Oil fired heating...
Discussion
Just how horrifically expensive is it?
And while you're at it how long is a piece of string?
We're looking at a place that's got a Rayburn for the heating and water and I'm slightly nervous about how much it's likely to cost to run. As an added bonus it's a 70s barn conversion so there's no insulation, or double glazing.
And it's listed.
Anyone got any experiences they'd like to share?
And while you're at it how long is a piece of string?
We're looking at a place that's got a Rayburn for the heating and water and I'm slightly nervous about how much it's likely to cost to run. As an added bonus it's a 70s barn conversion so there's no insulation, or double glazing.
And it's listed.
Anyone got any experiences they'd like to share?
I had oil fired until I moved last year. 4 bed bungalow, I got through one tank (1000 litres) each year). From 1996 to 2010 the price I paid per litre varied from 9p to 40p.
Biggest problem I had was remembering to check the tank and running out. Usually in the dead of winter. Hence moving to a house on the gas main.
Biggest problem I had was remembering to check the tank and running out. Usually in the dead of winter. Hence moving to a house on the gas main.
My parents live in a barn conversion with poor insulation and an AGA.
If you are not careful you can burn through 2000litres in a month, mind you this was when we were looking after my Grandpa just before he died, so heating was essential. Normally between 800-1000l a month in the winter, and then not very much in the summer due to only needing to heat the water for showers etc, and the AGA is off in the summer.
Cost of heating oil is still rising and the oil delivery companies put a margin on if they can hear desparation in your voice.
The best thing you can do in my opinion is insulate the place with new windows, etc... People say "oh you never see a pay back from double glazing" - fine maybe not in monetary terms, but in every day living and comfort terms (for it to feel like you're not living in a barn haha) it makes sense.
How big is the place?
ETA on the listed building thing, IIRC they are lenient if you put in double glazing provided its in the style of the period when it was listed.
If you are not careful you can burn through 2000litres in a month, mind you this was when we were looking after my Grandpa just before he died, so heating was essential. Normally between 800-1000l a month in the winter, and then not very much in the summer due to only needing to heat the water for showers etc, and the AGA is off in the summer.
Cost of heating oil is still rising and the oil delivery companies put a margin on if they can hear desparation in your voice.
The best thing you can do in my opinion is insulate the place with new windows, etc... People say "oh you never see a pay back from double glazing" - fine maybe not in monetary terms, but in every day living and comfort terms (for it to feel like you're not living in a barn haha) it makes sense.
How big is the place?
ETA on the listed building thing, IIRC they are lenient if you put in double glazing provided its in the style of the period when it was listed.
We use around 5000-6000 litres a year but we've got a 14kw wood-burning stove which is on pretty much the whole time in winter and heats one half of the house itself.
t.
Big ouch have an Aga in a country cottage....it hurts!!!
Their's a reason oil filed Aga sales have plummeted in the last two years. The oil element is bearable if you have no mains gas, but you would be wise to budget for a high efficiency boiler, quality double glazing and a world of loft insulation!
Their's a reason oil filed Aga sales have plummeted in the last two years. The oil element is bearable if you have no mains gas, but you would be wise to budget for a high efficiency boiler, quality double glazing and a world of loft insulation!
Buy jumpers. And some big dogs to lie on your feet.
Seriously, see if you can get a woodburner installed. If it's listed you may struggle for PP for the flue though.
My stove, a Villager A Flat Top, cost about £700 new, the flue was £1000-ish and we installed it ourselves and got the building inspector round to sign it off.
We've got it up against an exposed granite wall and after a few hours the wall itself gets hot and radiates heat (and keeps doing so for a long time after we've let the stove go out!)
Seriously, see if you can get a woodburner installed. If it's listed you may struggle for PP for the flue though.
My stove, a Villager A Flat Top, cost about £700 new, the flue was £1000-ish and we installed it ourselves and got the building inspector round to sign it off.
We've got it up against an exposed granite wall and after a few hours the wall itself gets hot and radiates heat (and keeps doing so for a long time after we've let the stove go out!)
We've cut our consumption to 1500 litres/year from about 3000. Previous owners were doing 4000, but we're at work all day (they weren't), then we put in double glazing, and insulated the loft properly. That got us down to 2000.
Then because of the issues last year, we found ourselves short just before Christmas, so we turned the 'stat down, and cranked up the woodburner. We now prefer that way of heating, and we're down to 1500, probably be lower this year.
Downside is that we now do £120 worth of logs in 6 weeks during the really cold parts of winter, but they're worth the money due to being really well seasoned.
ETA - 4 bed detached.
Then because of the issues last year, we found ourselves short just before Christmas, so we turned the 'stat down, and cranked up the woodburner. We now prefer that way of heating, and we're down to 1500, probably be lower this year.
Downside is that we now do £120 worth of logs in 6 weeks during the really cold parts of winter, but they're worth the money due to being really well seasoned.
ETA - 4 bed detached.
Our four oven oil AGA goes through about 50-60 litres a week, so it's a big drain on the oil level in itself. However, that "pays" for both our cooking and heating that end of the house.
At the other end we have a Clearview 650 which when it's cranked up and pumping out maximum heat is enough to keep the ground floor warm (and that room positively sauna-like).
