the most cost effective way to use oil central heating

Cardew

carcon wrote: »

We have recently moved into a 4 bed detached cottage/house. We have never had oil heating before so all very new. We had the 1200l tank filled up about 5 weeks ago. We have the heating and water on for a total of 4 and a half hours a day. We also have an oil filled aga, which uses 40l a week. We have realised tonight that the aga had gone out and on inspection of our tank we were astounded to find it empty!!! Surely we can't have used that much oil in just 5 weeks??!!!

Presumably the Aga provides the CH as well?

An Aga might use 40l a week just the stove ticking over.

You only need to read on this forum and elsewhere about the horrific consumption of an oil Aga.

That said 200l to 250l a week in a mild Nov seems improbable.

Leak? Ripped off on delivery, oil stolen?

You need a daily check of consumption after your next delivery

Leon_W

Agas generally do not provide central heating, for that you need a Rayburn, but assumptions made are about right, an oil fired 2 oven Aga will use about 40 litres a week running continuously. If the Aga has a boiler for hot water or is a four oven model then it's obviously going to be higher.

On a positive note, you don't need heating in the kitchen and probably an adjacent room.

Reading between the lines do you have a separate oil boiler for water and heating ? Even if that's the case I struggle to see how you get through 1200L in only 5 weeks.

macnessie

My query is a little different. I have read all the discussions as to whether 'tis better to have CH on all day at a "lower" setting or on full blast twice a day. I know that's a gross simplification of the discussion but that's not the point. I have decided, rightly or wrongly (please don't tell me!) to keep it on continuously from 5.00 a.m. until 10.30 p.m. I have TVRs on all my radiators and have them on different settings in different rooms. Now, my question is this; is it better to have the boiler thermostat high or low? Obviously by "low" I mean at a setting that will still warm the radiators, but I'm wondering if a high setting will give a better economy/efficiency balance because of the extra effectiveness of the hotter radiators. Advice would be gratefully received.

[Deleted User]

macnessie wrote: »

My query is a little different. I have read all the discussions as to whether 'tis better to have CH on all day at a "lower" setting or on full blast twice a day. I know that's a gross simplification of the discussion but that's not the point. I have decided, rightly or wrongly (please don't tell me!) to keep it on continuously from 5.00 a.m. until 10.30 p.m. I have TVRs on all my radiators and have them on different settings in different rooms. Now, my question is this; is it better to have the boiler thermostat high or low? Obviously by "low" I mean at a setting that will still warm the radiators, but I'm wondering if a high setting will give a better economy/efficiency balance because of the extra effectiveness of the hotter radiators. Advice would be gratefully received.

I don't think there is a right/wrong answer. If the house is normally occupied during the day try a low setting if not then heat at the appropriate times. For me it's all about comfort which is different to cost saving.

Cardew

macnessie wrote: »

My query is a little different. I have read all the discussions as to whether 'tis better to have CH on all day at a "lower" setting or on full blast twice a day. I know that's a gross simplification of the discussion but that's not the point. I have decided, rightly or wrongly (please don't tell me!) to keep it on continuously from 5.00 a.m. until 10.30 p.m. I have TVRs on all my radiators and have them on different settings in different rooms. Now, my question is this; is it better to have the boiler thermostat high or low? Obviously by "low" I mean at a setting that will still warm the radiators, but I'm wondering if a high setting will give a better economy/efficiency balance because of the extra effectiveness of the hotter radiators. Advice would be gratefully received.

The 'extra effectiveness' of radiators is not the main issue here, but the efficiency of the boiler.

With the older non-condensing boilers there was apparently little difference between the efficiency of the boilers at the various water temperatures - I rang the manufacturers about this some years ago and was told at the higher temperatures it was marginally more efficient.

With condensing boilers it is not as straightforward. The return temperature of the water(to the boiler) is a crucial factor in getting the boiler into condensing mode, and hence higher efficiency.

G_M

If the boiler setting is low, the water circulating to the rads will be warm, not hot, so they will struggle to heat the room. Result? The room stat continues to call for heat so the boiler stays on, using more fuel.

If the boiler is set high, the boiler will have to work hard to get the water piping (forgive pun!) hot, but rads will rapidly heat room and switch off boiler.

Only trial and error will find your happy medium!

W1fey

carcon wrote: »

We have recently moved into a 4 bed detached cottage/house. We have never had oil heating before so all very new. We had the 1200l tank filled up about 5 weeks ago. We have the heating and water on for a total of 4 and a half hours a day. We also have an oil filled aga, which uses 40l a week. We have realised tonight that the aga had gone out and on inspection of our tank we were astounded to find it empty!!! Surely we can't have used that much oil in just 5 weeks??!!!

I have just had a fit at seeing our 1200l tank at half-mast after only 2 months of heating on (although it does run the hot water system too) We also are new to heating oil (and older properties) having come from a modern Wimpey but 600l in two months? - that's £350 taking the last delivery costs into account. We too run heating only mornings and evenings and wear thermals if inside during the day (no fireplaces working). Reading all the posts I am beginning to think that perhaps this is not unreasonable consumption - I certainley can't see evidence of a leak. Is this usual for a small 3 bed semi (1930's, and probably insufficient insulation, we're renting) ??

W1fey

Oh and carcon - I would be having a blue fit, that useage can't be right surely even with an aga running? check for leaks!:eek:

Lagopus

Always padlock your tank, the thieving gits around here are always pinching heating oil and red diesel.

We recently got a massive trailer load of softwood logs (for free) but they should have cost £180, we burnt the lot on 2 woodburners in five weeks!

G_M

Lagopus wrote: »

Always padlock your tank, the thieving gits around here are always pinching heating oil and red diesel.

We recently got a massive trailer load of softwood logs (for free) but they should have cost £180, we burnt the lot on 2 woodburners in five weeks!

Thieving git!

Hope the £180 of wood you nicked was damp and has tarred up your chimney!

as for padlocks I have my doubts. Thieves who are geared up to syphon off and take away oil will not be put off by a padlock. They'll either have a tool to crack it or just drill through the tank and make their own access!