What energy source bets for new boiler?

dllive

Hi,

Im looking to get a new boiler. I cant get mains gas where I live.

Ive heard electric boilers are very expensive to run.

Am I best getting a boiler to run off LPG? If so will I need a big gas tank, or will the smaller bottles do?

Its a 4 bed house with 2 people living in it, probably more in the future. I think Ive decided a combi boiler best fits our needs.

Thanks

sk240

I think that the general consensus is that oil is cheaper, and has less volitile price changes than LPG.
Another option is an air source heat pump, which will be a bit more expensive to install but could be worth the investment over oil or LPG.
I had LPG heating once, and installed a heat pump saving me loads per month on the actual runnig cost.

footyguy

dllive wrote: »

Hi,

Im looking to get a new boiler. I cant get mains gas where I live.

Ive heard electric boilers are very expensive to run.

Am I best getting a boiler to run off LPG? If so will I need a big gas tank, or will the smaller bottles do?

Its a 4 bed house with 2 people living in it, probably more in the future. I think Ive decided a combi boiler best fits our needs.

Thanks

Why are you looking to get a new boiler?

Do you have a boiler at present, and if so, what type? What does it provide you with? (e.g. just hot water / central heating via hot water radiators/ etc?)

NineDeuce

Why cant you get mains gas? Are you out in the sticks?

dllive

Yes, Im out in the sticks.

dllive

footyguy wrote: »

Why are you looking to get a new boiler?

Do you have a boiler at present, and if so, what type? What does it provide you with? (e.g. just hot water / central heating via hot water radiators/ etc?)

I dont have a boiler at present.

I want it to heat radiators, give hot water... and could it power an oven? (Ive heard heating with gas is better than electric). If that complicates matters Ill just cook with electric.

footyguy

dllive wrote: »

I dont have a boiler at present.

I want it to heat radiators, give hot water... and could it power an oven? (Ive heard heating with gas is better than electric). If that complicates matters Ill just cook with electric.

Sounds like it's going to be expensive if you need a complete central heating system installed.

Yes, attempting to do this by electric is going to be the most expensive option, not just in running costs but also a wet system central heating is also the most expensive to maintain. Initial capital expenditure (including labour for installation) for the entire system will also not be cheap.

If you want cheap, I'd suggest you get some night storage heaters that run on Economy 7. Not only relatively cheap to buy, not only virtually non-existent maintenance required, but the fact it will run on cheap rate overnight electricity, arguably the cheapest running cost of all bar mains gas (which you cannot have)

Hot water can be produced using an electric immersion heater. That too can run on cheap rate, overnight electricity, especially if you install a suitably sized hot water tank.

If money (capital expenditure) is no object, then yes, heat pumps may well also be a alternative solution.

You cannot cook with a boiler.

dllive

footyguy wrote: »

You cannot cook with a boiler.

Lol.

footyguy wrote: »

Sounds like it's going to be expensive if you need a complete central heating system installed.

Yes, attempting to do this by electric is going to be the most expensive option, not just in running costs but also a wet system central heating is also the most expensive to maintain. Initial capital expenditure (including labour for installation) for the entire system will also not be cheap.

If you want cheap, I'd suggest you get some night storage heaters that run on Economy 7. Not only relatively cheap to buy, not only virtually non-existent maintenance required, but the fact it will run on cheap rate overnight electricity, arguably the cheapest running cost of all bar mains gas (which you cannot have)

Hot water can be produced using an electric immersion heater. That too can run on cheap rate, overnight electricity, especially if you install a suitably sized hot water tank.

If money (capital expenditure) is no object, then yes, heat pumps may well also be a alternative solution.

I used to live in a place that had economy 7. It wasnt good. Maybe dimplex heaters that ca be turned on when needed is better?

If I have an electric immersion, does that mean that if I want a bath I have to wait for the water to heat. And then maybe there wont be enough hot water left to do the dishes?

I want the cheapest solution (obviously) but am happy to sacrifice a bit of cheapness for convenience of use.

Nick_C

Electric heating is very very expensive. Three years ago we were in an all electric 3 roomed flat. New storage heaters. New double glazing. Electricity cost £120 a month.

We are now in a 7 roomed detached house with mains gas CH and HW. Bills now £94 a month.

I would say if you can afford it, go for a gas or oil system. It should save you money in the long term. If you are not there for the long term, it should add value to the house.

Its not just the running costs, it's being in control. It used to take 24 hours for our flat to get warm when we came back from a winter holiday. And at the start and end of winter, we would find we would have the heating on when we didn't need it.

Ectophile

dllive wrote: »

Lol.



I used to live in a place that had economy 7. It wasnt good. Maybe dimplex heaters that ca be turned on when needed is better?

If I have an electric immersion, does that mean that if I want a bath I have to wait for the water to heat. And then maybe there wont be enough hot water left to do the dishes?

I want the cheapest solution (obviously) but am happy to sacrifice a bit of cheapness for convenience of use.

Have a read of http://www.nottenergy.com/energy_cost_comparison/ and look at the pence per kWh column in their table. Standard rate electricity is seriously expensive when compared with economy 7, oil or LPG.

If you're worried about running out of hot water, then you need a bigger tank. One that will give you enough hot water to last a day.

A._Badger

I was faced with a similar question ten years ago when I bought my current house. Electricity was out of the question as I had struggled with storage radiators in the past. Despite the claims of manufacturers that each generation is edging towards perfection, my experience of them is that they are all pretty rotten - certainly the ones I have had! I also don't trust the continuity of supply in rural areas.

Gas would have been interesting but chatting with the locals and reading around on the web, I came to the conclusion, as someone earlier said, that the price is a problem. In any case, there was an existing oil tank here and a boiler, which I have stuck with and I'm glad I did. Oil price volatility can be frightening but at least it does come down occasionally - unlike electricity! Oil boilers are fairly cheap to maintain, too.

A final thought is that you do not have to resort to electricity for cooking just because you don't have gas for your main heating. I managed to find an LPG stove (they are getting scarce and you would have to look for one) and I run that from gas canisters.

Hope that helps.