Central heating costs

[Tom and Jennie]

We are moving back and buying a winterised double  glazed  static ,trying to find out running cost of heating during winter , gas central heating.
Using solar power for ekectruc .

Linkback: https://staticforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,748.msg1965.html#msg1965

[fhb2]

That is a bit like how long is a piece of string question.
The only answer I can give is... it depends.
On where it is (North, South?)
how warm do you like to be?
What type of winter are we going to have.
 How well insulated is the static (walls, roof, floor).
Is the gas mains? LPG? How much is it per unit?
It sounds as if you are planning full time living, in which case are you getting a static for your own land, or on a park?
If on a park, then it will have to be a licensed residential park, which means a park home - modern park homes (built to BS3632) are as well insulated as bricks&mortar (better, in some cases) so heating should be the same, or less, as a bricks&mortar house.
If you are buying a static for your own land, do try and get one that has been built to BS3632, as this is considerably better than winterised (which is intended for comfortable holidays, not full time use).
If planning on solar, then you either need stand-alone panels, or a specially strengthened roof and frame (usually done at the manufacturing stage) plus extra supports underneath.
 

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[DaveE]

Welcome to the forum Tom and Jennie…..
I think fhb2 has explained the reasons why the question you’ve asked is, as was said, “a piece of string question”.
We had our 1st van on a park with our neighbours along side us in a similar ‘van. They used their ‘van slightly less often than we did ours, but when the gas & electric bills came they complained about them. When we compared bills they were using more than us in less time.
It is all down to the different factors as fhb2 explained however the cost can be reduced be getting the right ‘van ( a BS3632 one) on the right site ( the price for gas and electric varies so much park to park) and setting up the heating system wisely..
One major way we saved was by installing a remote room thermostat on the Central Heating, and another has been improving the floor insulation even just having better carpet and underlay laid helps.
It’s only by experiance will you discover the cost of using a particular ‘van the way you want to but be aware our beloved “ tin cans” are far less insulated than equivalent “bricks & mortar” and those bills mount up over the winter months.


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[fhb2]

Tin cans indeed!!
those of us in park homes are in plywood boxes.

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[Tom and Jennie]

Hola everyone, 
Thanks so much for info. Very intresting,  i will follow advice. We will be spending March till October in Static and October  till April in Australia  that way we get 2 summer's.  But we will be insulating unit fully and purchase a unit which us meets standards. We will keep you pisted on our progress,  but for the  rest of this year we remain in Southern  SPAIN, 
Thank You nTom

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[fhb2]

Hello again - sounds like a good plan.
Not sure where you are in the purchase arrangements, but do please remember that if you are buying a static on a holiday/leisure site (which is what it sounds like) you will need to prove that your address in Australia (or Spain) is your main residential address - you cannot use an English leisure static as a main residential address. Make sure that wherever you purchase is happy for you to spend a continuous 6 months on site - and be aware that if the site changes hands, the new owner may change terms and conditions, including when the site will be open and how long you can stay there (a lot of people had a nasty shock when the pandemic struck and holiday sites were ordered to close).
If you think you will need facilities while in the UK such as owning or hiring a car, GP services, banking etc., start planning now - as most holiday sites cannot be used as your registered postal addresses for such things.
If the intention is to purchase on a residential site, then you will have to use this as your main address (not as a second home), and also make arrangements for maintenance and inspection when you are in Australia - and not least, find special home insurance that will cover this length of time away - residential park home insurance is not the same as leisure static insurance.

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