Approximate cost of having a bulk gas tank installed?

C3PO · 30-04-2023 10:18AM #1

I have an offer in on a nice small terraced house in a midlands town. The vendor has done renovations including a rewire and a new heating system with a gas condenser boiler. However he has not installed a bulk gas tank but only a large gas cylinder (47kg?) which he has located in the garden on a concrete plinth. I’m guessing that the plinth was put there to put the tank on but to save money a cylinder was installed instead - is that the most likely explanation? If I was to purchase the house, approximately how much would it cost to have a bulk tank installed? Mains gas is not available as far as I know. Access to the garden is no problem.

Wearb · 30-04-2023 10:33AM

It's most likely the vendor put in that heating system because it was the cheapest install option.

Without mains gas, it's going to be expensive to run.

As forvthe cost of a bulk tank, good luck with working that out. There will be a multitude of combination offers that makes it almost impossible to compare prices. In the end it will all amount to cheaper tank will mean more expensive gas. AND watch out for minium usage in the contract. This ties you into using at least a certain amount or there will be some sort of clawback by supplier.

Note. It's over 10 years ago since I was in the loop on gas pricing, it might have changed, but caveat emptor.

C3PO · 30-04-2023 10:48AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120538301#Comment_120538301

Thanks Wearb!

So the tank is usually supplied as part of a long term gas contract which ties you into a particular supplier? That might explain why the vendor has only put a temporary solution in place as he was only renovating in order to sell the house?

With regard to running costs - it’s a small house and I live on my own so I should be able to manage those. Short of replacing a brand new system I probably don’t have a lot of choice anyway?

Lenar3556 · 30-04-2023 11:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120538347#Comment_120538347

Yes, you would have an option of Calor or Flogas who would supply a tank and thereafter fill it as required. There is reasonable competition between the two. You could probably expect it to be supplied free of charge and likely some free gas also as an introductory offer on signing a two year contract. It should be much cheaper than using 47KG cylinders. The only real cost will be running pipework from the tank to the boiler.

You mentioned a garage? Tanks (or propane cylinders) should never be installed indoors. Always outdoors and there are pretty strict requirements for tanks in particular - generally you need 3 metres of free space all around it. A terraced house could sometimes present issues with delivery to the back garden so it would need to be established if a bulk tank is a viable option.

Wearb · 30-04-2023 11:21AM

I'm long out of the loop, but it's still likely that tank will be tied to contract. Read that contract carefully and perhaps get another pair of objective eyes on it. I suspect that there will not be much difference in the overall cost between companies, but customers are always startled by unnoticed charges.

If possible try to compare your current setup to any bulk tank offer. (watch out for hidden charges on those great offers).

C3PO · 30-04-2023 11:33AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120538421#Comment_120538421

Thanks for that - great info from you both which has put my mind at rest!

The tank would be located in the back garden on a concrete plinth which looks like it was installed for that purpose. There is underground piping in place into the new boiler which is in the kitchen. This piping is currently connected to a 47kg gas cylinder. The plinth is located at least 3 metres from the house. There is access into the garden through an archway between the house and its neighbour - an arrangement I’ve seen fairly frequently on my house hunting journey.

shane b · 02-05-2023 08:22AM

I have a bulk gas set up with Flo gas. Flo gas or Calor should cover the cost of installing a tank but they tie you to a 2 year contract.

Tank rental costs 105 euro per year with Flogas. LPG unit price will be quoted price per litre.

https://selectra.ie/energy/lpg/guides/lpg-tanks

https://www.calorgas.ie/help/tank-information

Approximate cost of having a bulk gas tank installed?

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