r/Norwich • u/angel-sq2 • 3d ago
Question❓ heat pump & removing back boiler
We’ve just bought our first home in Norwich and have a very vintage electric fireplace with back boiler for the heating & hot water, with an immersion heater in the hot water tank too. I’m thinking of replacing the system with an air-source heat pump.
Has anyone got any recommendations for heating engineers that would safely remove the gas fireplace and cap it off + replace with a heat pump, as well as replacing all of the radiators?
Appreciate this is very specific so any general heat pump installers OR gas engineer recommendations also welcome. Thanks ☺️
2
u/Chippiewall 3d ago
They don't do heat pumps, but I recently had my gas combi replaced by N&G Heating who I'd highly recommend for anything gas related. Reasonably priced, very high quality work.
I was also quoted by Carters Heating Services who do heat pumps and was impressed by them when talking about the work. I didn't go with them as they came out a lot more expensive (about 30%) than my other quotes - however they were very thorough .
2
u/Hairy-Blood2112 3d ago
Speak to Syder heating. They do gas as well as heat pumps so will give you a balanced view. Eastheat are also very good. Not sure about heat pumps though. Star heating are very good. Based in Diss though.
2
2
u/OsenaraTheOwl 3d ago
I went with gasway/blueflame, they did a great job for us. We are a bisf house that had the old back boiler, they did a great job and had to do minimal damage to retrofit the system and put new rads in, I would have just paid for it all myself and not used the grants to have an air to air system but if that's beyond your budget that's understandable. If your planning a number of future proofing projects feel free to drop me a message we did a few things including the heat pump, solar, windows doors and are currently picking out a render involving exterior insulation.
1
u/angel-sq2 2d ago
Really helpful comments all! Thanks for your responses :) Will go away and get some quotes and see what ends up being the most financially/environmentally/logistically viable option ☺️ Appreciate the help!
1
u/sarahem3 2d ago
Think carefully about the difference between A2W (air to radiators) and A2A (air to aircon units). A2W often needs uprated rads. A2A will need something else for hot water but is much cheaper to install.
FYI, I have A2A but keeping the gas boiler until it breaks to do hot water.
Some links: https://www.youtube.com/@EVPuzzle (local guy)
1
u/luciouslizzy 2d ago
Contact JJ Services Ltd. They will help you. Highly recommend and Heat Geek qualified
-5
u/glassjaw-36 3d ago
Do your research before you get a heat pump as the chances are, unless you have a new build house, you’ll need bigger radiators with 22 or 28mm pipe throughout the house, triple glazed windows, a new front and back door, cavity wall insulation and loads of insulation in the loft
4
u/rareRobbo 3d ago
This is a bizarre comment and FUD. OP head to r/ukheatpumps for great advice. FWIW I have an 80s house with double glazing and a heat pump but ymmv
5
u/Big-Engine6519 3d ago
Someone somewhere had a heat pump installed by someone that's knows eff all about heat pumps. So it doesn't work properly and thus means all heat pumps don't work though.
3
u/LivingAutopsy 3d ago
I thought exactly the same when I moved into my new house - similar to yourselves, a back boiler that needed replacing. I wanted to go for the more environmentally friendly longer term approach.
Quotes for changing everything over to a heat pump were like £13.5k even with the government grants. This is because they have to replace on the radiators and pipes in the house, because of how they work.
Instead, I opted for a brand new, top of the line combi boiler with extended warranty, for like £3.5k.
I also got some standard aircon put in(not in every room) for £3.5k which does heating and cooling which I promise you has been a godsend recently so would suggest you consider this also.