Looking at converting from oil to gas...

white_westie

At a crossroads with home heating, and am looking at gas option - have access to mains gas.

Current Heating is 15yrs old - external heatpac firebird boiler, sited approx 15m from house.
Tank is same age, but has a small crack around top fill hole - reckon oil man dropped nozzle on tank
Sealed up okay, and has not changed in last few years
Possibly will require replacements in next few yrs!
Single zone system (incl hot water) - due to layout of pipe runs, zoning is not suitable without major disruption to house.
Controls are simple 7 day/3 event programmable timer with 1hr boost control - no thermostat in house.
Probable water leak in external pipes (reckon 1k euro to find and fix leak, so hence looking at bigger picture).


Heating profile
Smallish 3 bed semi-detached house with 35sqm single story extension at rear
9/10 rads - all replaced during last 15yrs
someone at home every day, so heating on downstairs most of the day, during heating season.
upstairs 3 bedrooms heating only on during evening
most rads fitted with standalone programmable trv's (since jan this year) - so they provide soft zoning for bedrooms
hot water cyclinder replaced with insulated copper version probably 10-12yrs ago
pumped electric shower used for main hot water (in place 25+yrs)
electric immersion on timer 3 times daily (also in place 25+yrs)
Currently using bathroom and hall rads as bypass - no trvs fitted.


Reading through posts here and elsewhere and talking to some bodies, I reckon 5k euro would get me the following:-

Gas Networks to connect to grid and install meter

RGI to install/commision new boiler etc

HE (maybe veismann) gas boiler with good modulation support
mag filter plus inhibitor
bypass valve
balanced flue
wired correctly with smart controls and wireless thermostat
some plumbing changes - no zoning
gas connection from meter
powerflush current system
no requirement for cooking
other bits?

So is this a fair cost assessement for a gas convertion?
I know there are various grants available, but they come with restrictions/requirements which I probably won't meet, so am not worried about them at the moment.
Reckon running costs probably not much different from oil!

Pros
no oil tank, no worries about running out, gas always on
cleaner/neater install

Cons
Probably wont see payback for changeover investment - maybe in 10yrs, but hard to quantify benefits during that time.
Gas has standing charge/PSO charges regardless of usage
Boiler has to be fitted internally in house, requires space etc
RGI required to even look at boiler
Get the feeling that gas boilers dont last as long at oil!


I understand that improving insulation (especially in extension) to reduce heat loss, would be a better investment than a boiler upgrade, but fixing the water leak is forcing me to think beyond just the find/fix.
I upgraded half my kitchen last year (cooking side), the other half is pending due to location of heating and water pipes. Also only possible location for a gas boiler would dictate layout, so its held up until decison on heating/plumbing changes.
Since the cold season is only just finishing, i have been just keeping the heating working by manually topping water pressure up on a daily basis - not a good idea, but needs must!
I know I have probably done damage to current system due to constant fresh water refreshing, just not sure how much yet.

Its now decision time.

Comments appreciated.

WW

white_westie

Any takers? even simple yes/no...

white_westie

@Tom44 - post deleted? hope you slept well..

Anyway, apologies for the long thread - got a bit carried away with the extra stuff.

So maybe 3 shorter questions

1) if I have/opt to replace my boiler should it be gas all the way?

2) From reading I think running costs puts gas slightly cheaper than oil, but is there a usage level which changes that?
e.g: boiler size, boiler load, zoning, cooking as well as space heating, heating on all day v on early morning and evening only

3) Is 5K euro a valid budget cost for a full gas boiler install with all the trimmings?
e.g: modulating HE boiler, mag filter, inhibitor, thermostat, powerflush, installing/commisioning, etc