Central heating

[absinthe_boy]

We had central heating fitted in January '92 as my wife is from a hot climate and really felt the cold. That combi boiler lasted 16 years, just like its replacement that was fitted in 2008. That one we had fixed at least 3 times, all for leaks I think. I'm hoping this current one will beat the other two. Yes, this one, like the one before it has a wireless thermostat, portable so it can be moved from room to room. The first one had just a dial thermostat permanently attached to a wall. TBH I prefer the old dial type, they were simple and straightforward, you didn't have to read a manual to learn how to use them.

My now quite elderly mother had a wireless thermostat with the new boiler a few years ago and I don't think she fully understands the concept. She keeps it in one place in the living room, when I tell her she can move it to the bedroom later to have the system set the temperature based on how cold/warm the bedroom is.

Mind you, I don't think she understands central heating at all. she has always insisted on closing every door as one would with space/room heaters...and appears to have a pathological fear of draughts. Central heating controlled by thermostat works best when the air circulates around the home so in theory no one room gets extra hot or extra cold. The low temperature gradient then makes mold and damp much less likely.

[andrec]

We had central heating fitted in January '92 as my wife is from a hot climate and really felt the cold. That combi boiler lasted 16 years, just like its replacement that was fitted in 2008. That one we had fixed at least 3 times, all for leaks I think. I'm hoping this current one will beat the other two. Yes, this one, like the one before it has a wireless thermostat, portable so it can be moved from room to room. The first one had just a dial thermostat permanently attached to a wall. TBH I prefer the old dial type, they were simple and straightforward, you didn't have to read a manual to learn how to use them.

[absinthe_boy]

When we moved house in 1979 my dad took out extra on the mortgage to update the central heating in the new hosue from oil to gas....and chose a Vulcan Continental boiler which had greater capacity than needed. That boiler lasted over 40 years and never missed a beat. He serviced it approximately every year and it only really fell into declinde because after he died mum wouldn't have it done. Still had the 1960s radiators and "microbore" pipes. Indeed most of the system remains today. It's unused now but there's a header tank in the loft for the old boiler system into which one was supposed to pour some "Fernox" liquid to flush the pipes and keep them clear. Again, mum never did this so had issues with heating a few years after dad died.

Never been a fan of combi boilers, they don't seem to have the same life span as more traditional boilers. Mum had to replace the Vulcan with a modern boiler which is less than half the size and has wi-fi thermostat...but modern regulations means it has to be on an outside wall so it's in a lean-to and has recently had rain damage. Would have actually been far safer to install it in the kitchen like the old one, where there was a connection to the chimneys. Oh well. Now the house has one of those rather ugly little ports on the side belching out steam like most other houses....when it used to go up the chimney.

An uncle and aunt had air/ducted heating. in the 70s and 80s. THe advantage was it didn't need radiators so you could have more walls for shelves/furniture etc. But also you had to be careful not to put anything over the grilles and couldn't dry clothes on the non-existant radiators. Still not sure it was as good as the radiators though similar systems work well in America (I lived there for a time and have visited frequently).

Currently the wife and I livin in a rented place with electric storage heaters. Pretty innefective heating system really, very costly and even though the landlord put in new storage heaters 5 years ago one just cannot achieve anything like a constantly comfortable temperature in the colder months.

AT work we have modern electric under floor heating. It is a horrible system, very unreliable and despite what they tell you the floor does get too hot. It also needs a lot of maintenance to prevent the tiny pipes (buried in concrete floors so irreplacible) from clogging. It has a very complex system of manifolds to control water supply to each room, and never really works. It also seems to cost more than the gas system which heated the employer's previous buildings. Not recommended.

[andrec]

Our combi boiler started leaking a couple of weeks before Christmas. We had it insured, but the parts required were not made anymore, which surprised me a little as it was only 16 years old and a common brand. We were offered a new boiler for free but had to pay for installation. We were paying around £280 per year for the boiler cover, but now that will not be required as the new boiler has a ten year guarantee so long as it is serviced each year.

[Moonraker]

We use to have paraffin heaters. We got our paraffin from a delivery truck. I'm sure it was called Esso Blue with a cartoon character I cannot now recall.
anyway, in the early 80s we had central heating installed with the back boiler behind a gas heater and a large water tank upstairs.

[Arran]

Re: Central heating

An old Randall 3060 timeswitch and heating controller from the 1970s. A far cry from the Nest Learning Thermostat.

Believe it or not, you can still buy the Randall (now Danfoss) 3060 as they were popular in council houses.

[Arran]

Re: Central heating

I'm beggining to feel a bit ripped off actually, i pay £30 a month for level two cover with british gas, i have been paying this for 10 years which affords me a annual boiler service and repairs to the boiler and central heating should i need them....i never have, which means i have spent £3,600 on nothing, i am thinking of cancelling this cover but have a horrible feeling the minute i do so the boiler will die. Whats also annoying is that the price you pay for cover depends on your postcode and equivalent cover starts at £12 which seems crazy....haven't decided what to do yet but it makes me angry

Complete waste of money. My solution - befriend a local central heating repairman or two and buy a couple of fan heaters and an electric hot water heater just in case the boiler stops working.

[tex]

Re: Central heating

I'm beggining to feel a bit ripped off actually, i pay £30 a month for level two cover with british gas, i have been paying this for 10 years which affords me a annual boiler service and repairs to the boiler and central heating should i need them....i never have, which means i have spent £3,600 on nothing, i am thinking of cancelling this cover but have a horrible feeling the minute i do so the boiler will die. Whats also annoying is that the price you pay for cover depends on your postcode and equivalent cover starts at £12 which seems crazy....haven't decided what to do yet but it makes me angry

[Zincubus]

Re: Central heating

I wish I could say the same about my boiler, except that I have to call someone out each year to start it up again.

Ahhh we get the same old bloke to service ours each year ..

£50


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[George 1978]

Re: Central heating

Our boiler is over 50 years old and still going strong .. possibly not as efficient as the modern ones of course .

I wish I could say the same about my boiler, except that I have to call someone out each year to start it up again.

[Zincubus]

Re: Central heating

Our boiler is over 50 years old and still going strong .. possibly not as efficient as the modern ones of course .


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[Arran]

Re: Central heating

Old single panel radiators from c1970. They don't even have convector fins on the back.

[Zincubus]

Re: Central heating

My son's wife simply laughed at our wall mounted radiators


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[Richard1978]

Re: Central heating

I heard hot air systems are popular in the parts of the USA which have hot summers & cold winters because the same ducting can be connected to an air conditioner.

[Arran]

Re: Central heating

A housing estate built in the 1970s in my locality originally had hot air central heating as standard. A few houses still have the original air heaters and some have upgraded to more modern air heaters but about 3 out of 4 have changed to a wet central heating with radiators.

Hot air central heating is very common in Canada and there are a few Canadian manufacturers of air heaters. Johnson & Starley is the only remaining British manufacturer.