Getting ready for winter - what fuel? Options

[On the edge]

Her oil fired boiler is now 'clapped' according to the chap who has been looking after it for past 20 years. No gas, so what should big sister do? Her view, I'm going to have this lot ripped out and go electric like next door! I recon I'm paying more for oil than they do for electric - plus you haven't got the worry that the oil man won't turn up. I'm not so sure - so before the site of the tank gets turned into an extra parking bay - any views? (Appreciate this is quite the wrong time to ask!!)

[Timbo]

Well, if you were a Conservative, you'd burn the bones of your children to keep warm during the winter months.

Me, I just snuggle up with a big dog.

[Penelope]

Propane?

[Jayjay]

May find this useful

http://www.which.co.uk/energy/creating-an-...eating-systems/

[GMR]

I have oil and I am happy. I fill it up once a year. The rest of the year I use electricity to heat the water.

[Biker1]

Well, if you were a Conservative, you'd burn the bones of your children to keep warm during the winter months.

Why the **** was that necessary?
An innocent post asking a pertinent question to solve a query.
What's your problem?

[Berkshirelad]

If you want to go green, the the idea of a ground heat pump is good. Trouble is that the up-front costs may be eye-watering and you'll still need top-up heat on very cold days.

I would seriously suggest looking at an LPG bulk tank and replacing the oil boiler with and LPG unit. These days, the tank can even be buried and you can get contracts with Calor to monitor usage ad keep it topped up.

[Biker1]

Her oil fired boiler is now 'clapped' according to the chap who has been looking after it for past 20 years. No gas, so what should big sister do? Her view, I'm going to have this lot ripped out and go electric like next door! I recon I'm paying more for oil than they do for electric - plus you haven't got the worry that the oil man won't turn up. I'm not so sure - so before the site of the tank gets turned into an extra parking bay - any views? (Appreciate this is quite the wrong time to ask!!)

Modern oil fired combi boilers are much more efficient and reliable.
I know a few who have had them installed and are very happy with them.
I would imagine staying with the same type of fuel would save on installation costs?

[Newbelly]

If you want to go green, the the idea of a ground heat pump is good. Trouble is that the up-front costs may be eye-watering and you'll still need top-up heat on very cold days.

I would seriously suggest looking at an LPG bulk tank and replacing the oil boiler with and LPG unit. These days, the tank can even be buried and you can get contracts with Calor to monitor usage ad keep it topped up.

I used to have a Calor LPG tank at my last house (no mains gas in the village). Great flame for cooking, no "oil smell" but expensive for heating. Another downside was trying to get boiler cover and not too many LPG registered engineers about.

[Exhausted]

I'm fairly sure that I would junk out any oil fired stuff. Remember this past winter when tanks were getting low and having no heating for three or four weeks until the tankers could manage to squeeze you a few litres. Plus, the oil always stinks.

There are some efficient electric storage boilers for hot water and central heating on the market now which seem to be a good option without tanks either above or below ground and there are some good off peak tariffs.

Solar panels and wind turbines. Forget it. high cost and low return of energy. Good for the tree huggers perhaps. Heat pumps, if you've got a spare field and don't mind it being excavated to install pipework. works well but you need a deep pocket

My advice, visit one of the plumbing shops and pick up a free copy of professional plumber magazine. Lots of good stuff in it for the trade but you will certainly get lots of info on the current trends. There's a good pro plumber shop in Travis Perkins and the manager in there is a wealth of info if you go late morning when the trade guys have left.

[spartacus]

Move to Spain?

[On the edge]

Thanks folks - pretty useful. Looks as if this might be an interesting decision. Last response might actually be the answer - if not the location! She's begun to realise the place is a bit too big fior her present needs; so leave the issue to the new owners!

[JeffG]

I used to have a Calor LPG tank at my last house (no mains gas in the village).

The only gas in the village?

(cf. Little Britain )

[GMR]

The only gas in the village?

(cf. Little Britain )

There is a difference between the two, you know? One is gay and says "Oh, you are cheeky... but what a gay day". The other can be explosive and can give you a big bang.... ok, maybe there isn't any difference then.

[Nothing Much]

Well I am glad I didn't jump in at the beginning.
I have enjoyed the banter.I would avoid electricity.
For such folk as I, London gas is a fact of life.

On the other hand for long weeks in the winter in Norfolk.
LPG works,although I do keep counting the tanks.
I use logs and coal as well.I raid skips for neighbours old oak floors.
One day the boys IN BLUE, will ask why there is a chainsaw in the boot of my BMW.

Best you didn't know that JeffG when asking for a lift!
ce

[Timbo]

Why the **** was that necessary?
An innocent post asking a pertinent question to solve a query.
What's your problem?

I, clearly from comparing the tone in which we posted, am not the one with a problem.

[dannyboy]

Move to Spain?

Just do what I did - buy some jumpers & install a power shower & a log burner.

[Biker1]

I, clearly from comparing the tone in which we posted, am not the one with a problem.

I disagree. There was no need for such a reply to a perfectly sensible and innocent question.
(Or was it an attempt at making us all laugh? )
However, I am not going to get into a Timbo / Andy1979 style argument with you.

[spartacus]

I, clearly from comparing the tone in which we posted, am not the one with a problem.

I wouldn't read too much into the asterisks as the 'swear box' filter on these forums is normally cranked up to american english 'sensitive'.

**** and **** are absolute no-nos whereas piss and bollocks seems to pass the filter by....


EDIT: That's HE-LL and DA-MN rather than the more Anglo-Saxon f's and c's

[Timbo]

I see spartacus.

I wonder if Admins can see the words without the filter? I suspect we are all big enough to talk about the big firey place where the Devil lives.

I disagree. There was no need for such a reply to a perfectly sensible and innocent question.
(Or was it an attempt at making us all laugh? )
However, I am not going to get into a Timbo / Andy1979 style argument with you.

I was just bored. And it made me smile. I would hate to be referred to Andy1979 in the same sentence, so I'm glad we are not going to get into an argument.