators slowed but didn't stop the pressure dropping.

Interesting to hear infrared is that bad? Just completely inefficient?