Central heating

A question about : Central heating

Excuse my ignorance, not really up to speed on all things like this.

Currently my block of flats does not have any gas supply. The flat used to be heated by storage heaters but we replaced them with standard wall mounted heaters as they were a right eyesore

We are now at the point where we would love central heating. Can anyone fill me in on our options with this lack of gas supply?

It is a fairly small 2 bed ground floor flat. Budget not massive!

Many thanks

Best answers:

• Seem to recall that building Regs prohibit gas in multi story blocks of flats - due to the Rowland Point collapse - but others may know more that I do about the problem
• I believe John1 is correct - certainly my local council has been removing gas heating from its tower blocks.
• If you can't have gas in the flat then your option is electricity. Peak rate electricity is expensive, so you're looking at stored heat. Options are storage heaters or a thermal store and heating radiators.
  Small flat and low budget really means storage heaters as with a thermal store you will have the cost of the store as well as putting in a full wet central heating system.
• As there were storage heaters previously what sort of upgrade would I be doing?
  Putting in a boiler etc?
• I contacted my energy supplier who told me that even although I have economy 7 meter they have been charging me a normal rate 1 meter as I don't use it at night anyway.
  I do have private back garden which i can access from my patio doors at the rear of my flat so maybe room for an oil tank.
  It isn't a high rise flat block, only 3 storey high and on a main road so I'm guessing gas supply close by?
  I was aware it might be several thousands to install a system, budget would probably be about 4 max.
  Would my electricity bills likely rise with a central heating system installed? I don't think the heaters I have at the moment are energy efficient. My whole electric bill for year is about 1250 and the flat is about 12m by 8m
• Have you investigated the cost of getting gas laid on assuming that you'll be allowed to have it. Could cost a grand or more.
  Likewise installing an oil tank in the back garden won't be everso cheap and you've got to have access for deliveries.
  You'd need space on an outside wall to locate an oil or gas boiler but if you have a combi then there's no need for a hotwater tank.
  An Air Source Heat pump might be an option if you've got space for the outside unit.
  Generally you'd be better off replacing the storage heaters with modern high efficiency slim units
• Turns out I can get gas in my block but they are charging 700 for that.
  Will now get a quote for getting gas central heating.
  What approx. is a good deal for a flat about 12m by 8m, 2 bedrooms and ground floor.
  I have space on outside wall for boiler.
• You need to get a few quotes - British Gas will almost always be the most expensive.
• Bear in mind that adding gas central heating will add value to the property - possibly more than it costs to put in. It's one of the few home improvements that's actually worthwhile doing.
  If you have a combi you also get a cupboard formerly used for the hot water cylinder.
  Check energy saving trust website as sometimes there are grants to help with getting the gas into the house from outside.
• Thanks for the replies.
  I am getting a quote this evening.
  My only slight worry is that my flat may be a leasehold (although ive heard these are extremely rare in scotland). Also when I was looking through my documents it had the following on it....Tenure: Feudal
  After a bit of research I kind of get what that means and that the tenure act has been abolished in 2004 in scotland.
  I was just looking for confirmation that this doesn't really mean anything and that I would be allowed to run a gas pipe into my property.
• My other concern is that no one else in my block of 6 flats has a gas supply.
  Something tells me that is a bit odd and maybe for some reason it isn't permitted? Who would be the best to ask this question to confirm?
  I've been through my documents from buying the house but no closer
• Your deeds should include a clause allowing you to run pipes and cables over/through the common parts such as the walls and any gardens. There shouldn't be anything in either property law or gas safe regulations that stops you having a gas supply in a 6-flat block.
  Try and not get an external meter unless its on your wall and your metered supply comes straight through the wall into yoour flat, otherwise it's quite tempting for another flat to 'borrow' your supply.
• I think gas would be difficult.
  You could fit an air source heat pump, but obviously would need permission from the relevant people to fix it to the outside wall.
  Or you could be really ambitious, and push the freeholder of the building to install a district heating system which could save all the occupants loads of money and make them a lot of money in rhi income and selling the heat.
• Maybe you need to do a rough survey of all the other residents. There may be others who would like gas and so potentially a deal could be done to share costs.