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Original poster

new house is oil fired CH

17 replies

Sunnyshores · 08/12/2015 21:03

Had mains gas and LPG before, but oil is new to me...silly questions such as is it the same ie boilers work much the same, switch water and heating on and off, can you swap suppliers, is it delivered by lorry (as LPG), approx how long does a tank last.

The Range is a Noble (now rebranded as Redfyre by Aga), Ive used an old LPG Aga before, is a Noble the same principal? And I assume being on all the time, the same hideous cost?

Anything useful please!

OP posts:

MotherofFlagons · 08/12/2015 21:12

I lived somewhere for a couple of years that had oil tanks and it was hideously expensive, though admittedly the house was poorly insulated. Think I paid roughly £300 per tank when I moved in which lasted about 3 months (living alone) but the oil price went up and I was paying more like about £500 towards the end. I also had butane heaters.

Personally, I wouldn't touch oil heating again with a barge pole but if the property is well insulated it's likely a different story.

DraenorQueen · 08/12/2015 21:23

BUY OIL NOW!!! It's at a record low price! I just got 500l for £150 and that will last me 4 months or so. I've gone for a different supplier than previous as they offered a better quote. You just ring up, pay and a lorry delivers it into your tank. Make sure you're there or leave it unlocked!

DraenorQueen · 08/12/2015 21:24

Oh and after paying for this latest delivery I joined their savings scheme - £40 and I'll have enough saved up for when I next need it.

PassiveAgressiveQueen · 08/12/2015 21:34

It is back to 30p a litre, thank god, you can shop around or find a company you like who treat you well and come quickly if you run out.

Every boiler control combination is different so no one can help you with that. But they are just like gas boilers

wowfudge · 08/12/2015 21:34

You can save money on oil by clubbing together with neighbours so the same tanker delivers to you the same day.

lljkk · 08/12/2015 21:51

How big is your tank? Big tank gives flexibility to wait for price to fall (obviously is low now, but it will go up sometime). You want to buy at least 900 litres in one go to get best current price.

Insulation saves a fortune. We have paid less than £500/yr for oil since 2004. Detached 5bed house.

Original poster

Sunnyshores · 09/12/2015 12:42

Thanks All, doesnt seem as mysterious as I thought. The house is only 20 years old so should be insulated OK (at least better than our 1750s house with LPG). Really good news that its cheaper than LPG too.

Ill search around for quotes and then check with the neighbours when we moved in.

OP posts:

FreeWorker1 · 09/12/2015 12:48

Make sure you get the right type of oil.

Some run on heating oil, some on diesel (with a red dye in so you don't pay road fuel tax).

Also make sure your heating oil tank is very securely locked. Theft of heating oil is very common.

Oil price is falling so it will not be ruinously expensive. Make sure your house is well insulated.

Sonnet · 09/12/2015 12:49

been on oil for 15 years. We operate on a monthly direct debit system.
When we first moved here the cost was roughly on a par with our mains gas heating we had in our previous house. Yes, it has risen massively over the years but is now back down again and I saw in the press a couple of months ago that it was actually cheaper than gas.

Our heating and hot water is run off the back of a Rayburn Heatmaster that operates exactly like a boiler and does not have to be on all the time like an Aga. The oven heats up from cold to top temp in 15 mins and the Heating an hot water operate on a separate burner with separate timings etc.

Don't have any problems with oil at all.

RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog · 09/12/2015 17:41

Our last house (Georgian, thatched) had oil fired central heating. Unfortunately we sold the house just before oil prices dropped, so we were paying much more than current prices.

We had a Watchman sonic gauge which I would recommend to help you keep an eye on your oil levels so you're in no danger of running out!

specialsubject · 09/12/2015 21:44

Operation is as any other central heating system. Obviously how long a tank lasts depends on how efficient your boiler is and how much heating you use. (time, insulation etc)

get the boiler serviced annually, nozzles need replacing.

the dipstick gauge shows tank level BUT you need to pull out the knob to see the real level. (I nearly got caught by this one). Assume you don't have much left.

keep an eye on prices and tank up when cheap, as now. Do not set up direct debit/standing order - that way you lose all benefit of cheaper prices. Phone for quotes each time. If you need to save, save in your own account.

RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog · 09/12/2015 22:23

We never used the dipstick gauge - far better to invest in a watchman gauge. We found this extremely accurate and reliable.

missmargot · 09/12/2015 22:25

We've been on oil for 5 years now and it is the cheapest it's ever been. If you use a comparison site like Boilerjuice you can save a fortune. It's worth getting a decent boiler care plan too as you may struggle to find someone locally who repairs and services oil boilers.

ENtertainmentAppreciated · 09/12/2015 22:48

When you ring up to order you have to ask for a quote for domestic heating oil, ordering red diesel is illegal unless for agricultural or construction use and it's usually for vehicles You can normally get it a bit cheaper the more you order in increments (500, 1000, 1500 litres) or clubbing together with neighbours or via such as Boiler Juice or The Oil Club, although they take payment before delivery whereas our local supplier takes payment the day of delivery.

Domestic heating oil is VAT 5% and the base price changes every day. Get various supplier prices and haggle, but bear in mind that you pay for a tank in advance and you need to order at least 5-10 days before you get low, perhaps more in the cold weather. Some suppliers charge more the quicker you need it. I stick with one local supplier now and get a good price for loyalty even though I always ask for a smidge off the cheapest price I can find. They also deliver quickly.

YY to getting the Watchman guide if you don't religiously check weekly. Be aware that as soon as you use the heating the levels will drop much more quickly than when you're only warming the water, that might catch you out. You'll obviously get through a lot more using an oil fired range too. I don't have experience of one, only a gas or electric range, but imagine the principles are exactly the same.

You shouldn't use the dregs at the bottom of the oil tank by the way as that's where the impurities settle and they can clog up your boiler or pipes, so don't let the level go too low. If you run out of oil you'll need a service man to sort the boiler out for you before it'll work again. Ask the neighbours for recommendations because regular servicing is a must and you need someone good.

Also check the bonding around the tank as regulations have changed over the last few years - that's to make sure your tank's safe and secure against leaks.

Theft has been a problem, but less so since prices dropped so much. If you can though it makes sense to shield your tank as much as you can from public view.

HTH.

specialsubject · 09/12/2015 23:15

you really need to phone round for pricing. My local supplier is ALWAYS cheaper than boilerjuice and deliver within 2 days, although I never run out so there's never a rush. But the supplier is literally up the road and does a local's discount. The price is fixed on the day you order.

opinions vary on tank locks - it is easy to drill through a tank so there's some merit in not locking it to avoid damage. If there is an issue then the tank needs to be in a secure metal surround and THAT gets locked. Make sure your house insurers give you some cover, you may have to explain that the oil tank is outside...

Cheapest form of heating at the moment and has been for some time. It is perceived as expensive because oil = rural and rural often = old draughty house. They cost more to heat whatever fuel you use.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 11/12/2015 03:38

We have a detached, 4 bedroomed house which is well insulated. We get through about 1500 litres of oil per year, although it was more when we had a very cold winter.

Oil is relatively cheap at the moment. We use a local oil broker to get us the best price, but before I worked ft I used to ring round myself for the cheapest price. Our broker bulk buys for whoever locally needs it, there's usually quite a few people in the neighbouring villages who need oil at thd same time. We did join an oil club where we used to live, but it was village-based and there weren't enough people to get the really good discounts.

If you would prefer to know what your outgoings are each month, then you can hsve a contract with one supplier and pay monthly for the oil you use over a year. It's slightly more expensive to do it that way, but some people prefer it.

I've lived in houses with oil fired central heating for 20 years, and it's fine.

PassiveAgressiveQueen · 11/12/2015 17:01

Or if like me and your gauge is broken...
In the morning notice the dew line all year round, or knock it and listen to how much echo you get.

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