Oil Consumption Query Please

lohr500

I've always steered clear of adding internal insulation to the walls. Partly because of the disruption and logistics it would create around window frames, door casements, etc and also because of the uncertainty over what other problems it could cause.

Whenever we have needed to replace older double glazing windows we have always gone with more modern units with a bigger gap between the panes. 

We also had Kingspan type insulation fitted below the roofing felt when we had the Yorkshire stone slates on the roof turned a few years ago after the old roofing felt fell apart with old age and the roof started leaking.

And we added extra insulation in the loft spaces on top of the old yellow glass wool stuff.

Checking the flow and return temperatures is really easy if you get a couple of thermometers like these. Buy half decent ones as some of the cheap eBay offerings aren't very accurate.

https://www.brannan.co.uk/product/clip-on-pipe-thermometers/

You just clip one on the pipe flowing from the boiler and one on the pipe going back into the boiler. The flow should be the pipe coming from the top of the boiler and the return should be the lower pipe. The flow should be the hotter of the two pipes.  

 

Alfster

lohr500 said:

I've always steered clear of adding internal insulation to the walls. Partly because of the disruption and logistics it would create around window frames, door casements, etc and also because of the uncertainty over what other problems it could cause.

Whenever we have needed to replace older double glazing windows we have always gone with more modern units with a bigger gap between the panes. 

We also had Kingspan type insulation fitted below the roofing felt when we had the Yorkshire stone slates on the roof turned a few years ago after the old roofing felt fell apart with old age and the roof started leaking.

And we added extra insulation in the loft spaces on top of the old yellow glass wool stuff.

Checking the flow and return temperatures is really easy if you get a couple of thermometers like these. Buy half decent ones as some of the cheap eBay offerings aren't very accurate.

https://www.brannan.co.uk/product/clip-on-pipe-thermometers/

You just clip one on the pipe flowing from the boiler and one on the pipe going back into the boiler. The flow should be the pipe coming from the top of the boiler and the return should be the lower pipe. The flow should be the hotter of the two pipes.  

 

Great thanks for this. We are looking for loft insulation as our current insulation level flagged as very low on the EPC - 15mm vs the 210mm it recommends! Has the Kingspan insulation helped? 

QrizB

Alfster said:

Great thanks for this. We are looking for loft insulation as our current insulation level flagged as very low on the EPC - 15mm vs the 210mm it recommends! Has the Kingspan insulation helped? 

Rigid foam boards like Kingspan are great if you're limited in space or need them to be self-supporting, but for a regular loft you can buy an awful lot of glass wool / rock wool type insulation for the same price, plus it can be quicker to lay as it's flexible.

Alfster

QrizB said:

Alfster said:

Great thanks for this. We are looking for loft insulation as our current insulation level flagged as very low on the EPC - 15mm vs the 210mm it recommends! Has the Kingspan insulation helped? 

Rigid foam boards like Kingspan are great if you're limited in space or need them to be self-supporting, but for a regular loft you can buy an awful lot of glass wool / rock wool type insulation for the same price, plus it can be quicker to lay as it's flexible.

Thanks. When we had a guy quote for this he said care needs to be taken with putting too much insulation as it can cause condensation? Is that true of the boarding as well?

J_B

Alfster said:

2) The plumber who fitted the boiler said that because the hot water tank is well insulated it is roughly costs the same amount of fuel to leave the hot water on continuously than it does to boost it from cold a few times in the day. What are peoples thoughts on this? ...............

Bullshine

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/energy-saving-myths/

comeandgo

Alfster said:

comeandgo said:

You will be using more than 300 l per month for December and January as October and November have been quite mild but you will use a lot less April to September.  Do you have any opportunity to fit a stove?  Positioned in a decent place it may help heat a few rooms.  Oil is a very expensive fuel again .  Are you able to order more than 600 litres at a time?  Some of the distributors give a cheaper rate if you buy in the thousands.

Not sure if we can fit a stove. We are currently getting quotes for a new tank as ours is only 1000L and using 300+L a month in winter is a nightmare with a tank this small. The house next door has a 3500L tank and buys all his oil in bulk in June! 

That is one large tank and costly to fill.  Check you have insurance for oil leakage as that amount of oil would have serious clean up costs to decontaminate the area.

twiglet98

I live in a 3-bed semi detached farm cottage, with concrete walls and floor, and only 4 inches of loft insulation.  When my adult offspring lived here, 500 litres of oil would last 8 weeks in winter, with careful use (meaning endless rows about me turning it down / switching it off), and 6-7 weeks if the 'kids' were left to their own devices.  They'd ramp the heating up to 25° when they got home from work before me, turn their bedroom TRVs to maximum, and take ridiculously long showers twice a day "because it's freezing". Now it's just me, my last 500l delivery was in April, and I haven't had the heating on yet.  The boiler is on for 40 minutes at 06.00 and 18.00 for ample hot water.  I light the stove for the evening.

I dip the tank monthly with a dedicated garden cane calibrated with marker pen, and take a photo of the level.  Experience has put me off relying on the Sonic Watchman... my cane doesn't lie.

QrizB

Alfster said:

QrizB said:

Alfster said:

Great thanks for this. We are looking for loft insulation as our current insulation level flagged as very low on the EPC - 15mm vs the 210mm it recommends! Has the Kingspan insulation helped? 

Rigid foam boards like Kingspan are great if you're limited in space or need them to be self-supporting, but for a regular loft you can buy an awful lot of glass wool / rock wool type insulation for the same price, plus it can be quicker to lay as it's flexible.

Thanks. When we had a guy quote for this he said care needs to be taken with putting too much insulation as it can cause condensation? Is that true of the boarding as well?

I don't know your loft, sorry. Here's the EST's advice:

https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/roof-and-loft-insulation/

justwhat

Our old house was so cold at times.  We did have a wood burning stove but did not use it unless we could find a cheap source of wood.

So much heat escapes from some of these old houses. i would hate to go back to an old house. 
 

dunstonh

They'd ramp the heating up to 25° when they got home from work before me, turn their bedroom TRVs to maximum

Worst thing I ever did was show my wife how to use the thermastat.   Now we have this ghost in the house who magically changes the level.

I dip the tank monthly with a dedicated garden cane calibrated with marker pen, and take a photo of the level.  Experience has put me off relying on the Sonic Watchman... my cane doesn't lie.

I have the old (but still available) 10 bar apollo.   I find that very reliable but my tank is an easy shape for that to measure.   We did try the newer apollo that is more smart meter in style.    That took a lot of configuration to get it right and double checking with my manual stick (an old broom handle with a hook on it and pen marks indicating how much to order if its at that level).   I got it virtually spot on in the end (as much as you can with a liquid that expands and contracts with temperature).   However, the alarm kept going off on it despite the alarm being turned off.  Sometimes twice a day and during the night.  Shame as I quite liked it