Buying an all electric house- mistake?

Sorry- typo..I meant clay lump!

Short answer - I don't know. We live in an all electric flat. It's a 60s one so not well insulated. We knew that when we moved in and prepared accordingly. We have eco radiators on timers in key locations. The main problem is the huge amount of glass. It can be very hot in summer. We have floor to ceiling, fleece lined curtains for winter. They work very well at keeping the heating in. Your house is obviously not the same but surely forewarned is forearmed. If you go ahead get organised to be as insulated as you possibly can.
Good luck.

The house needing to breathe is the most important factor, I expect you have lime wash on the walls. No walls can be covered with any insulation

Mel25, I believe you will regret buying this property, the bills for energy are massive and you will be very limited as to how you can offset. The days of an aga, on all the time, are over. You need the heat to avoid mould problems.

You should follow your gut feeling. £3000 and increasing, is a huge amount for energy. That would include allowing for the small pv array

If in doubt -don’t.

If it was a brand new house then I would say go for it, but it’s an old house, no way of adding insulation.
I think you might be in line for some hefty bills, not to mention condensation and if the heating is Storage Heaters then I would run a mile away from them.
Been there, done that.
You are already having doubts when you should be excited to move.

To be all electric you really need an “A” rated house that will have well insulated walls and ceilings triple glazing and underfloor insulation.

Most houses can be upgraded but the cost will be high, if the house is listed it may not be possible.

We need more information.
Is the house double glazed, is the heating to storage heaters or radiators is the loft insulated, do the solar panels have a battery/storage?
If the solar does not have battery and the current owners are out working during the week then they will not be beneficial.
Don’t panic, get some expert advice.

If it’s your hearts desire, then I’d get a specialist surveyor , not a commercial insulation company, to give advice on how to make the heating efficient.
Is it possible to put in a wood burner or run wood pellet central heating?
I wouldn’t worry about getting a bad name with the estate agent. After my experience the names I could call estate agents are unprintable.

How would you get a bad name? It is your choice to buy or not to buy.

I can't offer advice except to say it isn't cold that causes damp but lack of good ventilation.

I wish you well in making the decision.

Walk away now. The energy situation in this country ( and many others) aren’t going to get any better.

If it was a new build fine,but this isn't, do more homework before going through with it,

Mel don't buy an all electric house. It's not just the cost but you say it's an old house so may need rewiring which will be expensive to have done plus all the damage it will do to walls ceilings etc. If the house is old then wires will just be in the walls and not in cable channels. So you will need replastering and that would be every room plus all the mess.

I know how much I have saved moving from a house with gas boiler and electric. To a bungalow with a combi boiler and electric. I didn't realise how much combi boilers where than the usual boilers and tank. Only pay for the hot water I use and never run out of hot water.

Do not bother what the estate agent thinks . But please don't buy this house . We looked at an old electric house back in 1984 when we where looking for a new house but we both knew it would be a money pit . So brought the house I lived in for 34 years before moving here.

My house was all electric. So I had gas installed, about five years ago, and it cost me £650 for the pipe to be brought in from the road outside. Not bad really.
Later I had gas central heating installed which is wonderful.

I've lived in a 1950's bungalow [cavity wall insulation and insulated roof space] for over 13 years. Each room has an electric heater in it which I use according to which room I'm using in the day. I shut the door on the room and it heats quickly, heater then on low setting. I do not have a gas supply.

I do have a wood burning stove in the kitchen/diner which pumps out heat. I light it at 5.30-6pm I then use the door to adjust the temperature! and that sends some heat around the other rooms in the evening.

I'm fine, it works for me. My bills aren't too bad, £49 per month. I love the fire and I've no mould in the property, no problems. I do use a dehumidifier now and then according to the temperature, especially if airing off washing.

I've no regrets and would do it again.

Can you have solar panels fitted, and a wood burning stove? I would certainly get an heating engineer in to do a survey and to look at alternative forms of heating and insulation before buying..

Would not touch it with a barge pole. £3000 pa is ridiculous .
Do not let your heart rule your head !

OP says bills are ESTIMATED .
We are selling our house, the EPC is a box ticking exercise.
Ask to see the utility bills.

Have you had a full surveyor’s report? It may be that the clay lump has better insulating properties than conventional building materials so may not be as expensive as you think. Personally I would not like to rely on one source of energy particularly not in a rural area. I also understand there can be a problem with vermin able to chew through the clay lump.

What's your alternative if there's a power cut? That's why I kept my gas fire (albeit reluctantly).

I have always lived in a house that alternative types of energy: coal fires, electricity and gas, then fires, gas and electricity; now gas and electricity. There is no fireplace, which I miss as it would allow another form of heating in an emergency.
I think you are wise to reconsider your purchase in this time when energy provision seems to be driven by ideology, not practical needs and the promised made have yet to be kept.

Oopsadaisy1

If in doubt -don’t.

If it was a brand new house then I would say go for it, but it’s an old house, no way of adding insulation.
I think you might be in line for some hefty bills, not to mention condensation and if the heating is Storage Heaters then I would run a mile away from them.
Been there, done that.
You are already having doubts when you should be excited to move.

👍🏻

Your H will be even more upset if your instincts are right and you go ahead with the purchase against you better judgement Mel.

With such a big decision, you both need to be in agreement. Better for him to be disappointed now than to have years of regret and possibly expense too.

Mel25
Read this and then show your husband.

www.euronews.com/business/2024/02/28/britain-could-see-lights-out-in-perfect-storm-power-cuts

Added to the above storms are getting stronger and more frequent = power lines come down.

My house is new build and the electricity supply is underground to the small estate. The old houses in this small ancient town are supplied via overhead wires, they are everywhere and people were without power for two days last week due to cable problems caused by the storm