Gran Alacant Forum

Gran Alacant Forum => General Discussions => Topic started by: dleafy on April 20, 2016, 20:40.

Title: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 20, 2016, 20:40.: I believe that there are some houses in GA which have gas central heating installed and that some areas have had gas pipes laid in the street so that gas central heating can be installed....albeit, it apparantly looks a bit of a scruffy job with pipes visible on the outside of the property.

Does anyone know which specific areas have GCH installed and which have the facility for it?
If I'm buying a house, the wife insists on GCH heating for the winter

Cheers

Davy !!!
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: BeachLife on April 20, 2016, 20:54.: Gas has been installed across most urbs. As you say often (not always) looks dreadful and makes a mess of the road.

If you are buying just look for the pipe !!

To be honest the mess gas natural made of our streets I'd ban them

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 20, 2016, 20:58.: Thanks,
Do you know how much it costs to get the gas connected and a radiator system installed in a 2 or 3 bed-roomed house?
or where I could find this information?
Title: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: John H on April 21, 2016, 10:07.: Morning Davy, I got three quotes a few weeks ago, one from fenosa, one from a local Spanish company, one from a Dutch guy, I tried to get a quote from an English guy who after the initial contact never got back to me......I've subsequently found that he's not qualified to sign off work in Spain.
For combi boiler, 5 rads of various sizes, two chrome towel rails and fitting the quotes varied from €3100 to €3700
The best quote came from fenosa.
Fenosa are the company doing the gas installation on our community, our "agent" is a guy called Raul who I found to be very professional, I got his number from our administrators
On our community by the way you can only have gas if you are on the exterior of the community, the community has voted on not allowing gas to internal properties
I've got a friend who's a surveyor who had them do the installation, he was very impressed
Here's an email he sent me about them last week;

Hi John,
Hope you are well, I'm into my second week of retirement and enjoying it so far.
Yes we have had central heating fitted by gas natural fenosa. These are my thoughts:--
1. RAUL is a first class guy who is hard working and trust worthy.
2. I initially emailed RAUL a long list of questions which he answered to my satisfaction. These included details of technical specification, costs to vary the standard installation, future running costs and standard charges.
3. The radiators are aluminium manufactured by ferrolli and are very neat. The pipe work is plastic with an aluminium core, and has been neatly installed. The standard boiler offered is manufactured by the Italian company Sime, who have a factory in Wakefield. It is classed as a last generation boiler i.e. non condensating. You cannot fit this type of boiler in the uk as it would not comply with building regulations, but having researched the issue, it is probably adequate for Spain as the workings are simpler and the extra cost for a condensing boiler would have a long pay back time. In addition the system heats up quicker than it would with a condensing boiler.
The bedrooms have thermostatic valves.
4. RAUL did offer an alternative condensating boiler manufactured by Junkers [Bosch], but at extra cost.
5. I went with the Sime boiler as recommended by RAUL, and only time will tell if I have made the correct decision. Back at home I always have a maintenance contract for my boiler, and I will try and have the same in place in Spain.
6. Raul kept me informed throughout the installation with photographs, but we did have an issue with the positioning of the boiler in relation to the window. The plumbers fitted the flue through the window and cutting the glass, this was despite me sending them a drawing indicating that I did not want it there. Whilst we have been here the boiler has been moved.
7. Your quotes are higher, but what type of boiler do they use.
8. I agree that it appears better to deal with one person and RAUL is easy to deal with.

If you have any further questions please ask.
On another subject who do you get your tv and Internet connection from and is it any good.

Kind regards

Hope this helps

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 21, 2016, 20:59.: Thanks John, That's excellent information.

We 'probably' wouldn't buy a property which either didn't have...or wasn't capable of having, gas central heating.
The wife's mother stayed at her sisters in GA a few weeks back, in February, and she said it was very cold in the house on Polonia, which doesn't have central heating.
The quotes don't seem too bad at all.
I wouldn't expect a Bosch boiler to add a great deal more to the price, but it would be worth finding out.

Once again. many thanks for the info, which I'm sure will be very useful to others too.

