Biomass Costing a Fortune...Switch to Oil/ LPG?!

ClaireJ1978

Hi,

We recently moved to a house which has no mains gas supply. It currently has a biomass boiler (installed before RHI became available and not eligible for RHI). We are currently paying £300/month for wood pellets including delivery to heat the radiators and hot water. This is far too much so we want to change...any ideas?! Should we go with oil/ LPG? What are the pro's and cons and which will be cheaper (including install).

Thanks for your help!!

EachPenny

ClaireJ1978 wrote: »

We recently moved to a house which has no mains gas supply. It currently has a biomass boiler (installed before RHI became available and not eligible for RHI). We are currently paying £300/month for wood pellets including delivery to heat the radiators and hot water. This is far too much so we want to change...any ideas?! Should we go with oil/ LPG? What are the pro's and cons and which will be cheaper (including install).

Is the boiler capable of burning anything other than wood pellets? Details of the make and model would be useful if you aren't sure.

If there is flexibility in fuel type then you might be able to find a cheaper alternative.

silverwhistle

Good grief! My total annual bill for gas and electric is around £300, but I have solar panels and a wood burning stove in which I burn scrounged and self-seasoned wood and pallets (and my neighbour's joinery offcuts!).



I'd start by looking at your insulation and thermostat though: I thought pellets worked out at about 6p a kWh (somebody else might like to update that figure) so you are generating an awful lot of heat.

ClaireJ1978

Hi,

Thank you for the replies...I know, it's shocking isn't it?!

The boiler isn't capable of burning anything other than pellets unfortunately...can't remember the model number but it's a Trianco one which only allows us to burn pellets.

What could we do with insulation/ thermostat? Think the thermostat is set at 20C. We have a log burner in one room but really only heats that one room. The house is 4 bed and stone built...it's quite long so I wonder if we are trying to heat too many spaces.

We are in the process of putting insulated curtains up everywhere too which makes a noticeable difference to the room temperature (but not yet one that impacts the bill!)

[Deleted User]

ClaireJ1978 wrote: »

Hi,
What could we do with insulation/ thermostat?

Most heat is lost from a property through the roof, windows and doors.

Some quick things to check given at https://www.spiral-utilities.co.uk/2015/03/18/8-ways-to-reduce-heat-loss-from-your-buildings/