Gas or Oil Heating? What would you choose and why?

whimsymoon

Hello World!!!

We live in a old (and cold) farmhouse that is very dated and still on oil. The rest of the street is on gas.

We would need to spend a bit to get on gas, new boiler, new connection etc... and I am all for it as we are going through oil very quickly, but my husband is not convinced that gas is the answer.

I understand about our house being not well insulated, having a old heating system and solid walls etc.. but surely, long term, gas is better and cheaper than oil and given the choice anyone would go to gas wouldn't they?

I need some objective answers please to help convince my husband (or maybe not?!).

I'm going to post this exact same thread on the Gas and Electric forum too.

Thank you for your help.

highrisklowreturn

Stay with oil; install a multi-fuel stove; and buy a superser. This would give you the option of all 3 types of heating and convenience of when and where you want it.

You are stupid if you think oil will always be more expensive than gas - historically, and I mean 5/6 years ago, it was cheaper, and a few years before that much cheaper; indeed I know large numbers of people personally who stampeded into oil at the time with he exact same logic you're using above.

Oil is more expensive because of the politics of the countries we buy it from. I expect however this will stabilise over the coming few years and ironically move northwards to the very countries which presently supply the bulk of our cheap(er) gas ie Russia. You could easily spend a small fortune moving to gas, only to find world oil prices falling off a cliff at a time when gas begins to rise heavily.

Premier_2

highrisklowreturn wrote: »

Stay with oil; install a multi-fuel stove; and buy a superser. This would give you the option of all 3 types of heating and convenience of when and where you want it.

You are stupid if you think oil will always be more expensive than gas - historically, and I mean 5/6 years ago, it was cheaper, and a few years before that much cheaper; indeed I know large numbers of people personally who stampeded into oil at the time with he exact same logic you're using above.

Oil is more expensive because of the politics of the countries we buy it from. I expect however this will stabilise over the coming few years and ironically move northwards to the very countries which presently supply the bulk of our cheap(er) gas ie Russia. You could easily spend a small fortune moving to gas, only to find world oil prices falling off a cliff at a time when gas begins to rise heavily.

Put me down in the stupid column then! :cool:

As we become ever more reliant on imported gas, and the cost of gas is currently linked to the price of crude in Europe & Asia, I can't see the situation changing any time soon.

Indeed, a recent suggestion from BP indicates it'll take a good 30 years to change (and I have no idea what will happen that far into the future). Whatever happens, the heating system will probably need renewing by then again anyway.

OP - please see my response to your post in your other thread on the Gas & Electric board.

bernithebiker

highrisklowreturn wrote: »

You are stupid if you think oil will always be more expensive than gas - historically, and I mean 5/6 years ago, it was cheaper, and a few years before that much cheaper; indeed I know large numbers of people personally who stampeded into oil at the time with he exact same logic you're using above.

Oil is more expensive because of the politics of the countries we buy it from. I expect however this will stabilise over the coming few years and ironically move northwards to the very countries which presently supply the bulk of our cheap(er) gas ie Russia. You could easily spend a small fortune moving to gas, only to find world oil prices falling off a cliff at a time when gas begins to rise heavily.

I disagree.

The reason oil has come up so much over the last decade is the growth of demand in Asia for transport, heating and power generation.

This demand is NOT going to go away, it is increasing. China's growth is STILL 9% ish.

Both oil and gas prices are high, will stay high, and could go higher.

A big drop is highly unlikely.

And as for political stability, Iran are itching to start a war, Iraq is still unstable, Bahrein and Saudi have restless populations, and Russia has it's own problems.

Unfortunately all the biggest oil providers are in the most unstable parts of the world.

GlynD

Just replace your oil boiler OP. Replace it with a condensing oil boiler which is 10% more efficient (miniumum) then spend what you would have spent on your gas connection having your home insulated. Pay particular attention to the loft. We've had our loft double insulated in the summer and we can't stick the heat now and our OFCH is turned away down. We're off the gas main so we have no choice.

Ben84

I can't predict the future prices of fuels with certainty, but I do feel it's reasonable to point out that mains gas has for a large amount of time been one of the cheapest fuels.