Cheers

Davy !!!
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Phillip on April 22, 2016, 00:14.: Well done John....
That the best info/answer to any post.... :)
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: John H on April 22, 2016, 11:08.: Thanks guys

Regards all from a warm and sunny Tenerife

John

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: BGat3 on April 22, 2016, 19:30.: We live on 3.2G close to Rich and Sue. Gas has been installed next door to us. We were advised by our neighbours it was to be done despite our Community apparently voting against it the last we understood. During the Shabby Installation a water valve was damaged in the road causing apparent chaos. Brian arrived at our property to find we were without water !!!!!!!!. The broken valve had been snapped off thus severing our water supply. Rich kindly offered his help together with Mike and several other local people for which we were extremely grateful. It took days to restore the supply leaving Brian and our friend without a toilet or shower or any other water facilities, only a hose pipe which our other neighbours kindly supplied to fill buckets. The Company denied all responsibility for the damage despite Photographs of their workmen and the flood being supplied. Our Community Administrator had to eventually put things right for us even though he wrote threatening Legal Action against the Installers who refused point blank to accept responsibility and refused to reinstate the broken valve . Please be aware of the Shoddy Workmanship, Visually Ugly pipes and Clips to the exterior of properties and ensure Permission from the Community is in place. Good Luck with house hunting, there are some really lovely people in Gran Alacant.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 22, 2016, 20:42.: Thanks for the warning.
There seems to be a few houses for sale with central heating already fitted....and of course those new style square houses (that everyone seems to love) come with heating as standard.
TBH, I'm a bit surprised that people don't use convector heaters or electric oil filled radiators?...or do they?
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 22, 2016, 21:19.: A lot of urbanisations on GA have mains gas outside there properties, but i haven't really noticed much of an uptake in 5 years since pipes were laid. We've always used oil filled radiators and the aircon inverters which in all fairness has been more than sufficient. Admittedly they're not cheap to run but alongside thousands for central heating and the cost of gas they dont seem a bad option. Also come April they all get put away till next winter.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 22, 2016, 21:42.: Good point!
As we'll be using the house as a holiday home for about ten years before moving, and as we'll probably only be there at Christmas and Easter during the colder months, it might be stupid to pay for a new system that might be ready for a change when we actually move out there!
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Tony Gillam on April 23, 2016, 07:44.: Like Victor, I've used a couple of oil-filled radiators on castors plus the aircon inverter unit when we've been down during the winter months. We have the gas pipes installed up the front of our property but to be honest, you hardly notice them as they are painted to match the wall colour and they have been installed quite neatly.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 23, 2016, 08:36.: Definitely leaning towards just using heaters at first, unless of course wor lass gets her wish of one of those brand new houses with the heating already installed!
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Barry former GA Advertiser on April 23, 2016, 10:10.: There will be many months in the year when you do not need the gas heating on. How much will it cost for those months, not to have it on? i.e. standing charge etc
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: kevinb on April 23, 2016, 10:47.: My neighbour has central heating supplied by gas bottles, he has about five bottles daisy chained together with a system that automatically switches full bottles in, has a boiler designed for the different gas, undoubtedly bottle gas is more expensive but as said probably don't need the heating on for that many months, advantage of no gas standing charge.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: puddy-woo on April 23, 2016, 14:42.: We use oil rads in the winter as well and put our bigs rugs out. If its really cold we put the aircon on warm air. I dont think i'd bother installing rads but I bet they are lovely to have. You defo need the rugs tho.

