Old cottage first heating system- advice Help and information on all topics relating to your central heating, air conditioning and ventilation issues.

[portised]

We have bought a 400 year old thatched cottage that has never had any central heating. The cottage has no loft space as the rooms upstairs are vaulted with sloping ceilings. We want to fit a new central heating system but do not know the best type to have. Mains gas is available in the street so that will be the first choice. The house will have one bathroom downstairs, one ensuite upstairs, one kitchen downstairs, a downstairs w/c and a downstairs utility room. We have room for a downstairs hot water storage cylinder. We would also like to have a wood log burner in an amazing open inglenook fireplace with a back boiler fitted, so we can take advantage of the free hot water and heating in the winter.

Q) How do you integrate a backburner in to a gas central heating system?

Q) Please also help us with advice on which system to choose

and the main question please:

Q) How do you stop the water just getting hotter and hotter until it boils in a backburner?

Thanks for your help and any advice you can give.

[htg engineer]

With the limited space for tanks / cylinders why not fit a combi boiler on a outside wall, the flue can do horizontally out the wall therefore not affecting or having to disturb the roof. This will give hot water and heating through radiators throughout the house. The boiler will not take up much room.

As for the free hot water, has the house already got a stove or boiler ? is the chimney in good condition adequate to take a back burner. Why not just have an open fire or stove. Enough to heat the room but not water.