Help choosing Boiler (Gas / Oil / Solid Fuel)

brianeoc

Hi There,
I'm looking for some help / advice on which boiler would be best to install in a terraced two storey house. Downstairs is just one large living area, a small toilet and small hall with stairs. Upstairs has three bedrooms and a small bathroom. There is a total of nine radiators in the house.
We currently are running off a central heating system that services our whole housing estate (Wood pellet boiler) but due to the system being crap it's being turned off and we all have to find our own heating system (long story which I won't go into).

Gas option - We've been told that we can't have a gas tank in the back garden as their is no access to refill. We'd have to use the large gas cylinders for this option.

Oil Option - We'd be able to have an oil tank in the back but the pipe would have to go through the house to refill it.

Stove option - Fitted into where our chimney is at the moment in the main living area downstairs. This will be large enough to heat all our water and radiators.

The house is very well insulated and doesn't need that much heat to get it nice and cosy. We're lucky as the main large back windows are south to west facing so it gets alot of sunlight during the day.

I'd appreciate it if someone could answer one or all of the following questions

1. Gas Option - I'm worried about the price and cost of running this boiler. Does any have any experience on how efficient they are? Has the price of the large gas cylinders fluctuated much recently?

2. Stove Option - During the mild summer months, I'm worried about the heat generated in the main living room downstairs from the stove when you have to have it turned on for hot water. Can you restrict this in someway? Since it's going to be located in the main living area (kitchen / living room) I'm worried this heat from it will be too much.

3. Stove Option - For hot water in the morning do you have to wake up early and light it up?

4. Total cost of ownership - I'd like to pick the cheapest and most cost effective option. I'm don't really mind about the initial install costs but I am worried about the price of oil and the gas cylinders.


I'd very much appreciate your thoughts and comments on the matter.

Thanks in advance
Brian

Stove Fan

brianeoc wrote: »

Hi There,
I'm looking for some help / advice on which boiler would be best to install in a terraced two storey house. Downstairs is just one large living area, a small toilet and small hall with stairs. Upstairs has three bedrooms and a small bathroom. There is a total of nine radiators in the house.
We currently are running off a central heating system that services our whole housing estate (Wood pellet boiler) but due to the system being crap it's being turned off and we all have to find our own heating system (long story which I won't go into).

Gas option - We've been told that we can't have a gas tank in the back garden as their is no access to refill. We'd have to use the large gas cylinders for this option.
Personally I would forget the gas cylinder option. LPG has got to be one the most expensive ways to heat a house. Friends bought gas cylinders and ended up not using it.
Oil Option - We'd be able to have an oil tank in the back but the pipe would have to go through the house to refill it.
Would the fill pipe have to go through the house? Your house is terraced with no rear acess? The hoses can be very long?
Stove option - Fitted into where our chimney is at the moment in the main living area downstairs. This will be large enough to heat all our water and radiators.
This could be an option. I like stoves. An inset boiler stove may be best. We use ours entirely. We use an immersion heater in summer when not lit to heat the domestic hot water. This is on a timer to come on when we want it too.

The house is very well insulated and doesn't need that much heat to get it nice and cosy. We're lucky as the main large back windows are south to west facing so it gets alot of sunlight during the day.

I'd appreciate it if someone could answer one or all of the following questions

1. Gas Option - I'm worried about the price and cost of running this boiler. Does any have any experience on how efficient they are? Has the price of the large gas cylinders fluctuated much recently?
Gas/oil boilers are very efficient but it's the price of the fuel that cripples you.
2. Stove Option - During the mild summer months, I'm worried about the heat generated in the main living room downstairs from the stove when you have to have it turned on for hot water. Can you restrict this in someway? Since it's going to be located in the main living area (kitchen / living room) I'm worried this heat from it will be too much.

3. Stove Option - For hot water in the morning do you have to wake up early and light it up?

4. Total cost of ownership - I'd like to pick the cheapest and most cost effective option. I'm don't really mind about the initial install costs but I am worried about the price of oil and the gas cylinders.
I'd very much appreciate your thoughts and comments on the matter.

Thanks in advance
Brian

I would say your best options are solid fuel boiler stove then oil if you can find a way to fill it. May be an idea to call a oil supplier to look at your situation when next passing by.

Either way the install isn't going to be cheap:eek:.

Stove Fan:)

Plombier

If your house is well insulated you should look into an air source heatpump you will get lots of differing opinions here and from sales people but if you get a good and reputable installer this will be your best option I think.

LPG is expensive even in bulk purchases but by the bottle it is very expensive.

Solid fuel is great but inconvenient.

With oil you will have to consider the cost of installing a fill pipe through your house.

rpmcs

Another option is pellet stove, not external type,
I had electric storage heater's i my house when i bought it, same as yours, end of terrace, 8/9 rads,
Didnt want oil and solid fuel is not a switch on so put in pellet stove, Palazzetti, love it, in depths of hard winter with herself at home on maternity i would go through maybe at most six bags of pellets per week
(brites10kg@€3) so 15/18 euro a week, set it to come on same as oil/gas but needs to be cleaned out maybe once a week but to be honest it minimal and i often leave mine up to a month but better to keep it cleaned,
plus the room it is in is warmed and does not need a rad on,

when it went in first its fans noise is noticeably, but after a while i have to look over to notice its on, would compare its noise to, or not even as noisy as a fan extractor on one setting,

brianeoc

Thanks Guys, I think purely from an economical point of view we going to go with the solid fuel stove. I know it's more hassle but hopefully it will be worth it due to the cost saving.

Thanks again for all the replies. It's helped make up my mind.

maireadmcm

hi

You might try a solid fuel boiler. This would be installed externally therefore it is cleaner to run and easily installed. Solid fuel boilers offer up to 95% efficiency and are mutli fuel so wood, turf or coal may be used.