New boiler: time running out for oil?

RainInSummer

Hi all,

Looks like the old Grant is in a bit of a jock and I'm considering a new condensing oil boiler.

Crystal ball gazing time here but I'm wondering if the new boiler will have time to pay itself off before carbon taxes etc make oil the worst possible option to heat your home. Mains gas not an option and wouldn't touch gas in a tank.
I don't think a heat pump would suit without a complete airtightness rework of the house either.

Anyone got any best guess roadmap in mind for what way the go to rural dwelling B3 rated home will be heated by in ten years time say?

TIA.

Wearb

If you old boiler is running well and -assuming less than 20 years old and well maintained- there will be about a 20+ year payback time on a new boiler.

RainInSummer

Wearb wrote: »

If you old boiler is running well and -assuming less than 20 years old and well maintained- there will be about a 20+ year payback time on a new boiler.

No, first line in the post was meant to convey it's hosed. I guess 'bit of a jock' is a Carlowism. It's undergone three separate blocks of work in the last two years and is now failing to start again.

I'd prefer to just get rid and draw a line under it as we're heading in torward summer. Main concern is that I'd swap it out for a shiny new one and find that oil will be taxed to the hilt.

Edit, it's 16 years old minimum.

Wearb

RainInSummer wrote: »

No, first line in the post was meant to convey it's hosed. I guess 'bit of a jock' is a Carlowism. It's undergone three separate blocks of work in the last two years and is now failing to start again.

I'd prefer to just get rid and draw a line under it as we're heading in torward summer. Main concern is that I'd swap it out for a shiny new one and find that oil will be taxed to the hilt.

Edit, it's 16 years old minimum.

16 years isn't really old for an oil boiler. You are not having knowledgable guys looking at it is my guess.



Anyway to address your question. Loads of oil boilers being manufactured and installed. There has been speculation of oil taking a big hit for decades now and who knows if it'll happen or not. My feeling is that because so many are still depending on it, it will not be overly taxed, at least until alternative heating options become available to the masses.

RainInSummer

Wearb wrote: »

16 years isn't really old for an oil boiler. You are not having knowledgable guys looking at it is my guess.



Anyway to address your question. Loads of oil boilers being manufactured and installed. There has been speculation of oil taking a big hit for decades now and who knows if it'll happen or not. My feeling is that because so many are still depending on it, it will not be overly taxed, at least until alternative heating options become available to the masses.

Cheers. They come well recommended anyways.

jimf

was at a boiler last friday

homeowner was told by 2 previous guys new boiler was her only option 2.5 k or there abouts money she didnt have and would need a credit union loan if she went ahead

new set of baffles and a full service and set up properly using fga total 180eu


left it running as sweet as a nut

met her today in shop and she says as good as first day it was fitted

imho unless boiler is totally falling to bits or leaking then most are worth repairing

Wearb

jimf wrote: »

was at a boiler last friday

homeowner was told by 2 previous guys new boiler was her only option 2.5 k or there abouts money she didnt have and would need a credit union loan if she went ahead

new set of baffles and a full service and set up properly using fga total 180eu


left it running as sweet as a nut

met her today in shop and she says as good as first day it was fitted

imho unless boiler is totally falling to bits or leaking then most are worth repairing

+1
So many out there that don't fully understand boilers well enough to get that most can be repaired.

The cost of a new boiler (fitted) amounts to about €150 per year if paid off annually over its lifetime. It will also need close to €100 annually service.
Every year you keep your old boiler running PROPERLY you save that €150.
Difficult to convince customers that have been let down by bad service or own neglect to value of having a good annual service.

