What is the point of heating oil?

Andy_WSM

tberry6686 wrote: »

Add in installation costs, likely boiler replacement costs etc and you will see what I mean. The energy savings trust numbers for E7 electricity are just wrong. E7 for me currently is around 5 p, and daytime rate about 12p.

I for one am with you.

I decided a few month ago not to replace my broken gas boiler due to cost and get the electric underfloor heating working and use that as my main heat source. So far so good. It's working lovely and the daily electricity costs have not gone through the roof as many would have you believe.

Today was our first air frost of this Winter, so it will be interesting to see how much power I have used today compared to yesterday, but I also have a 4kW solar PV system and yesterday and today (so far) are sunny and the system is currently providing my electricity needs and sending surplus to the grid. Yesterday the heating came on during the day and was run entirely from the solar PV system.

I get that this won't always be the case, but I feel the cost of replacing the gas boiler would take far too long to recoup given my seemingly low all electricity costs.

macman

tberry6686 wrote: »

Add in installation costs, likely boiler replacement costs etc and you will see what I mean. The energy savings trust numbers for E7 electricity are just wrong. E7 for me currently is around 5 p, and daytime rate about 12p.

Ask any EA how much more a house with gas CH and DHW is worth compared to one next door with E7 only...
Installing gas CH is the single most effective way of increasing the value of a property, if a mains supply is available.

macman

You cannot possibly compare the cost saving of a 4kWp PV system with the cost of a boiler of maybe 24-28kW? Your PV system won't heat your hot water or heat your house after about 4pm.'
It's like saying 'it's cheaper to heat with an electric blanket than turn on the gas CH'. Of course it is, but you're not comparing like with like. Even after the PV contribution (which you can also have with gas CH), you are still buying most of your heating and hot water at a kWh rate around 300% higher.

alleycat`

macman wrote: »

You cannot possibly compare the cost saving of a 4kWp PV system with the cost of a boiler of maybe 24-28kW? Your PV system won't heat your hot water or heat your house after about 4pm.'
It's like saying 'it's cheaper to heat with an electric blanket than turn on the gas CH'. Of course it is, but you're not comparing like with like. Even after the PV contribution (which you can also have with gas CH), you are still buying most of your heating and hot water at a kWh rate around 300% higher.

Also nicely ignoring the installation cost of the PV system.
O and the maintenance that will be required when the inverter fails - usually 10 years from what i've read but most are warrantied to 7 years only.

gc_bus

Indeed with our E7 run electric wet central heating combi boiler, plus we have solar PV panels (only a 1.7KWP), we average out at £73 per month in electricity running costs and no servicing either :-) Using 4500 KWH day and 1500KWH night rates per annum. (Looking to increase usage of night rate too). Heating a 3-bed mid terrace with masses of insulation including triple-grazing in the bedrooms. No gas usage/standing charge. Would I install the solar PV again? Probably not as the pay-back period for is in now ~20 years (installed before the FITS scheme took off). Would I install an electric boiler over a gas one again? Not sure - the electric boiler is really quiet; can be installed almost anywhere due to no flue required and also no chance of leaking CO. Cost wise I do realise that gas would be slightly cheaper for us but I don't think by much allowing servicing etc into consideration.

[Deleted User]

Yup very happy being electric only...

Solar PV does the bulk of our hot water even at this time of year.
No gas boiler to be serviced
No gas standing charge
ASHP heating/DHW is already very efficient which gets a further running cost saving from surplus solar power.
Just about all lighting is now LED

= the biggest oldest house we have ever had yet cheaper to run than our small wimpey house years ago on GCH used less often

PS 20 year guarantee on inverter.

Cardew

gc_bus wrote: »

Using 4500 KWH day and 1500KWH night rates per annum. (Looking to increase usage of night rate too).

However your consumption is atypical and not really representative.

Many people use close to that level of electricity consumption without using electricity for heating/hot water.

gc_bus

Cardew wrote: »

However your consumption is atypical and not really representative.

Many people use close to that level of electricity consumption without using electricity for heating/hot water.

Indeed this is true but with careful management/LED bulbs/very good insulation etc etc it just goes to show what can be achieved and we don't go cold either :-)

forgotmyname

What do you use for heating a 40w light bulb?

£17 a month. Missed a zero off that?

A 2kw heater on for 2 hours a day max? Thats not going to warm an entire house though.

fishybusiness

Many people use close to that level of electricity consumption without using electricity for heating/hot water.

3 children, 3 bed semi, oil heating and our DD forecast is 6900kWh.