Oil Tank refilling advice please?

bratz81

ok, everyone here is scaring me!! I managed on 500l for just over a year last year (including the winter) despite it being freezing.
I only had the heating on for an hour a day and I have it off once it gets to about April or so until Oct/Nov or as late as I can tbh. Ice on the inside of the windows and all - no way I could afford to buy any more oil, this is a stretch for me as it is.

Mind you...the fiance is whinging about turning the heating on now *rolls eyes*

cyngor_cymru

G_M wrote: »

That seems to work for you... them, but I'd still suggest:

Instead of a DD to Watsons, which ties you to them (however good they are), why not open a decent savings account and pay into that each month?
* online instant access around 3%
* Regular saver around 5-6% (though with tighter restrictions on withdrawals
* flexible option to buy from Watsons.... or anyone else

I thought the same as you at first G_M, but strictly speaking they're not tied to buying from Watsons - they've told me that we are not obliged to buy from them if we find a better price elsewhere that they can't match/beat, and if we're unhappy with the service then we can cancel at any time and have our money back - although i understand that if you're paying someone monthly you wouldn't really want to pay another supplier on top of that.
Also, when their account is in credit they get 4% interest back. I know this doesn't add up to much really with a relatively small balance, but a few £'s here and there off the bills are always welcome!
I know it wouldn't suit everyone, but there's no way they'd agree to an online savings acc, and they just like having the cost spread over the year so they don't have to worry about a large bill when they need a fill.

aliasojo

I think I'm officially worried now. The remote plug in sensor thing that tell you what the tank level is at, has dropped from 6 to 5. Each level is supposed to represent 250 litres, so we've used 250l in exactly 2 weeks and 2 days. At this rate, our 1000 litres will be gone in 2 months! That can't be right! That works out at roughly £300 a month just for heat! And we have electricity over and above that. The boiler in this place is very old....could it be that inefficient? We only have the heating on at night just now and even then it's not on upstairs at all.

I do so regret taking this place on now.

*goes off in serious panic mode and digs out the fleeces I bought to use as curtains (thanks suki) *

rhiwfield

If you have a watchman type sensor, you might find that the divisions are less than 250 litres. I'd check the manual or download, but I think they assume 10% is left in tank and, if I recall right, they have settings 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,F. (11 divisions). So a 2500 litre tank might have 2250 usable litres divided by 11, so nearer 200 litres per division.

As for boiler efficiency an old oil boiler might be only 60% efficient. NEP provide fuel price comparisons, but they assume oil price on 90% boiler efficiency. So to take their figures per kWh

Mains gas: 4.94p
Oil : 6.71p (but 10p adjusted for 60% boiler efficiency)
Electricity: 14.99p

Seems that whatever your heating system the property is badly insulated and is going to be expensive to heat, as you are heating the outside air as well as the inside :eek: And as it is a shortish term rental property doing the required permanent insulation/boiler replacement isnt an option.

Which leaves you managing the short term, concentrating heat in rooms that need it, temporary removable insulation and draughtproofing, warm clothes indoors.

jess1974

Here in Norfolk its still fairly mild, so i won't be using any oil hopefully until november, we do however have a woodburner in the lounge which went on last night, my hubby gets the wood free from work, so i'm hoping we can manage with that for a while longer.....

suki1964

You really are going to have to do all you can to insulate your house the cheapest temporary way possible. Come look at the preparing for winter thread on the old style board theres heaps of invaluable advice and tips

G_M

cyngor_cymru wrote: »

....
Also, when their account is in credit they get 4% interest back. I know this doesn't add up to much really with a relatively small balance, but a few £'s here and there off the bills are always welcome!

How do you set this up??? 4% ?! (and I'm guessing they don't deduct tax like the banks do??!!) and you can get it back if/when you want?

Think I'll close my instant access savings account, put the money in there instead!

Oh - and I suggest you post this on the 'savings and investments' board too!

donnalou

500 litres lasts us a month during the winter. We live a an old 3 bed cottage. At the most expensive last December it cost £357 and people moan about gas prices!

We probably get through 3000/3500 litres a year

devildog

I'm always amazed at the quantities of oil that people can get through.
I filled up tank(1250 litres) August and that will see me through till the same sort of time next year.
Boiler is used all year round for hot water(on twice day for 20 mins/half hour) heating stays on 24/7 from October onwards, rads not individually controlled(just one thermostat in hall) This is reduced during night to 15(don't like it hot and stuffy) and as I pass the thermostat in the morning it is turned up to between 18/20(depending how physically active I am during the day)
Just for info- 3 bed det surrounded by fields.

cyngor_cymru

G_M wrote: »

How do you set this up??? 4% ?! (and I'm guessing they don't deduct tax like the banks do??!!) and you can get it back if/when you want?

Think I'll close my instant access savings account, put the money in there instead!

Oh - and I suggest you post this on the 'savings and investments' board too!

i've checked my paperwork, and it definitely says 4%. i can't tell you how they work it out, but when i'm in credit i get interest deposited to my account with them. as i say - it doesn't work out as much, but even a few £'s a month is better than nothing right?!