Help! Independent heating advice?

Gareth J

Member
Mixed Farmer
Is external wall insulation an option? Much less obtrusive than internal and has added benefit of incorporating huge thermal mass of the walls.

That, plus a couple small woodburners, some MVHR and they may not need any wet CH.

Best with new windows at the same time. Won't be cheap though.
 

Hard Graft

Member
BASE UK Member
Location
British Isles
I am having fun as the farm house a huge and listed and not possible to do internal or external insulation everywhere due to plaster work and the exterior needs replasterd with lime mortar due to the cement plaster not breathing but then some walls are 7ft thick but most are 3ft
But joy just had a quote for a biomass of 50 to 60k 😭 may just have to 🥶 and don’t have to do anything major as just replacing and update the old biomass system
Yes roof insulation would help but it has along way to go as 4 floors
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
I am having fun as the farm house a huge and listed and not possible to do internal or external insulation everywhere due to plaster work and the exterior needs replasterd with lime mortar due to the cement plaster not breathing but then some walls are 7ft thick but most are 3ft
But joy just had a quote for a biomass of 50 to 60k 😭 may just have to 🥶 and don’t have to do anything major as just replacing and update the old biomass system
Yes roof insulation would help but it has along way to go as 4 floors
Get the walls breathing again and a lot of your problems will disappear as DRY thick walls are good insulators especially if you replaster internally with lime incorporating cork. Despite what people say you can get triple glazing approved on listed buildings especially if you include with MVHR units as they "protect the fabric of the building". Cut out all draughts including fireplaces and you will be surprised how small your biomass heating will need to be.
 

Wisconsonian

Member
Trade
I have no idea how triple glazing seems so popular in your climate. It's unusual here in newer, far better insulated and sealed buildings in a more extreme climate. It would make much less sense in a drafty uninsulated building.

A large building like that the air leaks are even more important as the first and foremost priority.
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
I have no idea how triple glazing seems so popular in your climate. It's unusual here in newer, far better insulated and sealed buildings in a more extreme climate. It would make much less sense in a drafty uninsulated building.

A large building like that the air leaks are even more important as the first and foremost priority.
In these thick stone walled houses if the walls are dry the heat goes out through the glass and unsealed windows. Put sealed triple glaze units in and you solve that problem but then have to use MVHR to get rid of the condensation as you need to keep the walls dry.
 

Iogijones

Member
Location
Denbighshire
You might get grant to insulate internal walls and could be qualified for a full heating system at no cost. I had wall insulation in an old house and its made a massive difference. Pm me if you want info of the company that did mine.
 

Wisconsonian

Member
Trade
Condensation comes from sealing up the house tight enough that you need to intentionally ventilate the air. Insulation, or triple glazing does nothing to humidity levels, unless the insulation is bad enough, humidity high enough, outside cold enough that you're getting condensation inside the walls, on the windows AND it's leaving. Usually it is still inside. Air movement accounts for most moisture movement. Diffusion is very minimal. Unsealed windows can be a major heat loss, obviously I see different windows than you do. Leaky ceilings are by FAR the leakiest, and easiest to seal, here.
 

Ffermer Bach

Member
Livestock Farmer
Condensation comes from sealing up the house tight enough that you need to intentionally ventilate the air. Insulation, or triple glazing does nothing to humidity levels, unless the insulation is bad enough, humidity high enough, outside cold enough that you're getting condensation inside the walls, on the windows AND it's leaving. Usually it is still inside. Air movement accounts for most moisture movement. Diffusion is very minimal. Unsealed windows can be a major heat loss, obviously I see different windows than you do. Leaky ceilings are by FAR the leakiest, and easiest to seal, here.
I remember listening to a consultant breathing doctor on the today programme, saying, we need to open the windows to let more fresh air into houses to reduce breathing problems, this at the same time as building regs are testing air tightness of houses!
 

rogeriko

Member
I used to install these when I lived in Greece in the old stone houses. The difference in the wintertime was incredible. Virtually no heatloss but a complete change of dry fresh air. Just drill a 4" hole in the wall and plug it in.

 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
I used to install these when I lived in Greece in the old stone houses. The difference in the wintertime was incredible. Virtually no heatloss but a complete change of dry fresh air. Just drill a 4" hole in the wall and plug it in.

Thats quite similar to what I have but mine are in linked pairs so that as one extracts the oher works in reverse but also with heat recovery and filter. Also about 4 times the price.
 

Wisconsonian

Member
Trade
Yes, that's quite clever. Typically you'd want ducting to remove air from kitchen and bathroom and bring fresh air into another room, helps the real world efficiency of the process. For fresh air in a bedroom, that would work well.
 

Andy26

Moderator
Arable Farmer
Location
Northants
Back to the OP,

I'd go with an Oil Combil boiler, TRV valves on all radiators and a smart control like a Nest or Hive, then use the stove to reduce the peak demand in winter.

The TRV's and smart control will allow any heat generated by the Stove to reduce the Oil consumption.

I've an Oil Combi and Stove and an old stone house and the above works very well, since installing the Oil Combi 3years ago the house is dry, warm and feels so much fresher and much nicer to live in.

I've been impressed with how efficient the Grant Combi boiler is, I've a nice big oil tank so try to buy oil when I consider it 'cheap'.

You could install an Oil Combi boiler, tank and radiators/pipework for a fraction of the cost of a heat pump.
 

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