AIBU

[Klmn]

AIBU - we are struggling financially so looking at ways to cut costs, DH says we may have to spend to then save. We have an aga which much as we love it, and I love it most, it is an expensive luxury (it came with the house) running costs an eye watering approx £5000 pa and as there is no other means of cooking we have to keep it on all year, which caused massive arguments this long hot summer.

DH wants to sell the aga now, (will get very little for it sadly, it seems people just give them away, any valid thoughts on this please? ours works beautifully and is a joy to cook in/on, fabulous in the winter as so cosy in the heart of the kitchen). To then buy a range (probably a Rangemaster after seeing MN reviews) which will fit in the space left. I am bereft, as emotionally attached!
The question is - is this financially wise? Large outlay now V long term saving?

The kitchen has no other means of heating so maybe cold. But, the long term saving might be worth it? I don’t know the yearly running costs of a range but it has to be much much cheaper than the aga.
I need your views and opinions that I will not have considered so I can make a more informed decision and/or give valid reasons to DH as why we should keep it. (I secretly want him to be wrong!) Many thanks in anticipation.

Have you got space in the kitchen or a utility room for a reasonably priced cooker and or hob? You could then turn the Aga off in summer? I feel your pain, I loved my Rayburn but it heated the whole house and started to be faulty so we replaced it with a much more efficient boiler and a normal oven and it was much cheaper to run. I have a rangemaster Elise now, it is a lovely cooker and it does look very nice.

That must be hard OP! I don't know anything about cooking on Agas v ranges but in terms of the financial aspect, I think it depends on:

• how much the range will cost initially
• how much it will cost to run (I have no idea, sorry!)
• how much you can sell the Aga for
• whether you will need to install some additional heating in your kitchen at some point - either a radiator or some sort of fan heater, the latter aren't that expensive to buy and have installed

The other really important factor is will you need to borrow (either loan/on credit card or overdraft) to buy the range? If so, you need to factor in the additional borrowing costs and whether this is wise depending on how precarious your financial situation is.

Once you know the above you can work out how long it will take to recoup the initial outlay on the range (and any additional heating costs if you decide it is needed). If it will take longer than you are likely to use the range for, then it may not be worth it.

We have no space in the kitchen for summer cooking, and no utility, our clothes washing machine is in the kitchen!!

I love that you are so practical 'Itsnosoap'! I want you to tell me what to do!! DH says it will be worth it and we will recoup this outlay....

Another saying try to find space somewhere for a cooker; I suspect that having an AGA removed is a fairly expensive business, apart from having to buy something to fit the space/running costs of whatever you buy.
My mum was bereft when they had to move house and the AGA got left behind...

My in laws turn their Aga off in the summer and just BBQ and use the hob. It's worked for them for 30 years

I would look at taking out a 600 cupboard and putting in a normal cooker - you can get one second hand for a couple of hundred quid tops. Or else get an electric hob and a microwave with an oven?

The other thing you could do is, depending on the type of fuel the aga runs on, see if you can get one of the new controller units that is supposed to make them more efficient and turn them on and off more often but I think they're expensive.

Klmn I wish I was practical in real life!

I would ask to see your DH's sums, and factor in the other suggestions - cheapy cooker if you can afford to lose a cupboard /controller unit if applicable.

If you can fit in another cooker and want one, don't forget to think about the cost of running that and potentially the Aga in winter - it might be practical but not as financially beneficial in the long-term as just replacing the Aga.

Had your AGA been serviced in the past year? Our old gas AGA was on all year but was nowhere near that expensive to run.

I guess it depends where else you are in the cutting costs plan.
Is it a case of no foreign holiday this year or more like not being able to find the money for bills?
I’d imagine there’s a lot to do to remove an aga and make good the space. And the cost of replacement and central heating.
Instinctively I’d say if it’s working efficiently it’s madness to remove it before winter.

And only because it’s the anonymous internet, is there any element of DH suggesting getting rid of your thing instead of his own? Sorry if I’m wrong.

Make sure you factor in the cost of heating the kitchen once you take the Aga out as well.

I think you’ll really miss the heat they chuck out if you lose the aga. Amazing how much they heat not only the kitchen but the whole house.

My dm turns hers off in the warmer weather. They survive with a little plug in oven that goes on the worktop, which has hobs on the top of it. Something along these lines

www.argos.co.uk/product/6986726?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:480-316-7430%7Ccid:199888833%7Cagid:17471076873%7Ctid:aud-484139255901:pla-371198912874%7Ccrid:74692319553%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:24633606348162497%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:1o4%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1006578&gclid=CjwKCAiA5qTfBRAoEiwAwQy-6QrEYseXmoX_srmwSw067EgeecTiD5-mfXy123mdh9Tl3Kz1hMbbrBoCBPwQAvD_BwE

Have a look at the cost of one of the controller units for your Aga - we have a Rayburn, it does both the heating hot water and cooking, all on controller, and is incredibly efficient compared to our old oil boiler (40 years old). We only use about £500-600 oil a year at last year's prices. Last bought oil in Feb/March won't buy again till April/May.
We also have solar, once generating above 2KW it heats the hot water, and I cook on an electric cooker all summer. Nowadays with no feedback tarrif paying out, I'd look at installing solar to heat your water in summer, it's very efficient and I think the pay back is very quick.
I'd agree - remove a cupboard, stick in an electric cooker, and use that in the summer so the Aga isn't running all year.
Or buy a combination microwave and use that as an oven as much as you can over summer plus install a gas or electric hob somewhere?
Then you can turn off the Aga for much of the summer.
Or look at spending a bit to upgrade your Aga to a new one
that works on controllers & can do your heating & hot water.

You'll miss the residual background heat of the Aga over this winter, now is the wrong time to do it.

You are right! I will really miss the aga but the cost is too much to justify so it is the range and a radiator! It is a very small kitchen with only two cupboards so I’d rather not loose one of them for an oven, and likewise space on the bench top is limited. Thank you so much for all your help decision made hurrah! It won’t happen till after winter!!

Before you make the final decision please get someone in to look at why your Aga is costing so much to run.