Aga or Rayburn? GAS ONLY

[MissLemon18]

In the Autumn I was mulling over which to get but circumstances are slightly different as we've bought a different house and now want to utilise chimney breast where a capped off gas fire is currently sited.

Budget is 1k MAX for a 2nd hand gas Aga or Rayburn - question is, which to go for?

Anyone who has used both, which do you prefer and why?

Looking on ebay, I can buy a Rayburn for £400-600 mark, whereas Agas are around double this.

Be aware that you may not be able to get parts for older Rayburns, or they may cost more to repair than the cost of a new boiler. We had an old gas guzzling Rayburn in a house we bought and ended up replacing it with a new condensing boiler Rayburn. Wouldnt do that again. Spares and repairs are way more expensive than expected.

i prefer rayburns - always have - grew up with one. prefer the square hobs/tops as i think more useful and genuinely don't understand why anyone would pay $$$$ the difference just for the aga name (when they are made by the same company!). beware the aga snobbery tho - some people look down on rayburns

Aga, Rayburn and Stanley are all made by the same company now.

I was brought up with AGAs.

Have you looked at the running costs? Also, they have to be fully dismantled into their component parts before they can be moved. They are then reassembled in their new position. That can make a cheap second hand purchase quite expensive.

Thanks for the info @Fern204 - exactly the sort of info I'm looking for - I know both have their fans and I like the aesthetics of both but it's useful to get feedback like this in decision making process.

Bil had a Rayburn ( it was oil), but, they decided not to make the parts any more, so it needed ripping out, or the burners completely redone. Just be aware.

Sadly, Stanleys aren't gas; I have an oil one and love it.

As an engineer, I would recommend going for the AGA. With the price you are looking at, a second hand gas Rayburn is likely to be a nouvelle. They are awful. Constant problems, with any I've encountered, just like the oil models.
The gas AGAs do have issues every now and then too, but normally are a lot more reliable.
I know most people nowadays are replacing their oil and gas ranges with electric ones. Expensive to run and buy, but everyone I know who has had one fitted, has loved it.

@Muchlywrong Thanks for this, really useful info to know. Funnily enough, my original Q in Autumn in here was in relation to the Electrikit conversions and whether it was worth my while buying a 2nd hand Aga and converting it. What are your thoughts?

Bottom line, don't have budget to buy a ready refurbed Blake & Bull Electrikit Aga, so if going down this route it would be buying a cheaper oil aga and getting Electrikit conversion done.

@thegcatsmother Thanks - definitely worthwhile knowing this - looks like it's a safer bet with Aga then. 👍

I know most people nowadays are replacing their oil and gas ranges with electric ones. Muchly, the Everhots don't run the ch and hw though! The oil fired Stanley does.

misslemon It used to drive my bil mad, that he was told he neded new burners all the time, and then that the burners were like rocking horse shit, and you get the picture.

I'm assuming @MissLemon18 that you are only looking to use it as a cooker? The conversion kits may be useful for certain people, but the cost of running and fitting/converting is rather high imo. Electric AGAs are lovely, so I've been told, but I think they start at £8k, so I'm not sure you want to spend that cost either? Plus you also have to pay them to take away your old range which they refurb and sell on. AGA group are a scam since they were taken over by the Americans, or so it seems to me.
Sorry for the tangent 😁, but I'd recommend sticking with a gas AGA. For your suggested usage on your old post, it's the cheapest way to do it.

@Muchlywrong, yes it's for cooking rather than cooking + heating radiators. Your reasoning has been really helpful in coming to a decision - gas Aga it is - now to find one!

Any tips on things to look out for/be aware of with looking for a 2nd hand one? Any questions to ask sellers in particular?

As always, just look for a gas service history. Any issues in regards to electrics, part replacement, or potential issues, should be included on there. Should also be a gas safety record too. The safety record is likely to only show any issues that could be or are dangerous.
Like most gas appliances, thermocouplers go on them regularly, otherwise, shouldn't be to much to worry about if it hasn't been flagged on the safety or service records

We’ve had a Rayburn nouvelle in my parent’s kitchen for 40+ years or longer - had no problems with it 🤷‍♀️