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Replace Oil central Heating with Gas

  • 28-11-2024 02:06PM
    #1
    greenbamboo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37 ✭


    Hi , I have a 24 year old oil boiler that needs replacing. Have a rural house with 15 rads. I have seen that Calor gas is offering a free new gas boiler offer and then rent their gas tank for about €140 per year. The main cost to me would be installation of the boiler and pipework to new tank. Would it be worth changing over to Gas heating and would there be much hassle with changing any pipework in the house ? Seems like a good deal rather then going out to buy a new oil boiler worth €2k ?



Comments

  • #2
    Wearb
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 6,587 Mod ✭✭✭✭Wearb


    It's very difficult to compare both. The gas contract might be very difficult to understand. It might have minimum usage requirements and other such understated charges. Hopefully someone here with similar setup might advise.

    What's your annual oil usage?

    Also phone nearest gas installer and find out how much they charge for their annual service. Those service people can be scarce in rural settings and might mean a long drive to service.



  • #3
    ongarite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,628 ✭✭✭ongarite


    You need to sit down & do the maths. You will be at the mercy of Calor & the rate they charge for tank refill versus shopping around the local oil suppliers.

    LPG is less energy dense than kerosene by 33% so you will use more it to produce same output as your oil burner.

    https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/boilers-kerosene-vs-lpg.192875/

    If Calor can stump up 2K for tank, burner & installation, then there is fat margin that you are paying for.



  • #4
    ongarite
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 8,628 ✭✭✭ongarite


    SEAI latest costs for fuel.

    https://www.seai.ie/sites/default/files/publications/Domestic-Fuel-Cost-Comparison.pdf

    If I'm reading it correctly, at current prices LPG is 50% more than kerosene per kWh energy



  • #5
    Lenar3556
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,119 ✭✭✭Lenar3556


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058382515/replace-oil-central-heating-with-gas

    There is nothing at all wrong with Gas central heating. It’s actually a good solution generally. However it tends to be quite a bit more expensive than oil to run.

    I did a comparison in a particular case (domestic house) recently and gas was working out over 30% more expensive than oil based on gross calorific value, and that customer had already negotiated hard on gas prices.

    The free LPG boiler is worth about €1,000-€1,200. You will need to get prices for the install.

    As a very rough ball park, a new oil boiler and oil tank might cost €4,500 fitted.

    Ultimately, oil is probably going to be a more cost effective long term solution, unless you can tie Calor to particularly favourable pricing.



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