Any way to estimate oil usage?

IrishTeacher

I've just gotten oil central heating for the first time. I paid €800 for a full tank of oil, and now I'm very nervous that I'll use it too fast and I'll have to refill.

I have a small 3 bed bungalow. I don't know if number of rads make a difference or whether or not they're all on. I would just like peace of mind that I can turn it on for an hour a day and that it won't be gone in a month or even two.

If I posted up all the details would people be able to give a guess? Or even acedotally, how long would €800 (not sure of quantity) worth of oil last in a 3 bed bungalow with about 6 rads?

Billy Bunting

A lot of calculations to be taken into it, boiler size and type, nozzle size, oil pressure, that sort of thing, best bet is get an Oftec Engineer to service it and with his equipment he will be able to give you an idea of fuel usage per hr of operation.

DGOBS

haha, a lot of Oftec techs these days don't seem to understand nozzle sizes!
Pray you get a good one

Wyldwood

Don't know how helpful this will be to you but in our 26 year old, 170 sq mtr, detached house we get 2 fills every year. House is reasonably well insulated with dbl glazed windows & TRVs on all rads. Boiler, however, is 26 years old (about to be changed).

Joey the lips

Your going to think that this is daft but knock into a neighbour in simmular circumstances and ask them.

For examle if you are 2 adults 2 children you will use a lot more oil then 2 adults.

Use your immersion for hot water boosts but bear in mind the heating will already have heated it.

I find that in the adverage house an 800 euro fill now will see you though till around march april then you will only need a 300-400 to see you through the summer. However i dont use oil i just supply it to houses through a charity.

Outside that you can fit a oil watch man and it will give you an indication of the levels as they drop

Daisy M

For 800e you would have got approx 1000l of oil which is loads and will not be gone after a month or two unless you have it on 24/7. Make sure the heating is set at a comfortable setting and not too high. We use approx 1600/1800l of oil in a year house is 4bed 2 living room kitchen and 2 bathrooms approx 1800 sqft. We have children so oil is used a lot during cold periods and there is always someone in the house throughout the day all year around. We do have an open fire but even when this is going the children will be off in other rooms so we have to keep them warm too.
If you don't have an oil watchman or can't afford to buy one, take a measurement each week using a clean stick. Take markings and get an idea how much you are using each week, but remember you will use more during the colder periods. Some oil companies allow you to spread the cost of your oil over the year by paying by direct debit each month. I think you pay for initial fill and then spread out payment over 12 months. I think it was top oil I saw this advertised in.

IrishTeacher

Thanks everyone for the reponses! We don't have a thing that lets us set the temp - it's just on or off! I might do the stick idea. I can't ask the neighbours as every house on our row is very different and we're the only one not built in the last 10 years (we're 60+ years old). You've all put my mind at ease anyway.

We really only need to heat one room at a time so I might even look into one of those portable gas heaters. I know there's the issue with ventilation with those though.

Thanks!

heinbloed

Oil consumption can be meassured:

http://www.commercialfuelsolutions.co.uk/systems/flow_meter/oil_heating_meter/

For a calibert precision instrument check the www for "Braun HZ3" or "Braun HZ5", not much of a prize difference to the VZ04.

There are others as well.

Billy Bunting

For the price of half a tank, give over!!

ArtSmart

heinbloed wrote: »

Oil consumption can be meassured:

http://www.commercialfuelsolutions.co.uk/systems/flow_meter/oil_heating_meter/

For a calibert precision instrument check the www for "Braun HZ3" or "Braun HZ5", not much of a prize difference to the VZ04.

There are others as well.

aye. The big sthick.

heinbloed

Knowledge costs money, Billy Bunting.

Ignorance is cheap and keeps the plumber happy, not the consumer.

Billy Bunting

heinbloed wrote: »

Oil consumption can be meassured:

http://www.commercialfuelsolutions.co.uk/systems/flow_meter/oil_heating_meter/

For a calibert precision instrument check the www for "Braun HZ3" or "Braun HZ5", not much of a prize difference to the VZ04.

There are others as well.

I'm ignorant!!! Tell me what it would cost for the OP to have any of these fitted

The Helpful Engineer

I wrote a piece on this which may be of some help.

http://thehelpfulengineer.com/index.php/2011/02/how-much-does-an-oil-boiler-cost-per-hour/

heinbloed

Billy Bunting asks:

I'm ignorant!!! Tell me what it would cost for the OP to have any of these fitted

You better ask a competent person.

heinbloed

Thanks, The Helpful Engineer.

Therefore if we assume that the boiler, when operating, burns oil for 65% of the time,

These meters aren't designed for assumptions, they are meassuring devices. No question how much the string costs.

These meters have in common (the calibrated ones for less than €200.-) that the installer will have to pay the oil bill - if the heating oil consumption is beyond good and evil. Not only the exagerated fuel bill but a new heating system as well, as efficient as promised...

Bad news for the cowboys.
No dip stick guesstimates but evidence which can be used in courts if necessary. By-by to oversized boilers and non-adjusted radiators, to inefficient shoddy jobs.

Billy Bunting

You do like assumptions, and you'll need a lot more on this one.

Joey the lips

The next one to carry on smart comments past this post will receive a ban. The ban will be long enough to give my head peace. Now stop playing games and share the love.

Daisy M

IrishTeacher wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the reponses! We don't have a thing that lets us set the temp - it's just on or off! I might do the stick idea. I can't ask the neighbours as every house on our row is very different and we're the only one not built in the last 10 years (we're 60+ years old). You've all put my mind at ease anyway.

We really only need to heat one room at a time so I might even look into one of those portable gas heaters. I know there's the issue with ventilation with those though.

Thanks!

Are you sure you dont have a temp control? If you have an outdoor boiler the temp setting control is usually housed there. Ours is an indoor bolier and it is on the bolier. The last house we lived in it was in the boiler shed. You should def look into getting someform of individual heating for your main living area. We have an open fire in one room and a provence gas stove in the other. The stove is great gives out fab heat but do make sure to get a carbon monoxide alarm to be safe. Tanks of gas cost 32.50e but if you can locate a stockist in your nearest town it will be much cheaper 27.e. They can only be used in a large room and with good ventilation, look on the provence website for more info if you are thinking of getting one. Alternatively you could get an oilfilled/oilfree rad which are good and cheaper to buy than the stove.