Hello, looking for advice for economising on heating

[waxingsatirical]

I have a 1500sq ft semi in Buckinghamshire, built in the 50s but large wrap around 2-storey extension in 2000s. Currently running a gas boiler.

 

I've been putting a lot of effort into draughtproofing and insulating, to cut heating costs. Now looking at options for heat pump with a view to getting off gas.

[Redbeard]

Hi.

Are you envisaging that the draught-proofing and insulation will be the main 'driver' for reducing heating costs?

 

I don't have a HP myself but the (anecdotal) experience of some people I have worked with has been that (all other things - insulation status etc - being equal) they may not spend *more* on heating with a HP, but they do not necessarily spend less than with the previous fuel. I realise tariffs and 'running style' will be big variables as, of course, will be the CoP.

 

[joe90]

Having installed a heat pump in a new build that was built to passive esk levels I can say that IMO they work well BUT they are a different animal to boilers and work differently. Boilers produce high levels of heat and can heat a space quickly, heat pumps heat slowly and at low levels. You also need a large hot water tank to store the DHW. We have had quite a few threads about unsatisfactorily working heat pumps and I believe good design is paramount and the reason some don’t work well. Heat pumps work well with UFH but high levels of insulation are very important. You will also save the standing charge on the gas connection (if you get it disconnected).

[SteamyTea]

Ah, Buckinghamshire, I know it only too well.

 

As in my previous post about using your gas usage data to estimate a heat pump size, it really is worth modelling your house.

 

Luckily there is a useful spreadsheet on here that has proved to be fairly accurate.  Not hard to fill it in once you have the data.

 

 

Heat loss calculator - Master.xls

[Bozza]

Tread carefully, and do lots of research, especially with some dodgy  companies that will try to flog you heat pumps on the basis of promises of huge energy savings.  Loads of previous very similar posts on this site for you to search through.