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Spurs on April 23, 2016, 14:50.: We looked at radiators but in the end decided the cost was not worth it for only 3 months use and only for part of the day . We have large rugs down in winter and air con heating but last year i bought a calor gas heater it was about €50 and you can get the bottles at the Unide supermarket it is great really warms the place a bottle last best part of a month and costs less than €20 to change .
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 23, 2016, 18:38.: Never thought about rugs...What a good idea. Also, I do like those gas bottle fires.
Maybe heating isn't such a deal breaker after all!
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: llamedos on April 23, 2016, 18:45.: I'm on my 4th bottle of gas for this year at €14 each, which is pretty cheap and the odd gas filled radiator on in the bedroom, less than €80 for the season!.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Davison on April 23, 2016, 18:51.: I have had Natural Gas Heating installed by Rauls company really neat job lads were very hardworking. The problem I have, at present, is that it is running on propane bottles as either Gas company or Town Hall are dragging their feet just running the Gas from a metre to my connection they keep saying 20 days been about 45 already. Remember Combi boiler heats you plenty of water should you have visitors no running out of hot water so you don't need to use your boiler anymore. Good luck.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: jdr on April 23, 2016, 19:12.: We have gas in our house, out side on Don Pueblo, have gas boiler, (only water) gas fire, in lounge and gas hob, we used to run all on bottles but have mains gas for many years, very happy with it however, we do have three ceramic electric radiators in our large lounge, (60mm X 60 mm 10 mm) in depth give out plenty heat and cost same as a light bulb, available at Euronics GA and lee roys every where, however like others say only use November till February, mains gas has worked out economical and less hassle than other systems. but we don,t need fire as well as radiators, Our friends internal on our Urb can,t get other to instal on Urb but we recommend it
Jim and Susan
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 23, 2016, 19:17.: The overriding thing coming out is that heating a property in GA isn't a huge problem.
Good! ;D
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Stan on April 23, 2016, 19:19.: Quote from: jdr on April 23, 2016, 19:12.
we do have three ceramic electric radiators in our large lounge, (60mm X 60 mm 10 mm) in depth give out plenty heat and cost same as a light bulb,
Jim and Susan
Albeit a very, very, very bright and wasteful light bulb!
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: jdr on April 23, 2016, 19:25.: Yes that is correct sleeping in cool room in summer is more of "a problem" but can be easily dealt with
Jim
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: kevinb on April 23, 2016, 20:11.: I would be very surprised if you would get any heat out of a rad that only takes as much as a light bulb, I used to use a 2kw oil filled rad, it uses two units of elec per hour which costs about 40 cents an hour to run, much too expensive to run all the time .
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: John H on April 23, 2016, 23:34.: One thing that is a must is to buy a south facing property, even in the Winter we can sit out on the patio in shorts and tshirts whilst our northern facing neighbours have several layers on, the house is also so much warmer and brighter than theirs due to its aspect

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Barry former GA Advertiser on April 23, 2016, 23:39.: Not everyone John wants a south facing house. They can be murder in the hot summer.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: bertdove on April 23, 2016, 23:44.: Not really, Barry. Ours stays pleasantly cool indoors...and there´s always the back garden!

Bert
Title: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: John H on April 23, 2016, 23:47.: Sun blinds and security doors do the trick Barry, there's always a breeze through the house
Buying south facing was the best thing we did
They sell a lot better as well, the aspect is high on the list of "must haves" for Northern Europeans according to all the real estate agents I know in GA

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 24, 2016, 01:38.: oh noooooo not the north south divide again, then it will be my views better than your view aaaaaaaarrgghhh
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 24, 2016, 10:24.: I'd like a South facing house, or a West, but as long as its got a good roof terrace its not the biggest problem in the world.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: sunseekers on April 24, 2016, 10:36.: Haha, not often you'll hear a northerner favouring the south but i am also agreeing with john here, we bought in the sunniest facing position andalso have glassing in on the porch, never had that before and its fab,
becuase the sun is lower in the winter it comes fully onto the porch and when we have aired out on the morning and have then closed the back windows, we leave the front windows open when we go out, this heats the whole flat really well.
Also in the summer the sun is higher and at the highest time although still fully on the garden all day, it misses most of the porch, and the glass is tinted which keeps the heat more subdued, all round win win. We have aircon with heat and have not actually used it yet as heat and were out december and february this year, although the weather was fab so maybe we were extra lucky, but finding it very economical at the moment.
Hazel
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Spurs on April 24, 2016, 10:51.: Mine is south facing brilliant in winter we can still use terrace etc and provides some good free heat . I spoke to somebody out in GA last year who was making his own solar heating system to heat his place for free in winter he had all the designs etc . L have never seen him again so he is either tucked up nice and warm or it went wrong and he blew the roof off!!!

