Hi, I've been searching and asking questions all over the place about heating and hot water for our house in the Gers 32. I've just stumbled across this forum and there seems to be alot of experience here. So I thought I would run my rationale through here and see if anybody could see any major errors in it! I have explored the geothermal option, air and ground source, and for my pocket, the cost is prohibitive, as is solar and wind. We currently have 9 radiators, probably 20+ years old and a defunct oil fuel boiler in the basement. The hot water is currently on electric, about 120l tank, about 6 years old. Our house is 150m square with a sous sol of the same area, built in 1968 of concrete and brick. The loft is insulated but the basement is not, yet. Our ceiling height is 2.435m and the existing tiled floor will need tiling over. No double glazing. The running costs boasted for Air source heat pumps look immpressive but I think the lower maximum water temperatures with this system will not be sufficient for us in the winter months, given we would have to keep our old radiators as opposed to installing underfloor heating, which is recommended with heat pumps. We have decided to go with an oil fueled boiler for hot water and heating with a dual 200l tank (electric and boiler heated). The house has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, 1 bath and 3 showers. There are some doubts in my mind about deciding on the make and size of the boiler. 'Opal Fruit' recomends at least a 30kw boiler for a 10 radiator system, I have 1 quote for a 26kw boiler, do I need to upgrade it? Also is there an alternative to chappee bora (4232.00 euros)! This is a floor mounted model 'ventouse', heating only. Having said that, the plumber says it will also heat the hot water tank??? this being a Ballon sanitaire 200l chappee pim bi isole inox, 1365.00 euros! We are trying to be as future proof as possible, I have seen a 30kw oil boiler in bricodepot for 2190 euros GROUPE THERMIQUE FIOUL TWIN 100 ventouse. Is this false economy, should we stick with the chappee at twice the price. http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.bricodepot.fr/&ei=LrX-Sf_XG8K2jAer8cGvAw&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbrico%2Bdepot%26hl%3Den I think this comes with alot of the stuff for installation that my quote has listed separately at extra cost. Sorry, I've gone a bit!
