Price of turf

Anyone have an idea of the cost of a 10 x 6 load of turf?

RockOrBog

10 x 6 turf trailer? With the high sides?

300 to 500 depend on where you are and the kind of turf

StevenToast

Turf

Bass Reeves

As a fuel turf is really poor value IMO. Any load you get nowadays is mostly air because of sod length and shape.

older by the day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058311260/price-of-turf

6 euro per bag delivered I heard someone was charging here in West cork. It's bad value. Better off buying a tank of oil or moving to a refugee center for the couple of cold months.

tesla_newbie

I’ve a plot that came with my two acre dwelling property , long time since we had a tougher summer to season turf so it can’t be cheap right now?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121040626#Comment_121040626

It's a one off for some months until chimneys are lined.

Old house, keep the place warm and no spark worries.

THen it will be wood...lots of wood with hopefully enough particulate matter to give Ryan a fit.

Aravo

RTÉ had a report yesterday on firelighters being a major source of air pollution.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2023/0828/1402053-firelighter-research/

Have oil and turf/timber here. If I had just oil, I would be robbed.

blackbox

Unless you have your own source of turf or wood, I reckon oil would be cheaper.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121043707#Comment_121043707

I would agree with that and when you add its ease of use it away ahead of any other fuel source. We use wood in a back boiler stove but I hate to be buying it

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121043739#Comment_121043739

A friend always reckoned that every sod of turf you save is handled at least 7 times. Lifting, footing, loading into the trailer, stacking in the shed, putting it into a bucket/bag to bring to the house, putting it into the fire and finally shoveling the ashes into a bucket. Having said that it's a cheap form of fuel when you have your own bog and makes for a nice fire. We sometimes run ofch in very cold weather.

Lime Tree Farm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121043168#Comment_121043168

Did you ever hear such nonsense - they might if you were burning scuttle bucket full of them

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121044043#Comment_121044043

Add reeking and turning as well

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121044050#Comment_121044050

In future I use a couple of plastic milk bottles with a bit if a rubber tyre or silage plastic inside with paper and black engine to light the fire so

Aravo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121043707#Comment_121043707

I should have said that I have my own plot of turf. Generally only lit in evenings.

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121044043#Comment_121044043

It’s cheap if you place zero value on time , it’s extremely laborious, in truth it’s popularity has a lot more to do with cultural tradition than cost savings

nothing wrong with that mind you

RockOrBog

I paid €510 for 6 x hoppers of turf. Worked out at 4 loads when bone dry, that's 10 x 6 tractor trailer with 5ft sides.

In rural areas it is cost effective, all things taken into account. It's also a tradition goes back a long time.

When compared to the mega polluters of the world the turf is a grain of sand on the beach.

memorystick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121040391#Comment_121040391

Dear ashes

And plenty of them.

Bangoverthebar

Will ash die back kill off turf. The country is full of dead ash.

Im knocking 2 fully dead mature ones this week. Should provide heat for mine and parents house for 2 to 3 years. Loads more in hedge rows starting to die.

Its a terrible shame as ireland has such an affinity with the ash.

But every cloud has a smokey lining.

Base price

We cut down 4 mature trees that were along the road earlier in the year and two last year in one of the fields. The two from last year are cut up in the shed drying and the four will be tackled over the winter weather permitting. We didn't cut any turf this year as we had enough from last year. Unfortunately there are probably another ten ash trees on their way out in various hedgerows but we will leave them be for future harvesting.

CrazyEric

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121044043#Comment_121044043

I remember an old saying " he who cuts timber for the fire warms himself twice"

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121052695#Comment_121052695

There is lots of ojd saying, my favourite one is

''A woman who cooks meat and pea's in the same pot is very unhygienic ''

There is a spelling error there🤔

😂😂

Birdnuts

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121052575#Comment_121052575

Some evidence now of recovery from the disease in certain areas, hopefully resistant genes will quickly spread threw the population. As for turf, I have a 3 Hectare plot adjacent to my place in North Mayo but haven't cut any these last few years as frankly it just produced a vast amount of ash for the little heat you get in return. Burning logs now I get from a pal further inland who inherited a failed spruce plantation.

Good loser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121052650#Comment_121052650

Did you push from the roadside with a tractor or loader while you cut the base? Have 2/4 to knock on a ditch along a byroad this Autumn and was hoping to use that method.

Bangoverthebar

Turf must warm you 5 or 6 times😃

893bet

I find heat ok from turf. I only take relatively black stuff and won’t burn this years stuff till next summer.

Bangoverthebar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121064642#Comment_121064642

My nextdoor neighbour is a tree felling ninja, he uses knock trees for the Esb.

