Calor gas or oil heating?

[gtr-gaz]

I'm after some "hands on" advice as to which is the best for those of you who live out in the sticks without natural gas.

What are the pros and cons?

Oh, and solid fuel is a no-no. The property in question will not be lived in all year round so, needs to be convenient.

Ta

[fatboy b]

We're spending £100 a month direct debit on oil at the momemt, but could easily reduce to about £60 in a 4 bed house. My brother lives in a similar sized house, ans is spending £130 a month on calor gas.

[BoXtaPete]

Calor costs a fortune! Look at alternatives such as oil or wood pellet boilers.

[gtr-gaz]

BoXtaPete said:

Calor costs a fortune! Look at alternatives such as oil or wood pellet boilers.

Does that apply to the large storage container that you can hire from calor as well as the normal bottles you can buy?

[rick.e]

gtr-gaz said:

BoXtaPete said:

Calor costs a fortune! Look at alternatives such as oil or wood pellet boilers.

Does that apply to the large storage container that you can hire from calor as well as the normal bottles you can buy?

Yes. I live in the sticks and all my local friends and neighbours have either calor or oil as it is all there is. A few of those with bulk calor have changed to oil and reckon they saved 50% on their annual bills. Go for a decent oil condensor with mains pressure hot & cold water.

[gtr-gaz]

rick.e said:

gtr-gaz said:

BoXtaPete said:

Calor costs a fortune! Look at alternatives such as oil or wood pellet boilers.

Does that apply to the large storage container that you can hire from calor as well as the normal bottles you can buy?

Yes. I live in the sticks and all my local friends and neighbours have either calor or oil as it is all there is. A few of those with bulk calor have changed to oil and reckon they saved 50% on their annual bills. Go for a decent oil condensor with mains pressure hot & cold water.

Ok, oil it is then!

Thanks for the input

[Ferg]

I'd tend to agree, Gary. Installation costs can be a bit frightening with oil, bunded tanks and OFTEC have seen to that, but worth it in the end. LPG is such a horrible fuel. It's refusal to disperse and reputation as a 'searching' gas make it much more dangerous than NG.

Bear in mind that an oil Combination boiler works in an entirely different way to a gas one if you go down that route, they don't heat water instantaneously...

[rick.e]

Ferg said:

I'd tend to agree, Gary. Installation costs can be a bit frightening with oil, bunded tanks and OFTEC have seen to that, but worth it in the end. LPG is such a horrible fuel. It's refusal to disperse and reputation as a 'searching' gas make it much more dangerous than NG.

Bear in mind that an oil Combination boiler works in an entirely different way to a gas one if you go down that route, they don't heat water instantaneously...

The easiest installation is to go for a ready bunded tank, and these are not expensive. I live at 800ft amsl in the Scottish Borders - which is a bit chilly at times!. I have a well insulated 200 sqm (4 bedroom) house and use between 2000-2500 litres a year. This means filling my 1250 litre self-bunded tank only twice per year. Fit a Tiger Loop so there is no need to bleed, and you can reduce the amount of oil plumbing. (A tiger loop means you only need one pipe from the tank to the outside wall of the house, and it self bleeds and self primes)

I would not advise any form of combi boiler. No matter what people say about "modern combis being better than they used to be", unless you go for an undustrial combi you will never get mains pressure hot water. Anything less than mains pressure hot and cold these days is settling for second best, whether its to get a good shower, or a fast bath fill.

Edited by rick.e on Sunday 1st February 12:54

[Ferg]

rick.e said:

Fit a Tiger Loop so there is no need to bleed, and you can reduce the amount of oil plumbing. (A tiger loop means you only need one pipe from the tank to the outside wall of the house, and it self bleeds and self primes)

In fairness you only really need two pipes anyway if the tank is miles away and a boiler won't neccessarily self-bleed or prime with an oil loop on it. What it does is de-aerrate the oil line so that the oil pump can pull the oil. It also affords a small buffer so that the boiler won't lockout if the oil line has a slug of air in it.

rick.e said:

I would not advise any form of combi boiler. No matter what people say about "modern combis being better than they used to be", unless you go for an undustrial combi you will never get mains pressure hot water. Anything less than mains pressure hot and cold these days is settling for second best, whether its to get a good shower, or a fast bath fill.

To be more accurate, Combination boilers WILL provide mains pressure hot (or a tiny bit under) this is why they are great for showers, Where they fall down if flow rate.

Edited by rick.e on Sunday 1st February 12:54

[gtr-gaz]

Ferg said:

rick.e said:

Fit a Tiger Loop so there is no need to bleed, and you can reduce the amount of oil plumbing. (A tiger loop means you only need one pipe from the tank to the outside wall of the house, and it self bleeds and self primes)

In fairness you only really need two pipes anyway if the tank is miles away and a boiler won't neccessarily self-bleed or prime with an oil loop on it. What it does is de-aerrate the oil line so that the oil pump can pull the oil. It also affords a small buffer so that the boiler won't lockout if the oil line has a slug of air in it.

rick.e said:

I would not advise any form of combi boiler. No matter what people say about "modern combis being better than they used to be", unless you go for an undustrial combi you will never get mains pressure hot water. Anything less than mains pressure hot and cold these days is settling for second best, whether its to get a good shower, or a fast bath fill.

To be more accurate, Combination boilers WILL provide mains pressure hot (or a tiny bit under) this is why they are great for showers, Where they fall down if flow rate.

Edited by rick.e on Sunday 1st February 12:54

Thanks Ferg and Rick. I have no intention of using a combi. Installed one at our previous house and flow rate filling a bath was pretty dire!

Also going for solar panels which should help

btw, Ferg, how's business? Would you be interested in a bit of work helping me install this system. My knowledge of domestic installations is a bit basic!

Edited by gtr-gaz on Sunday 1st February 14:18