For a cost based reasoning, you really need to consider the price of oil per kWh against gas, then using your average oil consumption you can work out what you would have paid had you been using gas over the past few years. Also, if you are needing a new boiler, gas boilers tend to be significantly cheaper than oil boilers. Anyway, how much have you been quoted for a gas pipe to the house? I've heard figures from £500 (potentially less than the price difference between the two boiler types!) to several thousand, which needs more consideration.

Some other benefits of gas are that you don't need to sort out deliveries and that it can't run out. You would also be able to take advantage of long term price fixes and duel fuel discounts with your electricity supplier. You would also be able to get rid of your oil tank, which may be a big plus or not, depending how big and where it is. If your oil tank is old and may need replacing in a few years, there's more of a case for gas too. Gas also has other uses around the house, you can cook with it, which saves money and many people find it's better for cooking too. You could also have a gas fire, which can be cheap to run and very clean compared to solid fuel. Potential house buyers like gas a lot too, I would be surprised if it didn't boost the value of the house.

However, whatever you do, improving the thermal insulation of the house should be important too.

ilikecookies

Ben84 wrote: »

I can't predict the future prices of fuels with certainty, but I do feel it's reasonable to point out that mains gas has for a large amount of time been one of the cheapest fuels.

For a cost based reasoning, you really need to consider the price of oil per kWh against gas, then using your average oil consumption you can work out what you would have paid had you been using gas over the past few years. Also, if you are needing a new boiler, gas boilers tend to be significantly cheaper than oil boilers. Anyway, how much have you been quoted for a gas pipe to the house? I've heard figures from £500 (potentially less than the price difference between the two boiler types!) to several thousand, which needs more consideration.

Some other benefits of gas are that you don't need to sort out deliveries and that it can't run out. You would also be able to take advantage of long term price fixes and duel fuel discounts with your electricity supplier. You would also be able to get rid of your oil tank, which may be a big plus or not, depending how big and where it is. If your oil tank is old and may need replacing in a few years, there's more of a case for gas too. Gas also has other uses around the house, you can cook with it, which saves money and many people find it's better for cooking too. You could also have a gas fire, which can be cheap to run and very clean compared to solid fuel. Potential house buyers like gas a lot too, I would be surprised if it didn't boost the value of the house.

However, whatever you do, improving the thermal insulation of the house should be important too.

I totally agree with Ben84 - I would switch from oil to gas in a heartbeat if it were an option here. Now of course the price of gas will increase but so will oil - the difference being that the gas price will be rising from a lower base and I suspect oil will rise more sharply. Sure you will have an upfront cost to switch but if you need a new boiler anyway you will claw this back in time plus I agree it would almost certainly increase your house price - if all the houses around me had gas I wouldn't go for the house with oil unless it had a major unique selling point.

Owain_Moneysaver

check the energy saving trust websites as you may be eligible for free or discounted insulation. There are also some boiler scrappage schemes and grants towards the cost of installing a new gas supply.

Ecokev

Gas all the way, oil has the best burn rate, but by far one of the most expensive to use, gas boilers have a much better control system to help float temps whereas oil is a bit stuck in the mud.

Retiredgasman

I live in an old farmhouse and have the choice of mains gas or oil. Oil costs about 60p/litre that is 5.56p/kwhr. Mains gas costs me 3.41p/kwhr fixed for 2 years. So as I use 40,000 kwhrs in 2 years that's a difference of £860 in favour of gas. Gas boilers ARE more efficent than oil so it's more than this. The controls are a separate issue the better you do it the better of you will be but they are separate to the bare bones cost. 1,000 litre of oil will cost you £600 the eqiuvalent for me in gas is £357. So work it out can you get the boiler swapped for less than £900? Coal is dearer than gas and dirtier than oil - you can't easily knick gas (seems to be an awfull lot of oil getting whipped these days) - All in all you can see which way I favour. Historically heating oil and mains gas had some link BUT privitisation of gas broke that link. Hope this helps.

GlynD

The guy's off the gas main so how can he get gas?