Finally, missives concluded
Posted: Thursday 4 March, 2010
Well, the missives on our new smallholding have finally been concluded, with an entry date of 14th May. We're relieved and excited but we now have a lot to do.
We hope to get in to inspect the property with our architect in the next week or two. We won't need planning permission as all the alterations are internal but we will need a building warrant. We also need to firm up on the list of other work to be done so that our builder can start costing it.
We're asking the Energy Saving Trust for advice on insulation and heating. The windows need replaced, the loft insulation upgraded and, since the solum needs sealed and new heating pipes put in, we'll insulate under the floor too. On heating, we're quite keen on using a wood pellet boiler for heating and hot water. There's no mains gas so we need an alternative and LPG or oil won't do. That will leave us with electricity, so we're thinking about installing PV cells, but perhaps not immediately.
We're just looking to get on as quickly as possible with the house, so that we can get on with the "real" stuff on the smallholding.
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Comments
claire
Abbey and I want to come too......
Rosemary
Hi, Roderick
We did think about GS heat pump but the question is whether we could insulate well enough. Presumably, you need an electric immersion to heat the domestic hot water to a safe temperature?
Hopefully, the Energy Saving Trust will be able to give us good advice once they see the house.
Gary Sheridan
Morning,
I am lucky enough to have a couple of acres and we went the whole hog with everything?apart from pigs at the mo.We have pellet boiler and if I had my choice again I'm afraid it would be a GS heat pump.Travel cost's to pick up pellets or delivery,maintenance at least 1hr per week the cost of the boiler was also prohibitive £14,000 even with £4g back. I don't know how long if at all we will recoup cost but it is environmentally good with exception of travel.We do have a solar heating panel and it heats our hot water needs in the summer.But winter costs about £50 a week. Hope this helps.
Regards
Gary
Roderick Duggleby
Hello again Rosemary.
In answer to your question, our pump unit came with an integral hot water cylinder which the GSHP heated the water to around 43degC, and an internal electric immersion periodically raises this temperature to beyond 60degC to kill off the bugs and top up when needed. It is all fully programmable, all be it a bit complicated to start with!
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Rod.
Comments are now closed for this post.
Roderick Duggleby
Friday 5 March, 2010 at 9:56am
Good Morning.
I'm new to your diary, so I hope you don't mind me commenting!
With regard to your heating, I have just installed a Groung Source Heat Pump on my smallholding, which is just brilliant. Constant heat with no bother whatsoever. Just a little electric pump running all day. And it works really well with underfloor heating if your ripping up floors.
Try looking online for these. If you have the ground, they are just perfect. Mine does heating and water, and is fully programmable. I used a Danfoss pump and wont look back! The trick is to insulate as much as possible! I hope this helps.
Thankyou for your time.
Rod Duggleby.