We reckon on going through around 4000l a year. It is one of the "costs" of living in the country - there is NO mains gas around here, so we have little choice. Our consumption likewise has dropped massively (down to the 4k) from double glazing, masses of roof insulation, properly sealing doors / hatches etc, all the usual jazz.
We're now considering GSHP or Biomass as an alternative, but neither are in the slightest bit cheap, so even with the cost of oil ever rising, it's not going to be a pleasant exercise to change.
Buy the sounds of it with a small house, the aga and a couple of wood burners you'll be fine - just stock up on wood and see the oil heating as a way of keeping the chill off the house, and the loggies to heat the house if you see what I mean.
At the other end we have a Clearview 650 which when it's cranked up and pumping out maximum heat is enough to keep the ground floor warm (and that room positively sauna-like).
We reckon on going through around 4000l a year. It is one of the "costs" of living in the country - there is NO mains gas around here, so we have little choice. Our consumption likewise has dropped massively (down to the 4k) from double glazing, masses of roof insulation, properly sealing doors / hatches etc, all the usual jazz.
We're now considering GSHP or Biomass as an alternative, but neither are in the slightest bit cheap, so even with the cost of oil ever rising, it's not going to be a pleasant exercise to change.
Buy the sounds of it with a small house, the aga and a couple of wood burners you'll be fine - just stock up on wood and see the oil heating as a way of keeping the chill off the house, and the loggies to heat the house if you see what I mean.
RedLeicester said:
We're now considering GSHP or Biomass as an alternative, but neither are in the slightest bit cheap, so even with the cost of oil ever rising, it's not going to be a pleasant exercise to change.
We're thinking along similar lines ultimately not least because it's a known cost rather than being held over a barrel by OPEC.5 bed 3 storey Grade II listed here. 16 radiators (groan) and oil fired heating.
We probably use about 2,500 litres a year I guess? In the two years we have been here we have run out of oil three times, which necessitated me investing in a Watchman ultrasonic for the tank - its that or I'd get chucked out I think.
We have 2 wood burners as well, and next winter I'm going to use them a heck of a lot more than the last winter, as they don't half chuck out some heat.
My walls are 24" think, but that makes no difference as there is no cavity insulation or anything like that.
Oil buying advice? Try and find a local co-operative, or if there isn't one, why not start one? Oil companies will give you more time if you go with orders for 30,000 litres rather than 500. Thats what we do in our village. Previous co-op imploded so we made our own. We take orders 4 times a year, minimum 500 max anything you like. We then tot it up and ring around. We kept it down to 72p a litre last December, though delivery in the snow was a bit dodgy.
Get your boiler serviced annually, without fail. Like a well tuned engine, it will need regular maintenance and perform more efficiently post service. In short, it uses less oil!
Oh - and in cold weather - if you need 500, order 1,000 if you can. You'll thank me!
We probably use about 2,500 litres a year I guess? In the two years we have been here we have run out of oil three times, which necessitated me investing in a Watchman ultrasonic for the tank - its that or I'd get chucked out I think.
We have 2 wood burners as well, and next winter I'm going to use them a heck of a lot more than the last winter, as they don't half chuck out some heat.
My walls are 24" think, but that makes no difference as there is no cavity insulation or anything like that.
Oil buying advice? Try and find a local co-operative, or if there isn't one, why not start one? Oil companies will give you more time if you go with orders for 30,000 litres rather than 500. Thats what we do in our village. Previous co-op imploded so we made our own. We take orders 4 times a year, minimum 500 max anything you like. We then tot it up and ring around. We kept it down to 72p a litre last December, though delivery in the snow was a bit dodgy.
Get your boiler serviced annually, without fail. Like a well tuned engine, it will need regular maintenance and perform more efficiently post service. In short, it uses less oil!
Oh - and in cold weather - if you need 500, order 1,000 if you can. You'll thank me!
GregE240 said:
Oil buying advice? Try and find a local co-operative, or if there isn't one, why not start one? Oil companies will give you more time if you go with orders for 30,000 litres rather than 500. Thats what we do in our village. Previous co-op imploded so we made our own. We take orders 4 times a year, minimum 500 max anything you like. We then tot it up and ring around. We kept it down to 72p a litre last December, though delivery in the snow was a bit dodgy.
With a bit of ringing around, we've comprehensively beaten the local co-op price, usually by a fairly substantial margin. I think the oil companies have got wise to it now, so the co-op savings aren't what they once used to be.GregE240 said:
Oh - and in cold weather - if you need 500, order 1,000 if you can. You'll thank me!
Agreed. Better still, never EVER order in cold weather at all - if you have the space, get the biggest possible tank you can (or can be bothered to afford) - we have a 2500l tank which we aim to fill twice a year: feb/march which is cutting it fine on the back end of raised winter prices, then sept/october so just before the prices are hiked back up again. The Watchman thing is a godsend, we had an old sight-gauge before and it was hopeless, Watchman makes things much much easier to keep an eye on. My sister, despite living in Cumbria and should know better, seems to repeatedly run low in winter time and gets stung on cost each and every time (and worse, then goes and fills their 2000l tank at that price rather than getting enoguh to see them through to the next price drop...)Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff