Changing my central heating

[JF]

My house is heated by an old (20 years) hot air heating system. Someone
told me that if I changed over to a radiator based heating system it is
possible that I may receive a grant to help cover the cost of doing this
as it is more environmentally friendly. Does anyone know if this is the
case, I live in the Glasgow area.

Thanks
John

 

[clare at snyder.on.ca]

My house is heated by an old (20 years) hot air heating system. Someone
told me that if I changed over to a radiator based heating system it is
possible that I may receive a grant to help cover the cost of doing this
as it is more environmentally friendly. Does anyone know if this is the
case, I live in the Glasgow area.

Thanks
John

Hot air is more responsive, hot water is steadier, neither is
significantly more environmentally friendly. No idea what the scottish
situation is, but here in Canada there would be no grant, except
possibly to get off electic or oil to gas.(or in some areas to upgrade
to a "high efficiency" burner.

 

[Jesse Spencer]

My house is heated by an old (20 years) hot air heating system. Someone
told me that if I changed over to a radiator based heating system it is
possible that I may receive a grant to help cover the cost of doing this
as it is more environmentally friendly. Does anyone know if this is the
case, I live in the Glasgow area.

Thanks
John

I'm thinking a hot water system is friendlier to YOUR home environment
as opposed to the general environment. Duct systems circulate dust and
germs that collect in the duct system.
If changing your heating system is desired, think about what fuel and
method is most efficient in your area.
Don't be blinded completely by efficiency ratings of appliances.
For example in my house I have a 70% eff oil furnace and an 80% eff gas
fireplace. But the fireplace is far more efficientg relative to the
oil furnace because the duct system of the furnace goes thru unheated
basement area and loses a lot of heat.

 

[JoeSP]

I echo that. I've had both and to me it's a toss-up. The only
heating system that I've experienced where I noticed a significant
difference in comfort level was with subfloor radiant heat. That is,
where the floor itself is heated with, usually, hot water.

This is WONDERFUL heat. Your feet stay warm, there are no drafts and
the gentle radiant heat emitting from everywhere just flat feels good.

I thought hot water in-floor heat was the ultimate. It was perfect heating,
all around, until my neighbor installed a hybrid system. It has the same
plastic tubes running through the floor joists, but he added a heat
exchanger that heats a small forced-air duct system to blow warm air in a
few choice areas when desired. He has one in the bathrooms and one in the
kitchen area. Nice to warm up to when you've just come in from the cold..

 

[[email protected]]

Duct systems circulate dust and
germs that collect in the duct system.

is this really true or can a forced air system really
in fact FILTER the air and make it cleaner?

 

[Eeyore]

Are you by any chance referring to the ceramic stored heat radiators
that use off-peak electricity?

No chance ! Given the cost of electricity in the UK.

He means hot water radiator central heating - the norm in the UK.

Graham

 

[Harry Chickpea]

My house is heated by an old (20 years) hot air heating system. Someone
told me that if I changed over to a radiator based heating system it is
possible that I may receive a grant to help cover the cost of doing this
as it is more environmentally friendly. Does anyone know if this is the
case, I live in the Glasgow area.

Thanks
John

Are you by any chance referring to the ceramic stored heat radiators
that use off-peak electricity?

 

[Jesse Spencer]

is this really true or can a forced air system really
in fact FILTER the air and make it cleaner?

Well I installed better than standard filters including an electrostatic
one. But real filtering that takes out a high % of dust and so on will
inhibit the warm air flow, reducing efficiency. Another argument I have
with hot air system is the hot/cold cycles and dryness we experience.

 

[[email protected]]

Well I installed better than standard filters including an electrostatic
one. But real filtering that takes out a high % of dust and so on will
inhibit the warm air flow, reducing efficiency. Another argument I have
with hot air system is the hot/cold cycles and dryness we experience.

I see

Agree on the dryness of the heat


But I've debated with myself over and over if its
possible that a forced air system could in fact be good
for someone like me who has allergies as it could
filter the air instead of blow dust around

I haven't settled with myself on what is right yet tho.
<G>

 

[Mike]

Hot air is more responsive, hot water is steadier, neither is
significantly more environmentally friendly. No idea what the scottish
situation is, but here in Canada there would be no grant, except
possibly to get off electic or oil to gas.(or in some areas to upgrade
to a "high efficiency" burner.

Off topic:
How do canadian energy prices compare to US prices? The reason I ask is
my utility co (BGE) lifts its rate caps July 1st and electric rates increase
by 72%
plus delivery charge equal to about the cost of electricity. I'm trying to
find one area
any area where deregulation resulted in consumers getting lower energy
prices.

Mike

 

[Derek Broughton]

Depends how you do it of course. I have a solar hot air system and a solar
DHW system. Both significantly more environmentally friendly than the
alternatives. Neither one is impossible to use as a retrofit to an
existing system.

 

[clare at snyder.on.ca]

Depends how you do it of course. I have a solar hot air system and a solar
DHW system. Both significantly more environmentally friendly than the
alternatives. Neither one is impossible to use as a retrofit to an
existing system.

And neither one is particularly more effective (efficient) than the
other.

 

[Mike]

No chance ! Given the cost of electricity in the UK.

He means hot water radiator central heating - the norm in the UK.

Graham

Is electricity expensive in the UK?