Plumbing/Boiler advice

[theboytheboy]

Hi,

I am sure there are some heating engineers/plumbers on here.....

We have a rental cottage that we cant let at the moment due to it not meeting the new epc rules that changed as of 1st April.

We have looked at the options to find the required 9 points and a new boiler seems to be the way forward.

The cottage is a large 5 bed and is currently heated by oil fired "stanley" with hot water tank.

My question is should we go for an oil combination boiler and remove the hot water cylinder
or
keep the existing system and just swap the "stanley" for a non combi oil boiler

We did consider electric boiler for ease of installation but we were told they do give as good energy efficiency as oil boilers.

Any input appreciated

Thanks

 

[wilber]

There are schemes running at the moment where they will change the boiler for free. Little bit of google should help.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Stanleys aren't that efficient.

Could you stick a few solar pannels on the roof instead?

Failing that I'd get a standard boiler but you will have to plumb it in alongside stanley, remember they need a heat dump.

 

[Ukjay]

Hi,

I am sure there are some heating engineers/plumbers on here.....

We have a rental cottage that we cant let at the moment due to it not meeting the new epc rules that changed as of 1st April.

We have looked at the options to find the required 9 points and a new boiler seems to be the way forward.

The cottage is a large 5 bed and is currently heated by oil fired "stanley" with hot water tank.

My question is should we go for an oil combination boiler and remove the hot water cylinder
or
keep the existing system and just swap the "stanley" for a non combi oil boiler

We did consider electric boiler for ease of installation but we were told they do give as good energy efficiency as oil boilers.

Any input appreciated

Thanks

Do you have gas on site?

And do you have double glazing, loft insulation, does the property have cavities etc?

Oh and what EPC rating below E does it have?

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

@Adeptandy

 

[Ukjay]

Oh, and while I am at it - are you not able to apply for the exeption notice to allow you to save for the funds required - as your property may require changes outside of the funded change schemes?

 

[Chickcatcher]

Am I correct in SAYING that as of 2020 there will be NO new boilers made that run of Oil or LPG?

 

[spin cycle]

i looked at this for our rental.....a new boiler pretty much improves the epc enough ...i think

combi boilers i thought were for smaller properties.....when we change it'll be conventional

the whole system is crap.....my tenant is happy on a slightly lower than market rent....it'll have to go up to help fund the boiler and i'm fearful she won't be able to afford it

 

[Ukjay]

Combi boilers are carp - I hate the bleedin things, and as for the condensing side - ffs, why dont they just stick a bigger levy on them!!

I would look at the house itself if you do not have the option for natural gas, as oil is expensive, and lpg is just as bad.

 

[Timbo]

My 2p.. do not go with a combi boiler in a rental...

Keep the tank with an immersion, even better convert it all to fully pressurized.

 

[Ukjay]

i looked at this for our rental.....a new boiler pretty much improves the epc enough ...i think

combi boilers i thought were for smaller properties.....when we change it'll be conventional

the whole system is crap.....my tenant is happy on a slightly lower than market rent....it'll have to go up to help fund the boiler and i'm fearful she won't be able to afford it

If there are no grants available for your property, there is the PRS 5 year exemption which covers fuel price volitility, funding mechanisms. Tenant refusal / inability to pay slightly higher rent is not a justified exemption though unfortunately.

If this were my property - I would look at the cost of the boiler to get the required minimum EPC rating, discuss with the tennant the increase, with the proviso you will reduce the payment once the EPC rating changes are made (obviously say you will be adding funds to make the changes too).

 

[Ukjay]

even better convert it all to fully pressurized.

Unvented does not suit all properties - you need to carry out a real life scenario with the owner to see if it is the best route.

 

[spin cycle]

i think my point was these regs are supposed to help tenant (lower heating costs....but more rent so worse off)......and the environment...except she'll be able to get a cheap flight from the new heathrow emit more carbon doing that than she did heating her home with the old boiler.....but have nowhere to live

 

[Lincsman]

Am I correct in SAYING that as of 2020 there will be NO new boilers made that run of Oil or LPG?

What would you burn then when gas isnt available?

 

[spin cycle]

What would you burn then when gas isnt available?

good question

 

[Ukjay]

i think my point was these regs are supposed to help tenant (lower heating costs....but more rent so worse off)......and the environment...except she'll be able to get a cheap flight from the new heathrow emit more carbon doing that than she did heating her home with the old boiler.....but have nowhere to live

Well that depends on the tennancy. If you have an all inclusive tennancy - the Landlord would benefit - as he will reduce his/her heating bills, so not all slanted towards the tennant thankfully

 

[Ukjay]

What would you burn then when gas isnt available?

Unfortunately that is not the concern of the rule makers. You will have to change before they remove the burning option completely.

 

[Chickcatcher]

What would you burn then when gas isnt available?

I understand that they will want you to fit a "Heat" Pump. Be it ground source, air source, air /air or air/water

 

[spin cycle]

Well that depends on the tennancy. If you have an all inclusive tennancy - the Landlord would benefit - as he will reduce his/her heating bills, so not all slanted towards the tennant thankfully

missing the point....in the news soon....'rents rising fast...govt urged to act',,,,,,yet govt caused the problem

Unfortunately that is not the concern of the rule makers. You will have to change before they remove the burning option completely.

well they don't want us to burn wood...or anything?....perhaps we'll be able to burn cake

 

[Adeptandy]

I'd avoid a Combi in a 5 bed place, especially in a rental. Cheapest instal option is LPG as you get a free ish tank and a boiler is half the cost of Oil, but if your already set up for oil its an easy change to a new boiler, seems a shame though if your happy with what you have just to satisfy an EPC, pretty sure there's a way around it, but not had to deal with one as yet