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Range cooker conversion or new Walmsler 500
nande2000
Posts: 217 Forumite
Maybe someone can help me make my mind up on what to do with my aging central heating system.
Currently I have a 20 year old Stanley Superstar solid fuel Range cooker that was converted to run off oil in 1999. The price of oil and the efficiency of the aging unit (at best 70%) is pushing me to make a change. I've pretty much ruled out anything but solid fuel as im off the gas grid, dont have the cash (or the insulation) to go for a heat pump and cant see the point on going for a more efficient oil system as oil prices will only go up. I do have access to free wood and could use coal for very cold winters.
One option would be to covert the range back to solid fuel..looks like a simple job, £200 of parts need reinstalling and im advised its probably a good idea to get the chimney relined at the same time. It would be a DIY job as none of the installers in my area are interested in doing it, but it looks simple enough. The main downside I can see it that i have no idea what state the boiler is in, I could spend money on the conversion only for the boiler to go pop and that would cost £1500+ to replace IF I can find someone to do it.
The only other option within budget is to go for a Walmsler 500 solid fuel boiler and install an electric cooker in the spot for the old range. Anyone used one..the tech spec says they kick out 50000BTU which is perfect for my house (20% above what I need for DHW plus all my rads)
Anyone have any similar experiences or is there another option I am missing ?
Currently I have a 20 year old Stanley Superstar solid fuel Range cooker that was converted to run off oil in 1999. The price of oil and the efficiency of the aging unit (at best 70%) is pushing me to make a change. I've pretty much ruled out anything but solid fuel as im off the gas grid, dont have the cash (or the insulation) to go for a heat pump and cant see the point on going for a more efficient oil system as oil prices will only go up. I do have access to free wood and could use coal for very cold winters.
One option would be to covert the range back to solid fuel..looks like a simple job, £200 of parts need reinstalling and im advised its probably a good idea to get the chimney relined at the same time. It would be a DIY job as none of the installers in my area are interested in doing it, but it looks simple enough. The main downside I can see it that i have no idea what state the boiler is in, I could spend money on the conversion only for the boiler to go pop and that would cost £1500+ to replace IF I can find someone to do it.
The only other option within budget is to go for a Walmsler 500 solid fuel boiler and install an electric cooker in the spot for the old range. Anyone used one..the tech spec says they kick out 50000BTU which is perfect for my house (20% above what I need for DHW plus all my rads)
Anyone have any similar experiences or is there another option I am missing ?
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