What is the best way to heat an old farm house with no water source and only minimal electricity?
I am trying to find the best way to heat a 17th century remote farmhouse which has no plumbing, only a well, and electricity only from a battery store with diesel generator. The solar system we had generates very very sparse power as its a very grey, foggy rainy area.
We currently have open fires and a woodburner. It's not really warm enough in the early months of the year. I'm wondering if there are any wet central heating systems which can be used with no pump to circulate the water, I am assuming not be I'd really like to know. Any other ways to heat such a home that others have successfully installed I'd really like to know. We have propane to power our freezer, gas hob and a few other things so this is already on site. Thanks a lot.
Harry
There are a few home heating systems we can point out, our first suggestion would be a heat pump, as they typically use about one third the power of other heating sytems. if it is a farmhouse then presuably you have lots of space, and perhaps some machinery?
I would propose a heat pump, either air source or ground source (geothermal heating). It can be expensive to dig wells to access ground heat, but a more affordable option that may be available to you would be to lay horizontal tubing. If you dig a trench maybe 8 to 10 feet deep depending on which climate you are in you can lay tubing down and then cover it again. Read more here-
Air source heat pumps vs geothermal: which is best?
if that's not an option then next I would say is an air source heat pump, read here about what heat pumps are and why they are so efficient. If you like it, then see our heat pump buyers guide.
Alternatively, you are down to some of these options -