gas

travelling_light

ok... yet again winter looms and my heart sinks at thought of oil bill. sadly our house as solid brick walls so can't get cavity wall insulation. Have well insulated new roof but is a cold house - especially the return.
Gas is prob. going to be cheaper and more convenient. Any tips about what make or model of boiler? 4 bed semi. Alos read of gadjets to improve efficiency - rad thermostatic valves and a thermostat in hall; timer etc and sep heating/water switch???? Do they also take away both water tanks and where can i legally put the gas boiler...rather ask here and have info like this before sitting through phoenix gas speil. thanks

Lobell

We have a Baxi combi boiler...it's about 7 years old now and an annual service costs about £60. It's never needed any more that the basic service so hasn't cost anything additional so far.

Our boiler lives in the utility room. It has to have ventilation which I suppose will dictate whether it can feasibly be located in a cupboard or whatever. In our last house, the boiler was in a small hallway by the back door. We don't have a water tank at all any more.

Our monthly DD for gas is currently around £25 per month to heat a 3 bed 1930s semi, including all the hot water for 2 adults, cooking (5 burner gas hob) and tumble drying (3-4 loads per week). However, our house is well insulated (dry-lined walls) so is not hard to heat. We do have thermostatic valves on the radiators but no thermostat in the hall or anything like that.

sion_2

I also have a Baxi boiler. Very pleased with it. We have a system boiler as we kept the hot water tank as I have 2 showers and could not guarantee enough hot water if went for a combi boiler. Get a few installers out and not just those on the Phoenix list check out the Gas safe site for plumbers in your area. We got a company in Newtownards Miskellys Plumbing to do our work and we are very pleased with it. Get rad valves and room stat as it makes your system more efficient

snowmen

sion wrote: »

I also have a Baxi boiler. Very pleased with it. We have a system boiler as we kept the hot water tank as I have 2 showers and could not guarantee enough hot water if went for a combi boiler. Get a few installers out and not just those on the Phoenix list check out the Gas safe site for plumbers in your area. We got a company in Newtownards Miskellys Plumbing to do our work and we are very pleased with it. Get rad valves and room stat as it makes your system more efficient

Don't really know how this all works but thinking about getting gas as we will need a new oil boiler soon anyway. Do you not have to get Phoenix to do the work as they have to connect you from the main supply? What did you get Miskellys to quote for and carry out?
Had the Phoenix hard sell before so it would be good to know how these other companies work.

BernieFlint

We moved to gas 4 weeks ago and its been great. Phoenix will pipe up to the house and fit a meter for free and then you pick a Gas Safe fitter to do the work, the guy we had was great, clean and all done in 2 days. I picked a Worchester Bosch boiler as I had looked into it and they had a good name. I would recommend it :j

snowmen

BernieFlint wrote: »

We moved to gas 4 weeks ago and its been great. Phoenix will pipe up to the house and fit a meter for free and then you pick a Gas Safe fitter to do the work, the guy we had was great, clean and all done in 2 days. I picked a Worchester Bosch boiler as I had looked into it and they had a good name. I would recommend it :j

how much did it cost to convert from oil to gas?
I have heard that the radiators take a lot less time to heat up and stay warm for longer after the heating has turned off - is this true?

caz2703

snowmen wrote: »

how much did it cost to convert from oil to gas?
I have heard that the radiators take a lot less time to heat up and stay warm for longer after the heating has turned off - is this true?

We've been quoted around £2000 for a basic upgrade. Phoenix are connecting from the mains for free (summer deal so £750 saved) but we haven't agreed on the plumber yet as he hasn't phoned when hubby has been here. Ours is a simple installation in that we already have all the thermostats in place so it's a matter or removed the boiler, water tanks and emersion heater and doing the pipe work. Hoping it won't take 2 days as I have a toddler to keep warm but I doubt I'll be that lucky.

Fingers crossed we see a drastic saving compared to oil as it's painful filling the tank as often as we have been.

snowmen

caz2703 wrote: »

We've been quoted around £2000 for a basic upgrade. Phoenix are connecting from the mains for free (summer deal so £750 saved) but we haven't agreed on the plumber yet as he hasn't phoned when hubby has been here.

So £2000 is the final price for everything including phoenix and the other plumber?

Just wondering what benefits others that have converted from oil to gas have seen and what the difference in running costs seems to be.

caz2703

Yup just shy of £2K all in as far as I know. We're getting a Worchester Bosch boiler and the gas hob converted as well if what I picked up from tonights chat with him is right. He reckons 2 to 2.5 days for the work. 1 day of prep then the 2nd day we should only be without heat and water for a couple of hours then maybe into the 3rd day for tidying up etc.

travelling_light

any recommendations for installers? thanks to all for their replies so far... really useful.

Lobell

travelling_light wrote: »

any recommendations for installers? thanks to all for their replies so far... really useful.

Taylor Plumbing and Heating in Dundonald. They installed our system and have done all the servicing to date. Very reliable and professional company and I can't fault them at all. Contact info here