LPG Central Heating

fishybusiness

Ok, so today Warmfront have been over and said they can install LPG central heating plus 5 radiators. All good so far, the sting is the supply of LPG.

They can supply 47Kg bottles, which is great for a start, but I'd rather go bulk buy and have a tank in the garden. I don't know the cost difference but I bet it is significant.

Does anyone know how it works - do I have to buy a tank, do I rent one, who do I talk to?

Bob_the_Saver

The positioning of a tank to comply with regs can sometimes be difficult in a smallish garden.

lovesgshp

We had 2 x 47kg bottles in a 40sq mtr apartment in Italy, with 3 rads they lasted approx 2 weeks in winter. That was also with a log burner in the sitting room and a gas radiant heater on it's own supply.
You would probably be far better going for a ASHP. Suggest you ask Jeepjunkie.
Just as a aside on the above, have just had a flyer from one of the pellet stove sellers here, quoting approx running costs for a 100sq mtr appartment, for 1 year (180 days use, 8 hrs per day heating ).
GPL 3700 Euros. Oil 1750 Euro, mains gas 1050 Euro, Pellet 750 E, Wood 500E. Did not mention heat pumps though!!!

frankie

fishybusiness wrote: »

Ok, so today Warmfront have been over and said they can install LPG central heating plus 5 radiators. All good so far, the sting is the supply of LPG.

They can supply 47Kg bottles, which is great for a start, but I'd rather go bulk buy and have a tank in the garden. I don't know the cost difference but I bet it is significant.

Does anyone know how it works - do I have to buy a tank, do I rent one, who do I talk to?

Bulk tank lpg is expensive enough(see lpg thread, lots of info)! Bottles are incredibly so. If you're starting from scratch I'd certainly look at other energy options to lpg - oil (at least you can shop around); ASHP see dedicated thread.

fishybusiness

We have no options really, Warmfront say they can install lpg within the scheme budget of £3500, the only other option is the electric we have now.

PaulF81

no option for oil?

fishybusiness

I asked about oil, and the rep said that they have to implement more safety features around a tank, and so lpg is a better option.

Don't know how true it is, and am thinking about calling them in the morning to understand how he made his decision.

PaulF81

He was probably talking about a bund. You may struggle to get a bulk LPG tank with current massively restrictive siting regs.

Sounds as if they are trying to fob off an LPG system with ridiculously expensive smaller LPG tanks.

david29dpo

Ring round some local LPG suppliers, not national.
They will do a free site visit and if ok, most will install a tank for free with a 2 year contract.

dullnote

Hi I would stay well clear of LPG, I have just removed mine, we have a bulk supply for the estate so no issues there, but the cost is ridiculous , two years ago I paid 31p a lt now it is at 54p and still going up.

I have in installed a ASHP, possible something you could look at, or push for oil, other around me have oil and the tanks are all over the gardens, just need to be double skinned and so many meter from boundary

SAY AWAY FROM LPG, used to cost me £1/hour to run my boiler

Dull note

fishybusiness

Hi I would stay well clear of LPG, I have just removed mine, we have a bulk supply for the estate so no issues there, but the cost is ridiculous , two years ago I paid 31p a lt now it is at 54p and still going up.

Scary stuff!

I've got a price of 48.9p assuming usage of 2200 litres per year, plus £70 tank rental.

Comparing that to oil @60p per litre, and assuming 70 % of the energy output for lpg compared to oil, there does not seem to be so much difference in running costs.

Am I missing something?

Also, I am wondering why Warmfront are recommending lpg over oil, considering they supply the system installed with bottles rather than a tank.