They were along a farm lane, no road risk.

I was to meet him after morning milking. When i got down he had them knocked.

You could get a track machine if very close to road

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121064642#Comment_121064642

A local man was on site at his out farm with his excavator which is beside us and he tracked down the road and pushed them into the field when they were half/two thirds cut. It was done within 20 minutes.

tesla_newbie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121068313#Comment_121068313

peculiar analogy

Aravo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121052695#Comment_121052695

I had a excavator in recently clearing off some ash trees near a shed. They had the ash die back disease. So I paid this person. Then I cut up the timber with my chain saw. Used the log holder for done smaller bits to hold while cutting up. Then used log splitter to split the large logs. Have not put them into shed yet. Will all this work with the timber and costs for the bits I have bought and chainsaw maintenance. I find the turf works out at extremely good value for money for the work involved.

AnF Chuckie egg

I put in 8kw of Solar panels along with an air to water heat pump. I've 1130 credit built up on my electric bill at the moment but that will get used up over the winter. The heat pump costs about 250 per month to run for the 6 months of winter. But when you add it all up its still is costing me less than a trailer of turf

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070493#Comment_121070493

The capital installation cost of the 8kw and jlheat pump were free? Handy man maths 😀

AnF Chuckie egg

idk the exact figure but after grants it came in at round 11k for the whole system. A soild fuel heating system has a capital cost too

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070761#Comment_121070761

In most cases the solid fuel system is insitu. Very few nowadays install SF systems. So the replacement costs of any new system is a factor. I have an oil and solid fuel system that is over thirty years old.

The timber is virtually free and we use about 1k litres of kerosene costing about 870 at present. In you case your system seems to be costing you 500/ year and maintenance costs. Mtce costs will generally be more expensive than SF or oil based systems and my understanding is that HP's have about a ten year lifespan.

Looking at the the saving wound not even cover the internet costs on the money

J.O. Farmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070493#Comment_121070493

You must have a very well insulated house.

If you had an old cottage you'd also have the cost of insulating which is a significant upfront cost even with grants.

I think that does get forgotten about when talking about how cheap these renewable sources are.

AnF Chuckie egg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070866#Comment_121070866

1k of Oil costs 1120 at the moment not 870. Where are you getting your facts from, Heat pumps have a lifespan of up to 50 years, on average they last 15+ years with little or no maintenance. Mine came with a 10 year warranty on all parts. What maintenance costs are you on about, there is none, it's not like an Oil boiler that needs to be serviced every year, or a SF system that has to be cleaned out or Chimney swept.

Interest on money!!? ah ffs get a life

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070898#Comment_121070898

No, it's a 1999 built home. Had the loft insulated and the cavities pumped with bead a few years back, that cost around 800 after grants.

Say my name

If heat pumps are the same tech as milk cooling compressors but in reverse, 50 years lifespan is hugely optimistic and unrealistic.

The newer versions are much improved but even still 10 years would be more like it. And maintenance re keeping gas pressurised would need to happen.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121071044#Comment_121071044

My oil is in the tank at 870 euro for 1k litres I can only work off my present costs. Just like you are. My understanding is that HP do not have that length of lifespan you indicate and some are already being replaced. 10 years parts and warranty are absolutely no use for a few reasons if there is a serious issue the company that supplies the units goes into liquidation, the other factor is labour costs. We all remember the whirlpool 10 year parts warranty, the labour cost was the killer. The only advantage of a ten years parts warranty is as long as the company is in place they have to supply the parts......for ten years after that the issue may be you cannot get the parts.

I have never seen anything with moving parts that dose not have mtce issues and the fans in A/C units which are similar to HP always gave issues. Gas replacement is another issue.

Finally all money has a value, anyone investing in such a set up is looking at a 20k cost at present.

Silverdream

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070493#Comment_121070493

Thinking of changing myself, I've seen those heat pumps and have gotten mixed reviews. I think the ESB bills are severe if you don't have the solar panels. Have Oil and a stove at present. By the sounds of it you got it done at the right time, things are gone thought the roof price wise at present. Can't even get a quote for anywork to be done until next april so I'll have to solider on with the Oil. Yep got quoted 1150 today for 1k, I'll have to go ahead as theres another carbon tax been added to Oil in the next few weeks. Depressing stuff.

The turf is useless on it's own you'd have to sit on top of the stove to warm yourself then spend a full half an hour in the morning cleaning the ashes out. Spent over 2k last year on Oil and that wasn't over doing it. First fill of Oil came in at 1600 😪

As for the turf the Fecken ash off the turf destroys the place, I've yet to find away of getting the ashes out of the house cleanly. Coal is cleaner but the greens have made that out of the question.

