LancsCycleSam
banner
cyclesam.uk
LancsCycleSam
@cyclesam.uk
The poster formerly known as @MCRCycleSam

Walking, Cycling, Urbanism.

https://cyclesam.uk/
Our house is similar age and this would be to replace just two radiators.
November 25, 2025 at 7:04 PM
This was from one of the local facebook groups. Cheapest of cheap boiler (£650 from a plumbers merchant) and no idea how good the company is but it is possible to get an install for £1.5k. You're probably right a decent Worcester Bosch would be twice that or more.
November 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Yeah I expect it to be more than a new boiler because you're having a lot more work done than that, but a new boiler around here is generally advertised at around £1.5k for a cheap brand, so getting on for 10x the cost. I think you're right its probably set to what consumers can afford after grant.
November 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Already have a water tank and all the piping to it. HP would sit next to where boiler is currently, and next to the consumer unit for power. A couple of rad replacements but these are charged at £50-200 each so don't add much to the cost.

There's no lifting of floorboards to replace pipes etc.
November 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
It's hard not to conclude that the government grant is actually pushing prices up, not reducing them. I'm not sure how anyone can be expected to go electric when this is the cost currently. They're also only quoting a COP of 3.0-3.4 meaning even with smart tariffs we'll struggle to beat gas pricing.
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
A heat pump suitable for our house is available for £3.6k from a plumber's merchant. I'm struggling to understand where the £8-11k in radiator replacement, pipes, and labour comes from.

This is not a complex install: the HP will go next to where the boiler already is.
November 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I used it again recently and as much as I love the route, the surface is horrendous even on a hybrid style bike with plush tyres, it must be borderline unusable on a road bike.
November 23, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I wonder how many people are rarely/never a pedestrian on the public highway though. Park a car on the drive, then only get out of it at work carpark, supermarkets, etc.
November 22, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Whereas 10l tank of diesel which isn't a dissimilar size (but most diesel heaters will draw from the van tank so no space lost inside) would probably last a week of nights.
November 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The issue is even with modern battery tech you're still looking at low runtimes, and extreme bulk and weight vs a tank of diesel or canister of propane.

They're getting better but this battery that I have would run a desk heater (600W) for under 5h. A proper 2kW fan heater for 1h.
November 22, 2025 at 10:29 AM
I did consider installing a diesel heater myself but so far I haven't needed it. But then I did overdo the insulation, 50mm celotex on the floor and wall cavities, 100mm on the ceiling and 12mm closed cell foam on the rest of the walls, and its such a tiny van it stays reasonably warm with body heat
November 21, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Good shout. I was being quoted something silly like £800 total for the towbar fitting and a decent bike rack - the folding bike was cheaper on C2W!
November 21, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Does your n+1 include a folding bike that fits inside? Mine didn't but it does now!
November 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Depending on your electrics, an electric blanket and a decent duvet should be all you need to keep warm even in winter. I have no heating in mine but stay in it in winter for work trips no issue. Although this month it was 17 degrees in London so I was closer to too hot than too cold!
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 PM
You'll love it, I love mine. Motorway services usually have showers, or you could get a nationwide gym membership. Big supermarkets usually have toilets and some are still 24/7 and let you park overnight (sometimes for a small fee online).
November 21, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Although maybe I'm missing something obvious in them calling it a "Trixie" crossing. Is there any pun in the Trixie name I'm missing other than "tri" for three types of road user?

If it's not a fun pun based on a bird or winged creature we're not having it.
November 21, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Looks like the stagger would only be in case slower pedestrians get stuck in the middle (i.e. they don't want the green man to be too long), as the cycle crossing would absolutely need to stop both carriageways at the same time.
November 21, 2025 at 8:38 PM
If someone wants a £10k bike they actually have to have a salary that allows them to buy a £10k bike - it's not the government buying someone a bike
November 21, 2025 at 4:18 PM