K.Flyer

Agree with Jim and Wearb.
More often than not boilers, both gas and oil, suffer from lack of or poor servicing resulting in poor running and breakdowns, often leaving the owners thinking that a new and expensive boiler replacement will solve their problems. When quite often all they need is a bit of TLC a decent overhaul / service and they are right as rain for years to come.

jimf

K.Flyer wrote: »

Agree with Jim and Wearb.
More often than not boilers, both gas and oil, suffer from lack of or poor servicing resulting in poor running and breakdowns, often leaving the owners thinking that a new and expensive boiler replacement will solve their problems. When quite often all they need is a bit of TLC a decent overhaul / service and they are right as rain for years to come.

spot on

jimf

its scary what you see out there

boilers serviced every year and still running on the original oil hose

enfant terrible

jimf wrote: »

its scary what you see out there

boilers serviced every year and still running on the original oil hose

Hi Jim,

Do you service oil boilers in the Limerick area, Dooradoyle?

jimf

enfant terrible wrote: »

Hi Jim,

Do you service oil boilers in the Limerick area, Dooradoyle?

yes you can pm me

jimf

Mr.Sir wrote: »

That hose was new once.

ya as in 20 years ago in some cases ;);)

glog

From experience, who are the best people to get in to do an Oil Boiler Service?
I'm presuming a Service Specialist rather than a run of the mill plumber?

Any recommendations for the Cork area?

TIA
gLog

SouthWesterly

Had a Stanley boiler in the house that was 25 years old. Not big enough or efficient enough to heat the house.

Even the man who commissioned it said it was time to replace.
Got a firebird. House is warm in 30 minutes. An hour or 2 is enough to heat the place.

monseiur

RainInSummer wrote: »

Hi all,

Looks like the old Grant is in a bit of a jock and I'm considering a new condensing oil boiler.

Crystal ball gazing time here but I'm wondering if the new boiler will have time to pay itself off before carbon taxes etc make oil the worst possible option to heat your home. Mains gas not an option and wouldn't touch gas in a tank.
I don't think a heat pump would suit without a complete airtightness rework of the house either.

Anyone got any best guess roadmap in mind for what way the go to rural dwelling B3 rated home will be heated by in ten years time say?

TIA.

Your existing boiler has two main components the cast iron boiler and the burner. I would hazard a guess that your boiler just needs a good clean and perhaps new set of baffles. Your burner may need to be replaced - it should cost no more than €400.00 fitted and with an annual service will last 20 to 30 years.

Retro fitting your house to suit heat pump etc. will cost a big fistful of euros and is at best 60% successful. Be very wary of slick sales reps. who have a vested interest!
Even if heating oil increases in price by say 50% due to carbon taxes, OPEC cartel agreements etc. chances are that by sticking with oil for the next 10 to 20 years you will save some cash and the technology re. air to air, air to water etc. etc. will be more advanced and perhaps cheaper by then. Same applies to electric cars, once mass production gets underway prices will drop.
In the meantime (if not already done) upgrade your attic insulation to at least 300mm, ensure that your windows & doors are draughtproof and fit TRV's etc.
If you are in an exposed area storm porches with patio type doors should be considered.

Merrion

I'd actually look at it the other way - money has never been cheaper (i.e. saving rates are dreadful, borrowing rates are really low) and interest will be lower than the rate of fuel price increases so a euro invested now in reducing your energy costs now will be better than the future value of that euro spent on fuel.

That said how you spend that euro now is worth some research. Insulation and draft remediation would seem to offer the best ROI, getting the boiler fixed and tuned to a lower temperature would be a quick win but if you expect to live more than 20 years you might find the up-front cost of electrification and solar heat / solar PV will pay for itself.

jimf

Merrion wrote: »

I'd actually look at it the other way - money has never been cheaper (i.e. saving rates are dreadful, borrowing rates are really low) and interest will be lower than the rate of fuel price increases so a euro invested now in reducing your energy costs now will be better than the future value of that euro spent on fuel.

That said how you spend that euro now is worth some research. Insulation and draft remediation would seem to offer the best ROI, getting the boiler fixed and tuned to a lower temperature so that it is actually condensing would be a quick win but if you expect to live more than 20 years you might find the up-front cost of electrification and solar heat / solar PV will pay for itself.

how will lowering the output /temp get a non condensing boiler to condense

Merrion

Yeah - that was crossed wires from reading two posts in quick succession.