I would love to know if anyone had actually got one of these things to work fully and efficiently giving free heat and water
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Barry former GA Advertiser on April 24, 2016, 12:14.: Always been told that the Spanish will not buy a south facing house.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: John H on April 24, 2016, 13:56.: All my Spanish neighbours must be real rebels in that case ☀️

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Barry former GA Advertiser on April 24, 2016, 14:22.: Much depends whether you live here or only come to your holiday home in the winter months. It is surprising all of the different views you hear when you have lived here full time for 14 years. Many Brits will not even come here in July August, which to us is the best time of the year. Lunch on the beach every day and a swim in the lovely med.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: kevinb on April 24, 2016, 14:52.: I've got a south facing house and its been fine even when it's really hot, its a winner in the winter, in January when we arrived the house was 62°despite it having no heat ob for months, the sun warms the front and side wall, the front garden has its own microclimate and reaches 70 even in January
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Corporal Jones on April 24, 2016, 21:42.: Quite odd what people consider a deal breaker when purchasing a property, like dleafy the roof terrace was a must 12 years ago, we bought a house with a huge roof solarium with panoramic views, and guess what we hardly ever go up there i think the rose tinted glasses won the day.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: martin on April 24, 2016, 23:17.: Does anyone know how the GCH has been installed in the villas in Mont Y Mar and if fitting has been completed satisfactorily?

Martin
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Tony Gillam on April 25, 2016, 08:01.: My balcony is north facing and in the summer months it is still habitable. As for the Spanish only buying north facing properties, from my observations, they buy south facing and then plant a forest to block out the sun.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: ian-steele on April 25, 2016, 11:18.: perhaps we have the best of both worlds, south facing for warmth for lounge @ patio's and north facing for our bedrooms. though it is cold in winter in bedrooms, so we put on a halogen heater 10 mins before bedtime and the trusted electric blanket !
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 25, 2016, 12:51.: I like the idea of an electric blanket. We have one here in the uk........Mind, we don't use it during the last week of July and first week of August :P
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Spurs on April 25, 2016, 14:03.: I think if I was buying now central heating would not be high on my agenda if it had fair enough if not wouldn't bother retrofitting . South facing would be a must
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 25, 2016, 15:33.: I'm definitely thinking South facing now. It does make sense to me.
Good job I joined this forum.
thanks for playing.

Cheers

Davy !!!
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Barry former GA Advertiser on April 25, 2016, 16:37.: Everybody has a different view because they have different circumstances. If you live here all year you see the sun many many days of the year. If you have a holiday home and only use it for a few weeks per year, you obviously need to see the sun when you use it. But if you have to purchase central heating just to use it for the winter period I think you will have bought in the wrong country. Best to buy in the Canaries where we always went in the winter when we were in the uk, so that you get the winter sun, without the gas or central heating. You pays your money and you takes your choice. Live here all year and will see more than enough sun every day in the winter, on the beach!
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 25, 2016, 21:58.: The Canaries are no good for us due to the huge amount of cockroaches we encountered one year.
The wife wasn't impressed and we haven't been back since.
Plus, there's cheap and frequent flights from the Toon to Alicante, but it's a bit dearer to the Canaries.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: John H on April 25, 2016, 22:23.: We've been in Tenerife for 8 days and haven't seen as much as an ant, sat on a glorious beach today, the sea was crystal clear and warm(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160425/e1a61e94a4a5c211ad5abedea09c1c60.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160425/02a895e4d7cc03fd7a623835013f6505.jpg)
Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: kevinb on April 25, 2016, 22:29.: Looks wonderful John.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: John H on April 25, 2016, 22:32.: It's great Kevin, still my favourite island in The Canaries

Regards all

John

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: DaveG on April 25, 2016, 22:44.: Playa de Las Teresitas

One of our favourite places in Tenerife

Dave
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: John H on April 25, 2016, 22:46.: That's the one Dave, a cracker of a beach

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Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: dleafy on April 25, 2016, 22:50.: I tried to tell her that it was just the hotel we were at and that they hadn't sprayed it, but she wouldn't have it.
BTW, it was a total infestation.
It was the La Siesta...........awful food too.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: DaveG on April 25, 2016, 23:56.: We have visited all the Canary islands many times and honestly can say we have never seen a ockroach, although they do seem to be spreading across this forum!!😲
Dave
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: Tony Gillam on April 26, 2016, 07:01.: I'm still not convinced that south facing is the way to go. Oppressively hot for three months of the year. As I said before, my north facing balcony is far more comfortable, although I am fortunate in that I'm on the end of a block and therefore, in the winter, get morning sun right until lunchtime on the side of the apartment to warm it up. The other bonus is that I also get a decent view from my balcony.
Title: Re: Gas Central Heating ???
Post by: llamedos on April 26, 2016, 10:17.: Our house is East facing, we get warmth in the mornings and in the hot months we are in the shade from mid afternoon while West facing are being fried until late on.