AnF Chuckie egg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072823#Comment_121072823

You're just making stuff up now. The price of home heating Oil is there for everyone to see. There are several companies offer very long warranties on there heat pumps. They have moved on significantly, all the main manufactures are using ceramic bearings, balanced rotors and synthetic seals, they just don't break down like you are trying to imply. Gas replacement is not an issue, it can be topped up if needed, but again not something that happens.

Here's my current credit for the Electric

Can you show me an Invoice for 1000L of Home heating Oil for 870?

older by the day

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073123#Comment_121073123

It was down to 88 around here 3 MTHS ago. You don't know who you are dealing with, he would go to Iraq with a shovel if he could get it cheaper. As for making stuff up. Telling us that a thing built nowadays will last for 50yrs ??? Are you selling those yokes are what. I heard of massive electricity bills from modern houses and the home are empty all day. I know of one lad with a three year old house and he put in a stove for this winter

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121073123#Comment_121073123

Bought it mid June. It was 87c/L 1 cent cheaper than Agri diesel at the time because kerosene always is I was aware of the carbon tax being levied on it. . What the cost of your HP today and what is the cost of 8kw LV panels at present, because changing any heating systems costs a fortune

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121072982#Comment_121072982

It sounds you have more of an insulation issue than a heating cost. First advice is correct your insulation before changing to any different heating system. My house was build in 1991. I insulated the house away above the standard at the time. Added about 5-7% to the build cost at the time. Under the floors are wall insulation (higher U value to floor insulation at the time it was 2'' pink and tongued and grooved standards white 1'').

Wall are pumped with 4'' of Rockwood ( a crowd called Belfast Home insulations from NI did it) and the inside is slabbed with a 1'' insulated board (polyurethane I think). I still get an F rating if I got a BER done as guess what I have no invoice for them. Attics are 6'' Rockwood.

But that insulation has saved me a fortune. Thinking of getting the underneath of the slates done with the spray on Insulation.

House is around 1850 sq foot I think. So not small but not huge either. I do not think the wrap will be of any substantial benifit to me. We have an oil Stanley range which is an inefficient beast. However it has cost us nothing for the last 30+ years in maintenance, you cannot get a condenser burner for them. At present ( next year)we have to either refurbish it ( about 4k) , swop it out for a woodpellet boiler or reconfigure the heating for an external condenser boiler. Any of the options are similar in price.

We have solar tubes on the roof east facing ( 60 of them) which means we have hot water from early March to mid October. That cost about 3k at the ime next, it reduced our oil demand by 100 L/ year so the benefits are very marginal even allowing for any electricity bell reduction

The payback on a solar PV for electricity is about 20+ years and that is assuming low maintenance costs. The Tubes are in ten years and I have had to get the fluid repressurised twice ( about 120 the first time and 160 the second time but I have enough solot fluid for the next time.

My advice is correct your insulation before you change heating systems. More than one person has made that mistake. There was a letter into the IT just before Christmas last year about people who changed to a HP and have serious electricity bill where one bill would cover there heating oil costs.

dohc turbo2

20+ years to pay back solar pv, standard house system ? Where u come up with that

J.O. Farmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121081699#Comment_121081699

Getting a loan may not even be an option if someone has other debt.

Ginger83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121070493#Comment_121070493

What company is your power with? Do you use a smart meter and do get paid or credited for power?

We do turf but a bad summer would put you off it.

dohc turbo2

I've 6.4 KW system here on smart meter, ESB credit me the units, last month my bill was 5 euro, washing machine and dishwasher etc all used during production, very happy with it so far

Silverdream

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121083261#Comment_121083261

Would like to know too. My house is well insulated, new porch and front door gone in. Problem with the turf I have there isn't great heat out of it. If I burn coal in the stove you'd be opening the windows to let out the heat after half an hour. I know other lads who have turf in another bog and it's as good as coal.

The heater pump sounds easy, I'd like the idea of free heat, the upfront cost wouldn't be a major hurdle as long as the heating bill went down

J.O. Farmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121087302#Comment_121087302

We'd all like free heat but heat pumps have a high running cost with electricity unless your house is very well insulated.

There's a big difference in black and brown turf. I've often seen black and brown side by side due to not mixing when cutting. Black turf produces more heat.

RockOrBog

I've external insulation here on a 4 bedroom bungalow it's a great job, in winter the oil heats the house in 50 mins, 3 - 4 fires in the stove will keep it ticking over for the evening / night. The ashes can be a pain though