AIBU- to be worried about moving into a house with oil fired Aga.

[therenter]

We are moving at the end of the month (renting). We have been looking for months and months and the only place that we can find is a lovely four bed bungalow in the sticks (no mains gas).
The rent is £50 pcm cheaper then our current house so that is a saving. But I am a bit concerned about the Aga.
I have never had one but I hear they are very expensive. This one is a 2 oven oil fired Aga that also does the hot water and (I think) the heating.
I have done some research and have heard that the cost difference between Gas and Oil has significantly reduced due to the rising costs of Gas. But am I going to be shocked by my bills?
We are a family of 6- 2 adults - 2 nearly teens and 2 under 8.
Does anyone know roughly the current monthly oil costs to run one of these?
And any hints and tips as I have never before used one?
I know I will be able to get rid of my tumble drier- and I hear you can iron on them but no idea how.
Thanku

I have an oil fired range. I love it but it is expensive to run- it was cheap when we bought it!

We have a 1000l tank which costs between £500 and £600 to fill depending on the international oil price and the time of year- and that lasts us 3 or 4 months. It runs our heating and hot water and cooking.

You do need an alternative method of cooking for the summer, though- you don't want to have to turn the range on to heat up some soup. We have a combined micro/convec/grill and an electric steamer.

We get through our 2000l tank once a year (£1400 to fill last time, yikes).

Oil company take £110 DD each month and we sort out the difference dependent on how horrid the oil price is.

I rarely cook on our oil stove, but I'm a SAHM and the hearings on 24/7 in winter as this old stone place gets damp.

We have an electric Aga, and they're expensive to run. I wouldn't install one now given the chance again due to the cost, but we do love it and it feels like the heart of the house.

We don't have a tumble dryer, as everything dries on the Aga. It's not so much that it irons things as that if you fold the clothes properly to dry then you tend not to need to iron them.

For the oil look at Boilerjuice. They can often work out cheaper than going direct to a supplier.

Oil prices have rocketed over the past few years. Our village has a buying group so a tanker comes and fills up everyone at the same time, thus reducing the costs for everyone. May be worth finding/starting something similar!

Boiler juice says £542 for 1000l so that's about in line with what you guys are quoting. Oh dear it does seem quite a lot.
Stupid question :- if it is on all the time but the radiators (or some of them) are turned off will that burn less oil? Don't think we'll need rads on in all the rooms as it will provide heat for some I assume.

I will check about the village buying group - don't really know the area (although it is only a couple of miles outside the town where we live now).

If you turn the rads off it does use a bit less. If it's like ours you won't want it on all the time or you'll boil in the summer. We have a timer so it goes on very early in the morning for hot water, the just turn it on and off as and when. It heats up very quickly- but as I said, you wouldn't want to put it on just to heat up some soup.

Being efficient when cooking on the aga will make a lot of difference. Do all the cooking you can in the oven and that limits the time the lids are open, this will save money. Boil your kettle with only the amount you need and leave it with a reasonable amount of water in just resting on the top so it heats up a little in advance.

Mary Berry's aga book is very useful. I think they are expensive but I have no heating on downstairs most of the year, I dry all my washing on it and boil the kettle with it, so I think I use it well.

You know, that's so natural to me that I forgot to mention it! Yes, you have to learn a different way of cooking. Everything you can in the oven- even things like boiled potatoes I start off on the top then put in the oven.

And you need really good quality pans.

Boiled potatoes in the oven! I see I am going to have to reteach myself how to cook. Someone had mentioned Mary Berry before so I will def give that one a go. Thank u

Oh and I am going to get myself an electric cooker for the utility room I think I will need it.

They are leaving me pans. Current occupier says they come with the Aga and he remembers them growing up. Proper heavy duty ones.

boring old truth spoiling the facts: the oil price is currently at a 3 year low and per unit heat, costs only very slightly more than mains gas. The big issues will be the efficiency of the boiler and of the Aga.

there is no mandatory certificate for an oil installation, unlike gas, but any decent landlord will have one. The appropriate body is Oftec. The boiler and other appliances must be serviced annually. Ask.

also, it would make sense for you to arrive to a full oil tank and leave to one (like car rental) - so discuss this.

can't speak for Agas, get instructions and hints like those above. It will keep the place warm though; IF it is insulated.

I have a truly MASSIVE oil fired AGA (about 12 feet wide). It's seriously old (parents had it installed when I was a kid) but still functions quite efficiently.
It's horrific to run (about £3000 - 3500 per winter), it goes on in late October and stays on constantly until about Feb / March. It does all the heating and hot water in the house as well as us cooking on it so not too bad I guess.
In a regular sized house you will notice a bit of difference in your bills but it shouldn't kill you.

I grew up with one and would love one now! You won't need many radiators on as they do project heat really well. If there isn't one already then put a wooden drying rack above it to dry clothing overnight - if you fold them and pile on the top of the hob covers (turning the whole pile occasionally and swapping middle to outside so all the clothes are heated) that will iron most things effectively.
I love being able to slow roast meat in the bottom oven - meringues come out perfect too!
Enjoy!