DIY plumbing

I have stylish and super efficient far infrared panels. The one in the living room draws a mere 800 watts when running full whack, and makes the good size living room quite toasty, even on the coldest days. Except it rarely runs at full whack because it's thermostat shuts it down when hits the set temperature. They're ace. They're so efficient because they don't really heat the air very much. They radiate Infrared which largely passes through air unimpeded, and warms solid objects instead like furniture and people.

 

Any 1950s coal fire that heats water is a back boiler. No doors on them. That is what we had. Ours had been used to heat radiators from the 70s but 12 years ago the system was changed over to a combi boiler, however, the metalwork was still there and had to come out to close up the fireplace.

 

We, many years ago, had a boiler in the kitchen, we burn mostly coke on it .
It heated the water and the kitchen, had a drop down front that you could open and see the red hot coke.

To me a back boiler is usually a fire that would be mostly in the living room, as a form of heating, looking half decent and a water jacket to heat the water and maybe a few radiators.
Pretty much the same thing I guess just a bit more classy in the day.

 

@Clueless 1 v2
How big is your living room (floor area)?
Have you costed the panel out since the price of electricity went up?
As for the back boiler. The one here had exploded at some point in the past and been disconnected from the water supply. It was a swine of a job getting it out, but I did it. Had to have that wall replastered afterwards as the hole it left was rather large.

 

If I'd had working central heating that just needed a service, I'd have gone with that. But I didn't. And quotes for central heating were 5 to 6 k. I costed it out, based on a fresh central heating install and regular service, it would have taken years for central heating to work out cheaper. And with the government already having put the writing on the wall about the future of gas boilers, combined with my eco concerns, I decided it wasn't worth it.

I still stand by that now even with the price rises, and it has proven itself in terms of efficiency, and comfort. It's hard to describe but it's a nicer, fresher warmth. Like a sunny day.

 

Higher than average for electricity. But I use no gas so overall my energy bills are about average.

 

My good lady asked me this evening if I had put £90 on our prepaid electricity meter. I hadn't, so obviously that is the first tranche of government assistance.