Paraffin heaters

Fred999

Hi there
Just wanted to share with people considering the cost of thier heating. Last year I swopped my central heating for a Zibro paraffin heater for my two bedroom flat. At first I was looked at as a bit of an idiot by my friends, who pointed out parrafin was smelly, expensive and one neighbour stated it was dangerous and I should reconsider using it.
I can honestly say although a little expensive to initially purchase, it is one of the best decisions I have made.
I have halved my fuel bill.Yes, that's correct halved the bill! Also I now have the flat toastie warm all of the time. Which didn't happen with the central heating as it was too expensive to leave on all day.
I wasn't entirely sure if it would be cheaper, as when you do the maths of how long a full tank of fuel lasts (14.5 hours) in my heater it doesn't seem economical,. I didn't factor in that it heats the flat much, much faster than I had calculated using standard math and I was turning the unit off or down much more than I had calculated to maintain the desired temp.
There is no smell, except at startup for seconds, They are fully automatic. They have inbuilt sensors that switch the heater off if tipped and for Co2 levels. I even have a timer on mine to switch on when I'm out or in the morning!!!
From previous threads people have gone on about them creating damp. Almost 20 months of use...obviously not much in summer, I havnt found this to be the case at all.
Can't recommend them enough, we are moving to a house next month and I will definitely be using parrafin there.
Just wanted to share in these times of austerity.

A._Badger

Out of interest, where do you buy paraffin? Since retailers were more or less forced to stop selling it loose, the price has risen so high that it is now uneconomic to use as even a backup greenhouse fuel source.

Fred999

Yes, I do not use my greenhouse heaters much anymore since I stopped being able to buy at the pump.
I buy prepacked Caldo just under a fiver for four litres.
You need to bear in mind the heater I use is nothing like our old greenhouse heaters and nothing like the ones my parents had, with a wick.
The new ones have an inbuilt fan so feel more like a fan heater, I cannot stand in front of mine when full on, as it is too hot. The room, actually the whole flat heats up very quickly. As I said in my post if you work out the cost on the figures,watts ect... It doesn't sound economical, but believe me it has saved me a lot of money.
These machines need a certain grade of fuel to perform properly, so I'm told. As it was expensive to purchase I have followed the manufacturers instructions in regard to fuel choice. I've saved so much this year I think it would be silly to risk damaging the fire with a lower grade fuel for a few extra pennies.

Cardew

People who join MSE for the purpose of promoting a product are often looked upon suspiciously on MSE on the grounds they may have some vested interest.

However perhaps you can give some facts and figures on how a paraffin heater has heated your flat at half the cost of central heating and is even 'toastier'.


Paraffin has the same calorific value as oil used for Central heating.
So at £1.25 a litre(4litres for £5) than means the cost is approx. 12p/kWh.



Oil for a conventional CH boiler now costs under 30p a litre so less than 3p/kWh.



Gas can be obtained for under 3p/kWh.

Off-peak electricity for Night storage heating costs about 6p/kWh

So please explain your claims! What type of central heating have you in your flat.

lovesgshp

We have a Zibro heater here as well, but it is only used to heat the bathroom more if it is a bit chilly at times, even with underfloor heating, or in powercut situations.
To keep a whole house warm, you would probably need quite a few.

suki1964

I think you are talking a load of tosh tbh

Oil is cheaper then paraffin

Gas is around the same price

Even coal and logs are cheaper then paraffin

Add to that the condensation paraffin causes, which means you need to really ventilate - open windows in new builds, I cant see how you think you are saving money

Unless of course you aren't and are really here to plug the burners?

Fred999

I only joined this forum to share my experience to others, not to promote ANY brand, but my experience.
Yes, I agree the maths do not add up, but despite this IT Is CHEAPER and I personally have saved money!!!!
If you are considering alternative heating you may or may not like to try ANY type of these heaters( I suppose they are all very similar) the laser type.
I do not understand some peoples preoccupation with belittling anything without having tried it first. Anyone can be a narrow minded genius with figures with little to do but troll the internet.
I also would not use this in a bathroom as A....the space is too confined and B...the machine would not function as there would not be enough fresh air ( unless the room is huge) and switch itself off!!!!
In my opinion and my actual experience these machines are undervalued as they have saved me money.
If you choose not to try or have never tried one or used one, I simply do not see the point of posting negatives as I assumed this site was to aid money saving, hence It was with my ACTUAL experience of the heater I joined and posted, to help others!

Fred999

Oh and yes, these heaters do not work in a power cut as they need a small amount of electric for the fan, so using it then would be impossible unless you mean an older style heater that simply isn't the same thing?

Cardew

Fred999 wrote: »

Yes, I agree the maths do not add up, but despite this IT Is CHEAPER and I personally have saved money!!!!

I do not understand some peoples preoccupation with belittling anything without having tried it first. Anyone can be a narrow minded genius with figures with little to do but troll the internet.

In my opinion and my actual experience these machines are undervalued as they have saved me money.
If you choose not to try or have never tried one or used one, I simply do not see the point of posting negatives as I assumed this site was to aid money saving, hence It was with my ACTUAL experience of the heater I joined and posted, to help others!

Troll the internet? Is that your definition of people who question your inexplicable reasoning?


Firstly over the years many many people join MSE to promote a product or service they sell.


Secondly to dismiss questions about the cost of operating these heaters - on a money saving website - by simply stating 'I know the figures don't add up but they work' is nonsensical!


You claimed that these heaters had halved your CH costs yet have given absolutely no detail, and seemingly want to ignore the fact that that the fuel(paraffin) costs around four times as much as oil and gas for CH.


Lastly are you serious that you expect people to go out and buy paraffin heaters costing up to £400 before they can comment on your post?

Fred999

Reasoning is supposition, my argument is factual, based upon my own experience.
Why would ANYONE therefore revert to supposition for argument.
I suggest you try one first, as I've already stated in my first post if you look back that the figures do not correlate with actual usage!
So really arguing the toss would be pointless, unless you had any experience with them.

Regards

ThemeOne

I would never consider using a paraffin heater because of the condensation, unless the "new" heaters have found some way around that?