Central Heating System Installation Advice (flat near Zakopane)

Hello
I have to install some form of central heating into a ground floor flat near Zakopane, with the flat being 5 rooms and 80m2. Initially I was contemplating a standard wood burner with back boiler and radiators but then considerd the freezing water effect on the system during the colder months when the flat is empty. At the moment I am thinking more about a wood burner with hot air delivery system but am not sure as to it's effectiveness and the possible problem of dust being blown into each room. Does anybody have a simple cost effective solution that would work as I am not looking to spend a great deal of money due to only spending maybe 6 weeks a year in the flat. Electric heaters are not an option due to the fragility of the electrical feed to the property.

On a side note does 5000zl for 4 good sized double windows, double glazed with dual openers and a triple, patio door window with triple glazing, installed sound like a reasonable price. I was expecting it to be cheaper than the UK but not that cheap. And that is from a well established local manufacturer?

Thanks in advance for any advice given.

You are getting your windows VERY cheap. Obtain at least another 2 quotes.
What about gas central heating - or is that not an option?

Why not use portable gas heaters and a wall mounted electric boiler for your hot water. Seems simpler than having to drain and refil C/H system. come and gone winter.

As for your windows, if they are upvc, then that sounds a good price. Ask about the profile of the windows and ask to see a previous contract of theirs, where you may be able to obtain a reference. As terri says, shop around for some other quotes but remember that you get what you pay for, hence the profile and quality.

Seems a shame to put too much investment for the sake of 6 weeks, hope this helps.

Windows are from a company called partner and another family member has recomended them to us having used them for a flat in Krakow. Wife whent into the HQ with the measurements and that is what they quoted for their standard white uPVC windows.

We will be using an electric water heater for the kitchen and an electric shower, I did toy with the idea of a 50l boiler but have decided on the "heat as you use option" units that sit under the sink.

As for space heating I don't like the idea of using electric as with a forest behind the house there is plenty of free logs.

They emit C02, using them in enclosed spaces for long periods of time gives you a banging headache and one hell of a bad gut. Great for blasting the colder rooms in the morning though for about 10 minutes.

Go with the cast iron wood burner, once you get that puppy stoked up with the big logs heat is immense, i have a 13 kw output and it can easily heat 70 m2. Its actually 28 in my lounge right now, when i open the door next to the lounge it goes from 12 degrees to 19 in about 10 minutes. Buy a stand alone burner though and have as long a flue as possible, you get plenty of heat form that as well, better that than waste this heat straight up the chimney. On most of them you can even slow pot roast meats, heat water what ever.

The wood however is quite complicated in terms of what wood burns the best, how long it takes to dry out etc.. I find silver birch the best so far, its dense, drys quickly, burns great and provides plenty of heat and light. I have about 7m3 of beech still drying out, i hear its longest burning and provides the most heat, its still a bit wet to try out right now. Conifers and evergreens are mostly soft wood and not so efficient, plus they have lots of sap which can damage the flue's.

Do like the Romas (well... Poles) do.

Install standard low-tech central heating system based on water. And dry it up before winter. The additional cost is about 3.50PLN (for an extra valve)


For some reason these system are not very popular in Poland. And I think to know why: cost and effectiveness. I would not recommend this solution.


The Polish windows are quite different than those in the UK. Take under consideration that -20C is nothing uncommon in Poland during the Winter time.

Worth to know:
- outside glass covered by the thin layer of metal will reduce costs of heating greatly
- three chambered profiles are a minimum
- argon filled gap between the glasses are OK
- three sets of gaskets (instead of standard 2) are much more effective.

edit: For a price comparison, try Oknonet oknonet.pl/okna

hi guys
i am exit member of this topic
thanks for putting question
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