Oil CH vs electric rads

Scubabe

G'day all,

I've just moved to a 3 bed semi in the country. Because we're in the middle of nowhere we don't have gas available. Also, I'm not from the UK, and we don't even have central heating where I grew up, it's a hot country, so I know nothing about how to heat a house more effectively or how to save money on heating etc.

We have a large oil tank at the back of the house, and I've been told it's empty, so I need to get it filled before it gets colder I guess. The oil tank would be just for the central heating, the hot water is electric.

We bought an electric radiator from Argos for about £30 last month as there were a few cold nights and I just wanted something to warm a room up with.

I've been reading all these horror stories of ppl on here paying £1200/mth for oil etc, and I was wondering how it would compare if I ran electric radiators in the 3 rooms we use most (kitchen, lounge, master bedroom). Obviously would only need them on while we're using the room, and only until the room warms up.

How does the price of electric compare to the price of oil?

Sorry for asking such a basic question but I'm struggling to get my head around all the different things in the UK which are so different to home!

Thank you

Ness

Cardew

There have been a number of threads about this if you do a search.

There are several factors to consider, the main ones being:

1. The price you get electricity! This is presently around 10p-12p for a kWh depending on your tariff and where you live in UK.

2. The price you buy oil. This is around 65p a litre and a litre 'contains' 10.2 kWh.

3. The efficiency of your oil boiler. This can vary from around 50% for a really old boiler to 95% for a modern condensing boiler.

So compared with the 10-12p/kWh for electricity, oil can cost from 7p to 13p/kWh

In general terms oil for most will be cheaper - but the gap isn't huge.

Once you have worked out which is best, the price of oil and electricity will inevitably rise and the 'goalposts change'

amtrakuk

Another thing to take into consideration is you're lifestyle. If you spend alot of time out of the house working, socialising etc it may be easier to use electric. I am out of the house working from 08h - 18h. therefor only have heating on for about 4 hours during the week. I tried Dimplex oil filled radiators but found it took to long before the room warmed so I went for a 3kw £30 convection heater with a thermostat from Argos for the living room, and 2 x 2Kw thermostat convector heaters for the Kitchen and the Bedroom. It worked for me as I didnt waste time for the a radiator to heat up. Come in and turn the heater on and instant heat, after about 20 minutes the room was warm enough and the thermostat clicked off and on as needed.

I got rid of Gas last year and my electric bills this winter were about £100-120 a month. Now the warmer weather is here my bills have dropped to about £50 a month. I dont know how your heat your water but I am using a Redring Powerstream 12 Kw instant electric water heater. I did think about a cylinder but was worried about the standing heat loss and wanted hot water on demand.

If you do go for Electric heating remember an average ring main can only withstand 30 Amps (Just over 7Kw). I learnt the hard way but got a electrician in to professionally fit the heating.

Although as Cardew said, it maybe cheaper keeping with oil, depending on your lifestyle.