Oil heating to expensive - any tips on making it last?

alisara

I have just moved into a private rental (2 bed flat). It is ofch and I feel I have just made a huge mistake.

I have just purchased 400 litres of oil (costing £300!!!!!! couldnt afford more than that) and I am frightened of how long it will last. On moving in (stupid I know) found out that there is no immersion, and with the cost of oil I was banking on that in case I ran out, I thought I could use my storage heaters along with this due to the high cost of oil.

So I have to heat my water along with oil only, (no separate controls for water and heat) I am so scared of the cost of this, and have no idea how long my 400 litres will last me....... I would only have heating on (which combines the water!) for 2 hours in the morning and 4 at night with an extra 2 hours at weekends all in all 46 hours per week.

And, to my disbelief, there is only one switch to turn the oil on, no separate switches for oil and water (I have to turn the radiators of just to get hot water) so the summertime will be fun.

Have I been had? Although some of my colleagues are the same, and not bothered, so is it just me?

Has anyone got any tips on how I can make my 400 litres last and any estimates on how long? Landlord wont install an immersion for me - he just said no need the oil heats the water and that running an immersion would be more expensive. He used to live in the flat until recently and just turned the rads off in summer, he showed me this last week.

I feel like a total and utter moron - I am a moron!

I do work,but I am a single mum of one

Please help!!!!

Craig_W_2

hi alisara, our family use about 2,000 litres/yr :eek: but we live in an old, cold, large, single glazed, 4-bedroom house in deepest Cumbria. I'm sure you will get through yours at a slower rate.

How to make it go further:
- wear jumpers, thermals and hats (we wear ours from October to April!)
- switch the thermostat down a degeree or two
- get good insulation
- remember to turn the heating off when you go out and on holiday
- be out as much as possible

Good luck!

suki1964

Come the good weather you turn off the rads and set your time for an hour a day for the hot water - depending on when you need bath or shower water. If theres not enough hot water to do the dishes - boil a kettle

Oil isn't so expensive if you manage it well. It's just a huge shock having to buy in bulk ahead of use.

A 2 bedroom flat shouldn't be that hard on the oil unless you like to walk around in shorts in the middle of winter. Turn your thermostat down and use your timers. Warmer clothes and bedding and a fleece or two scattered about the furniture saves money big time

alisara

Thanks Suki and Craig

Think I may be worrying unnessarily, it was a huge shock to find that 400l of oil cost so much (I did hear about it rising but having never had it before I never knew how expensive it would be) and I was also annoyed due to the fact that I moved from a large 3 bed house to save money.

So you all think it could do me a couple of months? If I am sensible, I wouldn't be one for walking around in t-shirts and the like at home anyway (I grew up in a house without central heating!)

suki1964

2000 Litres does me a year in a huge 5 bedroom house in the middle of a field on the NW coast of Ireland where I have the heating on for 9 months of the year. ( on a timer)

You need to keep an eye on yor oil and the price. Try to budget and get your fill in the summer when Prices are the lowest. It will prolly take a year of usage before you get to grips with it and know your usage but it's really not that more exPensive then gas when you do

It really is the shock of paying upfront which is the hard bit. That and budgeting for the next fill