Gas Installation Into A House – Is It Really Worth It In Northern Ireland

warmhands.coldheart

There is currently no gas in a house we are buying in Belfast. It is in the street but not connected up to the house. Considering the limited suppliers we have here in Northern Ireland in the domestic gas market (Pretty much just Phoenix and Firmus). Is it really worth the cost of having it installed.
Some factors I’m considering;
To have the gas installed inc meters etc etc. it could cost about £2000 from what I’ve been told.
Gas boilers are only marginally more efficient now than modern oil boilers but are significantly more expensive to service and fix if anything goes wrong. I’m hoping to have a stove inc back boiler installed too so that would help reduce heating costs.
Gas for hob cooking has a quicker response time than Electric Ceran or Ring cookers but Induction hobs have come down in price massively now and are as responsive as gas hobs and significantly more efficient than any other form of cooking. Electric convection/fan assisted ovens perform better than gas static ovens...

So what is the benefit of gas really ??? Is it worth the hassle and outlay of having it installed?? Is there anyone on here who has an induction hob/range and how do you find it (Yes I know about the Ferous Pans required..... If that's the only drawback, I can easily live with that!)

ballyblack

is there a modern oil heating system in the house already??

saverbuyer

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

There is currently no gas in a house we are buying in Belfast. It is in the street but not connected up to the house. Considering the limited suppliers we have here in Northern Ireland in the domestic gas market (Pretty much just Phoenix and Firmus). Is it really worth the cost of having it installed.
Some factors I’m considering;
To have the gas installed inc meters etc etc. it could cost about £2000 from what I’ve been told.
Gas boilers are only marginally more efficient now than modern oil boilers but are significantly more expensive to service and fix if anything goes wrong. I’m hoping to have a stove inc back boiler installed too so that would help reduce heating costs.
Gas for hob cooking has a quicker response time than Electric Ceran or Ring cookers but Induction hobs have come down in price massively now and are as responsive as gas hobs and significantly more efficient than any other form of cooking. Electric convection/fan assisted ovens perform better than gas static ovens...

So what is the benefit of gas really ??? Is it worth the hassle and outlay of having it installed?? Is there anyone on here who has an induction hob/range and how do you find it (Yes I know about the Ferous Pans required..... If that's the only drawback, I can easily live with that!)

I'd love to get some info/experiences on the induction hobs. I've been thinking about getting one.

On the gas front my parents have recently go it installed. No need for the storage tank, instant hot water, def. looks cheaper on running costs so far. Took out the electric shower and now use one from the gas. Great job.

caz2703

Can't comment on running costs as I've only recently taken on the contract myself but I know from previous years the ex would have been ordering 2 maybe 3 tanks of oil from late Autumn to Spring at £500 a time approx. There was an initial £2000 outlay and some offer from Phoenix discounting the connection. So far for me the hardest thing is not having a sensible heating control (I have one of those thermostat wireless controllers) but that's probbaly because the ex never showed me how to use it and I can't find the instructions for it.

Apart from that it's great to have instant hot water from needing a basin for washing up to the kids baths. The shower is still electric but the amount of space reclaimed from the boiler in the garage (now wall mounted), the water tanks and the emersion heater, means I have loads of places to store stuff.

tara747

We have had gas for about 3 years (for heating, hot water, showers, hob - everything) and I would never go back to oil. Gas is so much cheaper and more convenient.

warmhands.coldheart

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Ballyblack, No the boiler is old so needs replacing and I can't see much difference in cost of a new Gas or Oil Boiler and the new condensing oil boiler.

In reference to Instant Hot water, from what I have seen and read, the same "instant" hot water without the need for an for a hot water tank can be achieved with these new modern condensing oil boilers.

My biggest concerns are;
Initial outlay for connection to the mains gas (approx £2000 from what I've seen) on top of the price of a new Gas Boiler (which would be a similar price to a new oil boiler)
You can get an oil boiler serviced from the manufacturer (Warmflow) for £65 excluding parts.... I doubt you'd even get a Corgi/Gas Safe service engineer out of bed for that! I would gues you wouldn't see much change from £150 for a Gas Service of a boiler? Anyone had one done recently who could give me some insight?
Also from talking to a heating plumber recently, he has actually gone back to oil as he had a breakdown of his gas boiler and the cost to repair it was astronomical.. So many electronic parts there is a lot more to go wrong in them..

So the actual fuel costs aside, when you take in annual maintainance and initial outlays, I can't see the benefit?

ballyblack

Its a big decision that I had to make a while back
After weighing up everything I went with oil

Flower-power22

I had gas in a house years ago. Cost a fortune! We now have oil with a combination boiler, no hot tank upstairs. We have instant hot water and a cosy house too. I use 1 fill of oil per year. Costing approximately £600 or there abouts. I was off on maternity leave last year and our heating was on all day everyday and we didn't use any extra!! strange I know but very true. If we were to move from here the new house would have to have the same heating system as we have now. I couldn't live without it now.

Greentea

I have had gas for a year and a half, servicing cost £60, but I have seen it advertised for less.

Main advantage its the constant hot water and the ability to increase the room temperature from the thermostat. I didnt have that facility with my oil.

Maybe mordern oil systems are different from what I replaced.

Coolhandluke

caz2703 wrote: »

Can't comment on running costs as I've only recently taken on the contract myself but I know from previous years the ex would have been ordering 2 maybe 3 tanks of oil from late Autumn to Spring at £500 a time approx. There was an initial £2000 outlay and some offer from Phoenix discounting the connection. So far for me the hardest thing is not having a sensible heating control (I have one of those thermostat wireless controllers) but that's probbaly because the ex never showed me how to use it and I can't find the instructions for it.

Apart from that it's great to have instant hot water from needing a basin for washing up to the kids baths. The shower is still electric but the amount of space reclaimed from the boiler in the garage (now wall mounted), the water tanks and the emersion heater, means I have loads of places to store stuff.

Do a search online and am sure you should find instructions for your controller or email the manufacturer,worth a try.

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

We usually only pay about £60 for our gas boiler to be serviced. Even the first service wasn't too far off this (they have to check all the pipework, not just the boiler, on the 1st service so it takes longer). I like the gas for cooking as the heat changes instantly. The heating is on one of those timers with a room thermostat so efficient & purse friendly! I would love to get a gas tumble dryer as their running costs are much less than electric ones. Also love having instant hot water for showers etc & the pressure is much better than an electric shower. It's clean & you don't need to remember to order it. We have less pipes to freeze in bad weather as there's no tank in the attic - there's space for a conversion up there too.

Downside for me would be the fact that if the electric goes off then you have no heat or hot water as electric is needed to light the spark in our boiler - maybe modern boilers are different?

If I had a choice, as well as the gas, I would have some type of fire/stove with a back boiler so that I would have an alternative source of heating & hot water.