LPG Gas is it worth switching to oil?

jennye2022

We brought a large, detached four bedroom house in June 2011 where the current central heating is provided by LPG gas. From June till the end of November we use about 45% of the gas since the heating wasn't on much. We had it filled on the 30th November and by the start of January it was already down to 40%. We have our heating and water on a timer for 2 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours in the evening and I was surprised how quickly it had gone down. When I asked Calor about it they said that was normal usage even thought it worked out at a cost of £400 for about 45 days of LPG. I know I should wait until we've been here a year to average out the annual cost but a couple of people have been telling me we would be better off switching to oil. Any advise on this would be greatly appreciated!

Jen x

PaulF81

we hove used around 300 quids worth since early november. your usage sounds excessive. how old is your boiler and how is the insulation in your home? we live in a 4 bed detached with 2 boilers btw!

we only run the ch in rooms we use as well.

paceinternet

You need to say what you are paying per litre for your lpg, and any other charges including the tank rental.
What is the £400 for 45 days comprised of.
You could also ring around local oil suppliers and ask for a quote for 1000 litres of kerosene (domestic heating oil).
There is lots of information in this forum to allow you to then do a cost comparison.
If you need help with that, then someone will post the answers for you.

jennye2022

PaulF81 wrote: »

we hove used around 300 quids worth since early november. your usage sounds excessive. how old is your boiler and how is the insulation in your home? we live in a 4 bed detached with 2 boilers btw!

we only run the ch in rooms we use as well.

Thanks Paul the house is well insulated and the boilers about 15 years but well maintained and serviced regularly. Thanks a lot for letting me know what you use its really helpful to compare we live in a remote area and dont know our few neighbours well enough to ask them it feels a bit cheeky thanks again

jennye2022

paceinternet wrote: »

You need to say what you are paying per litre for your lpg, and any other charges including the tank rental.
What is the £400 for 45 days comprised of.
You could also ring around local oil suppliers and ask for a quote for 1000 litres of kerosene (domestic heating oil).
There is lots of information in this forum to allow you to then do a cost comparison.
If you need help with that, then someone will post the answers for you.

Thanks so much for responding the £400 was for 835 litres at our intial six month rate of just over 50p a litre including vat that rate has now gone to to just over 60p a litre including vat and a service charge of 16.9p a day. There's only one other supplier for our area so prices between them are on a par I took your advise and phone for an oil price and comparing 1000 litres of each oil is about £20 more expensive to fill but no daily service charge although I assume a annual service would be necessary. I know it sounds a silly thing to say but I wonder if one is more efficient than the other, better value for money I suppose. Thanks again for the advise it's been really helpful

[Deleted User]

You really should investigate renewables...

Oil and LPG both have pros and cons but are much of a muchness when it comes to running costs...

Having had LPG I would go oil given the choice, not for cost but to get away from LPG contracts and safety in numbers.

paceinternet

but I wonder if one is more efficient than the other

Oil produces 10.4 kw per litre
LPG produces 7.08 kw per litre

So you get more kw per litre from oil, which you need to factor in to your prices.
You don't get all the kw into your heating system because of the boiler efficiency, so you would reduce the kw by whatever the boiler efficiency is rated at,
But the boiler efficiency will likely be better the newer and more expensive it is.
Against that, you may know that such efficiency often comes at a price due to needing more replacement parts every few years compared with older less efficient boilers.

I would also add that, if you didn't know, oil prices can go up and down for all sorts of reasons, and can be seasonal as well, meaning don't try and buy on new years day when the temperatures drop to -10 and suddenly everyone wants oil, so the suppliers can up their prices.
But you can also see that LPG suppliers lock you into a contract, which is not always to your advantage, although it suits some people.

Ben84

How well insulated and draught sealed is your house? Resolving any issues here tends to be the best investment.

As for a new boiler, have you considered a ground source heat pump? They're not the cheapest option to install, but where you don't have mains gas the long term savings compared to oil or LPG can be very good. Oil is still an expensive fuel and has issues with supply and having to bulk buy in advance. You have a lot more choice and competition between electric suppliers too.

bernithebiker

I would also consider;

Wood burning stove, £1000 to 2000 fitted. Would cut LPG consumption significantly.
Air/air heat pump, £1000, likewise
Air/water heat pump 7 to £9000. Running cost SHOULD be 1/3 that of LPG, (IF fitted correctly - be careful if you live in a very cold area).

Otherwise, I would say yes, oil is marginally better than LPG, but not alot in it.

jennye2022

bernithebiker wrote: »

I would also consider;

Wood burning stove, £1000 to 2000 fitted. Would cut LPG consumption significantly.
Air/air heat pump, £1000, likewise
Air/water heat pump 7 to £9000. Running cost SHOULD be 1/3 that of LPG, (IF fitted correctly - be careful if you live in a very cold area).

Otherwise, I would say yes, oil is marginally better than LPG, but not alot in it.

Thanks so much I was just talking to someone about a wood burning stove I really liked the idea of just gotta talk my husband round thanks again

albyota

Good advice from bernithebiker and jj, although the air to air for £1k would only do one room, don't jump out of the frying pan into the fire, i.e. oil is just as costly as LPG, you say the house is very well insulated, loft insulated to max? cavity walls? good double glazing? then certainly consider air to water heat pump, grants are available from the Energy Saving Trust if off gas grid (rural) of up to RHPP of £850 and manufacturers Daikin, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Vaillant, and Worcester Bosch cashback of £400, so £1,250, research well and choose wisely though. Average cost for 4 bed ITRO £7,500 after grants.