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Oil Consumption

  • 20-04-2018 8:54pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 245 ✭✭


    Quick one lads, 500l of Kero gone in 6 weeks?? Its the second fill since we moved in but still thats almost €60/week in oil, could it be the burner? Do I have a leak??


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 863 ✭✭✭goldenhoarde


    Rifter wrote: »
    Quick one lads, 500l of Kero gone in 6 weeks?? Its the second fill since we moved in but still thats almost €60/week in oil, could it be the burner? Do I have a leak??

    How many hours a day is it on for for a start? About 4/5 litres per hour is about 100 hrs which in six weeks is about 3 hrs a day

    An average oil-burning furnace uses somewhere between 0.8 and 1.7 gallons per hour while in operation. Find out where yours stands and if it performs to specification. Depending on their age and design, some models will use more or less than the average.

    Taken from http://blog.smarttouchenergy.com/how-much-heating-oil-will-i-use-during-winter


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 801 ✭✭✭Roadtoad


    How old is the burner? Condensing? When last serviced?
    Zone control, even manually, e.g. have you turned off rads in non occupied rooms?
    Turn down the stat.
    Welcome to the new house, and all that goes with it!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 136 ✭✭Sausage dog


    We used 500litres in about 7 weeks....again new house & had it on a lot when we had the snow.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,590 ✭✭✭agusta


    How many hours a day is it on for for a start? About 4/5 litres per hour is about 100 hrs which in six weeks is about 3 hrs a day

    An average oil-burning furnace uses somewhere between 0.8 and 1.7 gallons per hour while in operation. Find out where yours stands and if it performs to specification. Depending on their age and design, some models will use more or less than the average.

    Taken from http://blog.smarttouchenergy.com/how-much-heating-oil-will-i-use-during-winter
    These figures are totally incorrect.A normal domestic boiler in an average house might only use 2 litres per hour on average


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,556 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    agusta wrote: »
    These figures are totally incorrect.A normal domestic boiler in an average house might only use 2 litres per hour on average
    Have to agree. Even at a low consumption with the system running for 3 - 4 hours a day its suggested that 1000 litres could be used in 5 or 6 weeks which is a load of old hog wash.

    I filled my tank near the end of November last (might have been early Dec) and I would have enough kero to keep me going for another month perhaps


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,041 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Rifter wrote: »
    Quick one lads, 500l of Kero gone in 6 weeks?? Its the second fill since we moved in but still thats almost €60/week in oil, could it be the burner? Do I have a leak??
    I get about 6-8 weeks from 500 litres in winter but I suppose it would depend on the size of the house/number of radiators/ heating setting etc. As has been said, consumption would have went up a lot during the snow.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Rifter wrote: »
    Quick one lads, 500l of Kero gone in 6 weeks?? Its the second fill since we moved in but still thats almost €60/week in oil, could it be the burner? Do I have a leak??

    How long is it on for?
    How old is the house?
    What kind of insulation have you got?
    Is it the sole heating source?

    We use 1,000 liters a year. It’s on 6 months over winter, 6 hours a day, rest of year from 0 to 3 hours. We’ve a thermostat in living room set at 20 degrees. It’s an old cottage insulated on inside with insulated boards. No other heat source. Burner about 10 years old, serviced annually

    So, to answer your question, usage seems high!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,041 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    ...We use 1,000 liters a year. It’s on 6 months over winter, 6 hours a day, rest of year from 0 to 3 hours. We’ve a thermostat in living room set at 20 degrees. It’s an old cottage insulated on inside with insulated boards. No other heat source. Burner about 10 years old, serviced annually

    So, to answer your question, usage seems high!
    Presumably if it's an old cottage, it is probably smallish. The OP may have a large house with 20+ radiators so it's difficult to compare.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 245 ✭✭Rifter


    How long is it on for?
    How old is the house?
    What kind of insulation have you got?
    Is it the sole heating source?

    We use 1,000 liters a year. It’s on 6 months over winter, 6 hours a day, rest of year from 0 to 3 hours. We’ve a thermostat in living room set at 20 degrees. It’s an old cottage insulated on inside with insulated boards. No other heat source. Burner about 10 years old, serviced annually

    So, to answer your question, usage seems high!

    House is 112sqm, 9 rads, 2 Thermostats(both set to 20deg), all rads set at 4(max is 5)

    Heating is on for a total of 3hours per day


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,041 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Rifter wrote: »
    House is 112sqm, 9 rads, 2 Thermostats(both set to 20deg), all rads set at 4(max is 5)

    Heating is on for a total of 3hours per day
    That consumption seems a bit excessive alright as I have 15 radiators and the heating would be on for more than 3 hours a day.

    Is there any signs of leaking around the tank?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 245 ✭✭Rifter


    That consumption seems a bit excessive alright as I have 15 radiators and the heating would be on for more than 3 hours a day.

    Is there any signs of leaking around the tank?

    No, no sign of leaks!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,590 ✭✭✭agusta


    Rifter wrote: »
    House is 112sqm, 9 rads, 2 Thermostats(both set to 20deg), all rads set at 4(max is 5)

    Heating is on for a total of 3hours per day
    If your certain the heating is on for no more than 3 hours per day, its not possible to use 500 litres of oil in 6 weeks.Id recommend getting the boiler serviced and the get a pressure test done on the oil line.A competent service technician should have a flue gas analyser and equipment to pressure test the oil line.Also make sure there is no one taking oil from the tank


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,041 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    Are you using a reputable supplier? (i.e. are you getting the 500 litres that you're paying for?)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,041 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    That consumption seems a bit excessive alright as I have 15 radiators and the heating would be on for more than 3 hours a day.

    Is there any signs of leaking around the tank?
    Damn - just discovered that I have a small leak where the pipe connects with the tank. Got 500 liters today (6 weeks after previous 500 liter delivery). One drop leaking every 2 or 3 minutes so no big deal but i'm wondering if it's worth the price of a plumber call out and a day of hanging around waiting.

    (PS - in the previous post I said i had 15 radiators - it's actually 16 plus 4 heated towel rails which I forgot about so I suppose that's the equivalent of 20 radiators.)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 98 ✭✭coolbreeze01


    What boiler have you?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,041 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    What boiler have you?
    It’s a Grant Vortex 90-120 according to what’s printed on the front.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 138 ✭✭Subtle


    Make sure to check for leaks at the tank connection and also at the filters. Often a seep develops and the nuts need a tiny little tighten to stop the leak. Use a tissue or just your nose.

    Worth turning off heating for a few days and dip sticking tank to check that out level stays the same and that way you can rule out leaks (above or under ground)...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 245 ✭✭Rifter


    Thank you for all the feedback, it was a combo of the burner and a leak!! All sorted now, albeit costly!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,223 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    After moving my tank I discovered a leak that has contaminated a fair bit of soil. Read some research. Turns out you can remediate in situ with nitrogen fertiliser and maybe a bit of washing powder.

    Will give it a try.


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