Electricity vs. Gas vs. Oil (Co. Kildare)

ampleforth

I am buying a small house (~70 sqm) that currently has an (almost) broken oil heating system and I am wondering about the most efficient heating solution. The house has about 4-5 radiators, one bath room with a shower, a kitchen with hot water and not much more than that. The house is close to the town centre and gas heating connection is easy. Oil heating, as always is also an option but feels old fashioned. Electricity appears to to me as something expensive and inefficient but I really have not done the math and do not actually know how to estimate this for real.

So, the options are: 1) Electricity 2) Gas 3) Oil

It seems that oil and gas are very similar in efficiency. Electricity is easy to install, storage heaters are expensive, and electricity is cheap at night and expensive at day time. I am leaning towards a gas combi boiler but this is just an initial feeling.

I am looking for experiences, cost calculators (if they exist, I am aware how difficult it is to estimate this) and general advice on the subject.

Thanks in advance!

ercork

ampleforth wrote: »

I am buying a small house (~70 sqm) that currently has an (almost) broken oil heating system and I am wondering about the most efficient heating solution. The house has about 4-5 radiators, one bath room with a shower, a kitchen with hot water and not much more than that. The house is close to the town centre and gas heating connection is easy. Oil heating, as always is also an option but feels old fashioned. Electricity appears to to me as something expensive and inefficient but I really have not done the math and do not actually know how to estimate this for real.

So, the options are: 1) Electricity 2) Gas 3) Oil

It seems that oil and gas are very similar in efficiency. Electricity is easy to install, storage heaters are expensive, and electricity is cheap at night and expensive at day time. I am leaning towards a gas combi boiler but this is just an initial feeling.

I am looking for experiences, cost calculators (if they exist, I am aware how difficult it is to estimate this) and general advice on the subject.

Thanks in advance!

The SEAI have done some good work comparing the cost of the different heating systems here:

https://www.seai.ie/resources/publications/Domestic-Fuel-Cost-Comparison.pdf

On page 2 they show the unit cost of each of the different types. In your case seeing as you already have a wet central heating system installed (rads, pipes, cylinder) I would say a gas condenser boiler would be the best bet. For a modest cost (1500 maybe?) you would get a very efficient and cost effective system that would also do hot water. Oil isn't bad either but that requires an oil storage tank and tank refills. Electricity is a very expensive option due to the high unit cost. An air to water heat pump would also be a good option - probably cheaper to run than gas- but would cost a lot more to install. An air to air heat pump is not a bad option either but might not be as effective as gas and also would not do your hot water.

ampleforth

Thank you for this. This is a great source for advice.

If i had my time over id have gone for an high efficient oil burner..you can shop around for best prices.our estate has bulk LPG and we find it very expensive...prices rising often and rarely come down..we cant shop around for best price..

Pkiernan

Marcc wrote: »

If i had my time over id have gone for an high efficient oil burner..you can shop around for best prices.our estate has bulk LPG and we find it very expensive...prices rising often and rarely come down..we cant shop around for best price..

OP has Mains natural gas by the sound of things. Gas would be the way to go.

cnocbui

You might want to ask about Air source heat pumps. Basically an airconditioner in reverse. This thread has one poster mentioning €100 a month to heat a 2,800 sq foot home: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056923069