Worth switching from kerosene to gas?

Gmaximum · 18-03-2015 09:34PM #1

So I'm about to replace a 20 year old kerosene boiler at home. Calor Gas are offering to replace our oil system with a gas tank one and boiler free of charge.

Only disadvantage I see is I'm stuck to them as a supplier. Would I be better off in the long run with a modern kerosene boiler?

Wearb · 18-03-2015 10:09PM

Kerosene is cheaper than LPG. And unless you believe in free lunches, your gas prices are probably going to be loaded to recoup the costs.

Kalman · 18-03-2015 10:19PM

Gmaximum wrote: »

So I'm about to replace a 20 year old kerosene boiler at home. Calor Gas are offering to replace our oil system with a gas tank one and boiler free of charge.

Only disadvantage I see is I'm stuck to them as a supplier. Would I be better off in the long run with a modern kerosene boiler?

Stick with the oil !!

Dtp1979 · 18-03-2015 10:31PM

Gmaximum wrote: »

So I'm about to replace a 20 year old kerosene boiler at home. Calor Gas are offering to replace our oil system with a gas tank one and boiler free of charge.

Only disadvantage I see is I'm stuck to them as a supplier. Would I be better off in the long run with a modern kerosene boiler?

See what boiler you can get off them first.
Also, Calor prices can be negotiated. Try get a long term fixed price off them before you agree to anything

donedl1 · 18-03-2015 10:33PM

Gmaximum wrote: »

So I'm about to replace a 20 year old kerosene boiler at home. Calor Gas are offering to replace our oil system with a gas tank one and boiler free of charge.

Only disadvantage I see is I'm stuck to them as a supplier. Would I be better off in the long run with a modern kerosene boiler?

The main advantage to gas is that the boiler will modulate, unless the system and fabric of the building is designed for minimum heat loss then I would go with oil. But the best fuel saving is always achieved with good quality heating control.

Cerco · 18-03-2015 10:37PM

Search this forum for "Calor".
IMHO , When you are signed up you will have little control over costs.
I would stick with Keroene unless or until you can get natural gas.
At least you will have option of shopping around.

Gmaximum · 18-03-2015 10:43PM

Thanks for the replies folks

galwaytt · 20-03-2015 05:16PM

Have Calor over two different houses, since 1997. It works for me.

I chose LPG for it's suitability for UFH and the option of a modulating boiler - Kero/Oil isn't as suitable, and tbh, gas is much cleaner.

I also use it for my fireplace.

Wearb · 20-03-2015 05:37PM

Gas isn't much cleaner and with proper plumbing is every bit as suitable for ufh as gas. Beware of going down the LPG route. You will find a lot more unhappy customers than happy ones. Ask any friends who have it for a few years. If you don't know anyone who has it, ask yourself why.

21-03-2015 12:16AM

Wearb wrote: »

Gas isn't much cleaner and with proper plumbing is every bit as suitable for ufh as gas. Beware of going down the LPG route. You will find a lot more unhappy customers than happy ones. Ask any friends who have it for a few years. If you don't know anyone who has it, ask yourself why.

You'll find the unhappiness of gas customers LPG or NAT gas would be more linked to a lack of correct heating controls and bad plumbing than the fuel source.

If you take it that both are fitted correctly then I would expect the running costs to be similar, oil is cheaper but a gas boiler is far more intelligent in how it uses its fuel helped by a modulating flame, outdoor sensor etc.

Gas boilers are easier to place in a home as they take up less space, they can adapt to bad plumbing issues better than oil, you can't steal gas(I lost a full tank of oil one Christmas), when you have a yearly service gas engineers smell much much better than their oily counterparts who have a bit of a whiff to them.

I like oil boilers as they are built like a brick outhouse, they have less issues with sludge, they aren't as complicated to work on as gas boilers which is important if it ever breaks down(God forbid)

OP if it were me I'd stick to oil, fit up to date heating controls, have the heating system flushed and a magnetic filter fitted.

galwaytt · 27-03-2015 04:11PM

Wearb wrote: »

Gas isn't much cleaner and with proper plumbing is every bit as suitable for ufh as gas. Beware of going down the LPG route. You will find a lot more unhappy customers than happy ones. Ask any friends who have it for a few years. If you don't know anyone who has it, ask yourself why.

That makes no sense. If it were true, the no of customers using LPG would be decreasing until it hit (near) zero. Which is obviously not the case.

And as for 'have it a few years' - well 1997 is quite a few, for me.

I will grant a gas boiler is more complex, and more expensive (esp if you buy the wrong one, like I did) and requires competent servicing & maintenance.

But issues of plumbing for UFH have nothing to do with choice of fuel source.

Wearb · 27-03-2015 05:40PM

I didn't single out your case. I was speaking in general. Obviously there will be some who are satisfied, but I am talking from experiencing tales of woe from so many LPG users.

Go onto any of the price comparison sites to judge it from price alone and I has been said there are other considerations besides price.

Worth switching from kerosene to gas?

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