Buying a house heated by oil, need advice

LadyDee

Nlb65 wrote: »

Is that with a large gas tank in the garden or with cannisters being delivered?

No, on an estate with two massive bulk containers - the whole estate has been converted. Took a while but it has been worth it.

LadyDee

LadyDee wrote: »

No, on an estate with two massive bulk Calor containers - the whole estate has been converted. Took a while but it has been worth it.

Sorry my post was not clear. I was originally on oil - very expensive, then moved within the estate onto the bulk Calor which was cheaper (very few homes were on oil), but now on natural gas which is even less. I dread to think what my heating bill would be if I was still using oil - probably four times as much.

I remember many years ago when tankers couldn't get through for a week due to bad weather and I spent a very miserable Christmas with no heating or hot water.

If I was ever in the position of having a choice then it certainly wouldn't be having oil. Not only the cost, but the requirements now for maintaining your tank are pretty onerous and I believe you have to replace metal tanks for plastic if there is a leak, and delivery could be refused if there are signs of deterioration. Hefty fines too if there is a leak of oil from your tank.

Rodders53

LadyDee wrote: »

Sorry my post was not clear. I was originally on oil - very expensive, then moved within the estate onto the bulk Calor which was cheaper (very few homes were on oil), but now on natural gas which is even less.

You are saying, effectively, "run a mile from any oil heated home" from your experience. (i.e. Caveat Emptor.)

But you aren't comparing like for like except with the bulk to natural gas conversion home. But we all think LPG is expensive cf Natural gas.
https://nottenergy.com/our-services/resources/energy-cost-comparison/ currently shows Kerosene (oil) is little different to natural gas per kWh for heating, and cheaper than LPG.

The cost of converting an oil fired home to another form of heating (from any energy source) will have a large capital cost. It may never be recovered from lower energy prices over the lifetime of the installation. :eek:

Good points about the maintenance and potential replacement tank costs. So important to get an independent inspection and report (as I said earlier).

Mister_G

Rodders53 wrote: »

But you aren't comparing like for like except with the bulk to natural gas conversion home. But we all think LPG is expensive cf Natural gas.
https://nottenergy.com/our-services/resources/energy-cost-comparison/ currently shows Kerosene (oil) is little different to natural gas per kWh for heating, and cheaper than LPG.

Based on this:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=75895082&postcount=3303

I think you'll find that LPG is certainly cheaper than oil.

Rodders53

Mister_G wrote: »

I think you'll find that LPG is certainly cheaper than oil.

Currently, and from that supplier on that day, yes.

Exc VAT and boiler in-efficiency:
LPG @ 27.89p/l = 27.89/6.66 = 4.2p per kWh

http://www.mychieveley.co.uk/index.php?page=50
Kerosene @ 44p/l = 44/9.8 = 4.5p per kWh

Not a lot in it, though, is there? Woldlink prices are atypically low as I understand it. Many (most) on bulk LPG cannot get anywhere near that price delivered (e.g. from Calor or Flogas).

NB The OP on this thread is looking at buying an OIL-FIRED home. LPG prices are pretty much irrelevant; as the payback period for a rip out and new fuel install make it unlikely to be an economical thing to do.