LPG boiler query
Discussion
I'm going to be completing (hopefully) next month on a house run on LPG.
Currently, from what the vendor described, the house has an old floor mounted boiler in the kitchen run on LPG for central heating and there is an immersion on top of the hot water cylinder located on the 2nd floor for water.
Seeing as the boiler is going to be inefficient at best and using electric to heat water is costly, i'm thinking of making it one of the first upgrades we do but i'm not that clued up on LPG.
The house is 7 bedrooms built in the 20's with thick cavity wall construction over 3 floors.
There is only 2 of us plus my daughter at weekends so won't be using mountains of hot water. There is currently 2 bathrooms plus a WC and we will be adding in an additional one.
Am I better off looking at a boiler run on LPG that can do heating and hot water, a new heating boiler, maybe a combi to do hot water as well (i don't mind this as I like the hot water on demand element that they offer), our hot water usage can't really be predicted as to whether it is morning/evening or not at all if going to gym/football etc which is another reason i'm thinking combi rather than heating 100's of litres only to not be used. Or should i be looking at ripping out the cylinder and putting in a pressurised system - how would that work on LPG?
Basically, any advice appreciated
Currently, from what the vendor described, the house has an old floor mounted boiler in the kitchen run on LPG for central heating and there is an immersion on top of the hot water cylinder located on the 2nd floor for water.
Seeing as the boiler is going to be inefficient at best and using electric to heat water is costly, i'm thinking of making it one of the first upgrades we do but i'm not that clued up on LPG.
The house is 7 bedrooms built in the 20's with thick cavity wall construction over 3 floors.
There is only 2 of us plus my daughter at weekends so won't be using mountains of hot water. There is currently 2 bathrooms plus a WC and we will be adding in an additional one.
Am I better off looking at a boiler run on LPG that can do heating and hot water, a new heating boiler, maybe a combi to do hot water as well (i don't mind this as I like the hot water on demand element that they offer), our hot water usage can't really be predicted as to whether it is morning/evening or not at all if going to gym/football etc which is another reason i'm thinking combi rather than heating 100's of litres only to not be used. Or should i be looking at ripping out the cylinder and putting in a pressurised system - how would that work on LPG?
Basically, any advice appreciated
Edited by Herbs on Thursday 18th January 15:39
Black_S3 said:
Apart from fuel cost you will not notice a difference between lpg and mains gas.... Basically the appliances just use different gas jets, not all appliances can be converted though. Definitely get yourself onto a condensing boiler if you're not already on one as the 20% efficiency saving will pay for itself pretty quickly, especially in a 7 bed house. LPG is equivalent to paying between 5-6p per KW of mains gas, so approx 2x the price....
If there's combi boilers available with the power output you need for a 7 bed house I'd go down that route as only heating the hot water used definitely makes sense when on LPG - even if you have to put up with the downsides of not being able to run two showers at the same time etc.
That said an unvented cylinder is definitely the best option if you're not budget conscious and also want to be able to run all the showers at the same time.... works the same way it would with mains gas.
If the boiler in there turns out to be a fairly decent condensing boiler, don't rule out using electric to heat the hotwater tank overnight on an economy 7 tariff - current night rates are around 6-7p per kw so not hugely different to LPG when the 100% efficiency is factored in. A well insulated tank should keep enough heat over 24 hours.
The main thing to keep an eye on with LPG is the price per liter you're paying, it's not as fixed as mains gas tariffs and suppliers are open to bartering... Just managed to get mine dropped from 41PPL to 35PPL....
Thanks all very helpful.If there's combi boilers available with the power output you need for a 7 bed house I'd go down that route as only heating the hot water used definitely makes sense when on LPG - even if you have to put up with the downsides of not being able to run two showers at the same time etc.
That said an unvented cylinder is definitely the best option if you're not budget conscious and also want to be able to run all the showers at the same time.... works the same way it would with mains gas.
If the boiler in there turns out to be a fairly decent condensing boiler, don't rule out using electric to heat the hotwater tank overnight on an economy 7 tariff - current night rates are around 6-7p per kw so not hugely different to LPG when the 100% efficiency is factored in. A well insulated tank should keep enough heat over 24 hours.
The main thing to keep an eye on with LPG is the price per liter you're paying, it's not as fixed as mains gas tariffs and suppliers are open to bartering... Just managed to get mine dropped from 41PPL to 35PPL....
Just been quoted 34p plus £250 cashback from Calor which is a good starting point.
The boiler will be old and inefficient I imagine so definitely looking to change.
I'm undecided whether to go the combi route or not. I can run 2 showers on mine where I am currently without a problem and with only 2 of us living there, I struggling to see how going for a cylinder solution could work out any cheaper. As I'm not planning on selling it at any point soon or having any other kids, I don't need to worry about resell value or putting off potential buyers.
Black_S3 said:
The combi will be the cheaper of the 2 to install and a little cheaper to run due to only heating water thats used. The size of the boiler you'll be on for a 7 bed house will easily cope with 2 showers, it's the mains water pressure that will be the sticking point... If it's poor whole house pumps as mentioned above do sort this out but I'd be very wary pumping a whole house with potentially near 100 year old plumbing. The answer probably is if you have good mains pressure go with a combi.
Appreciate the advice, seems crazy not to do it considering the existing setup. Good point about mains pressure, thats something i'll have to check.Is Worcester Bosch still the go to provider for the balance between reliability and price?
My first round of prices are in and hope it is of use for others.
Avanti Gas:
28p per litre plus VAT (£66+VAT Standing charge)
Fixed for 12 months, cap of 3p per 6 months in 2nd year
Calor:
32.3p per litre plus VAT (£60+VAT Standing charge) Plus £250 Credit
No mention of fixed period
Flogas:
37p per litre plus VAT (not sure on standing charge)
Fixed for 6 months
Any more worth trying?
Avanti Gas:
28p per litre plus VAT (£66+VAT Standing charge)
Fixed for 12 months, cap of 3p per 6 months in 2nd year
Calor:
32.3p per litre plus VAT (£60+VAT Standing charge) Plus £250 Credit
No mention of fixed period
Flogas:
37p per litre plus VAT (not sure on standing charge)
Fixed for 6 months
Any more worth trying?
As a round up to the original post.
After waiting nearly 2 months for a top from Flogas that the previous owner ordered before we completed and getting down to 7% left, we received a lovely welcome pack and thank you letter for joining us from Flogas for 46p per litre and £95 standing charge we told them where to go and signed up with Avanti who honoured the 28p per litre and have been a pleasure to deal with.
After waiting nearly 2 months for a top from Flogas that the previous owner ordered before we completed and getting down to 7% left, we received a lovely welcome pack and thank you letter for joining us from Flogas for 46p per litre and £95 standing charge we told them where to go and signed up with Avanti who honoured the 28p per litre and have been a pleasure to deal with.
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