Oil or Lpg (or is there another way?)

Chris810_2

I am just in the middle of refurbishing a large 3 floor 5 bedroom late edwardian mid terrace house, it has never had central heating fitted and is not on mains gas, most properties around it are using oil and I am fast aproaching the time when I will have to make a decision regarding central heating and hot water.

I have had quotes for fitting oil but the tank position will be akward and judging by the quotes oil heating systems are lined with solid gold. Also there are a number of oil suppliers in the area but they are all owned by the same company and operate from the same site and agressivly "defend" their turf making it imposible to get a cheaper supplier ( I have contacted trading standards about them but got no joy ) I would go with oil if it is the cheaper solution but would hate paying for the oil from them

I have just come accross LPG systems and would assume that the boiler ect would be cheaper ( and not lined in gold ) as would the instilation costs as i could pull from a larger pool of instalers however I would probally be had by the lpg supplier, but is this cheaper than being had by the oil supplier ?

So overall, given that I have to start from scratch what would you go for ? any comments appreciated.

LittleVermin

Chris810 wrote: »

snip<however I would probally be had by the lpg supplier, but is this cheaper than being had by the oil supplier ?

So overall, given that I have to start from scratch what would you go for ?>

Hi Chris - and welcome to the forum.

Others will suggest alternatives (but will start "insulate, insulate, insulate", of course). How expensive to get mains gas? Are your neighbours interested? Do you have a garden with space for GSHP? And roughly where are you?

Oil and LPG: same source so basically their wholesale prices move roughly together. With your neighbours on oil have you thought of setting up a buying consortium (or is there one already?) - maybe look at this and this and this. With LPG you either buy and install your own bulk tank (rare!) or rent a tank on a 2 year contract from a supplier. Find suppliers for your postcode at http://www.uklpg.org/supplier-search/ (and possibly there may be other suppliers - e.g. a farmers' co-op - you don't have to be a farmer!). Lots of stuff on the Bulk LPG .. thread. Many currently on LPG would not choose to install it today. But if you do you might get a £500 sweetener from Calor (see here - your current heating will be electric) - but watch that they keep to their contract re prices! Many LPG users will advise to avoid Flogas - owned by DCC who just may own the local oil suppliers!

LittleVermin

Chris810 wrote: »

<I am just in the middle of refurbishing a large 3 floor 5 bedroom late edwardian mid terrace house>.........................
<So overall, given that I have to start from scratch what would you go for ?>

Chris, you are not really starting from scratch if you're "in the middle of refurbishing" but this recent thread has useful info: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3363574

Also why not read this: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3334422
And https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3338022

You'll find other useful threads if you look back on this 'LPG & Heating Board'.

cheers, LV

taxsaver

You should consider ground source heat pumps. They seem to have a lot going for them and some government grants becoming available very soon and possibly some further subsidies (similar to FIT payments) from next year. I have oil atm and am looking into a GSHP currently.

albyota

No doubt you will be building to current building regs or better, put in as much insulation as you can afford, fit the best double glazing you can get. This is a perfect opportunity to install a wet underfloor heating system (ground floor) (Rads upstairs if you like) and heat it with an air source heat pump, UFH, if fitted at the correct pipe spacing only needs 35 - 40 degree water flowing through it, ideal for the best efficiencies from an ASHP, it is what I have used (8.5kW Mitsubishi Ecodan) since October 08 in a four bedroom detached house self build, low whole house bills (2009 £840, 2010 £900) all DHW from it too, there are currently 40 manufacturers of ASHP's, some big players like Mitsubishi Ecodan, Daikin Altherma, LG Therma V, Panasonic Aquarea, Vaillant, Worcester bosch, Danfoss, Dimplex, choose wisely, only use inverter driven kit with low sound levels 45 -55 dBA, steer clear of the cheapo far eastern rubbish. Then if your budget can stretch to it, go for solar PV 'in roof' system. 12 Mitsubishi 255W panels 3kWp south-facing system should return c£1,200+/yr for a good few years.(25)

Good luck