Should I get rid of my Aga?

[AppleCrackers]

We are renovating our kitchen having a bit of trouble. It's a largish room but awkward with doors or windows on every side so I'm worried about storage (we aren't getting an island). I live in an old cottage in a village so there isn't much storage space! We currently have a oil 3-door Aga and an electric oven as well. The Aga is nice but if we got rid of it and bought a range it would solve my storage issues. We fleeting thought of doing it before and then disregarded because it kind of suits the room and being in an old country cottage and all, but now we are wondering whether we should (don't want to convert it to electric). Just wondering how many people would prefer to keep the Aga and sacrifice the storage or get a range instead?

Tricky. I've just moved into a house with an Aga and so far I love it BUT we do have space for a small oven also.

I do think you have to love it because it is a compromise anyway - inefficient, can't be moved, no use when turned off etc so if its also taking up valuable room then maybe its time to get rid.

Replace it with an electric aga if you want to keep the look?

how much extra storage are you going to get with a range - aren't they pretty much the same size as an Aga?

Yes @Ifailed but the point is you don't need another oven as well.

Do you turn it off in summer? Could you store eg cake tunes etc in the oven in winter and in the aga in summme?
I would kill for an aga!

I don't think I could get rid of mine, I do turn it off in the summer and I kind of pine for it. Have you got room for a dresser or maybe a small island? Or a freestanding pantry cupboard? I revamped my cupboards and moved some stuff I don't use often to other rooms. I have tall pull out cupboards either side of the fridge that hold loads.
I'd be really creative before I took the aga out

@Ifailed the Aga is in a separate nook so it could be made into a tall cupboard. Electric oven is on a separate bank

@mangocoveredlamb @lowbudgetnigella I do turn it off in summer. We've run through so many different options for the kitchen and they are fine but not quite right. But I think I have to come to terms with that really. And I do really like my Aga (but don't love I guess) hence my dilemma. If I get rid of it I really might regret! But maybe not. My poor kitchen designer. I'm so lucky he's so patient

I love my (solid fuel) Rayburn because it keeps the room so toasty in Winter, much warmer than the central heating does. Wouldn't you miss the warmth?

I'd also miss the warmth and the sheila maid to dry clothes/wet coats.

I have a Stanley (an Irish Aga I believe?) and I’m considering getting rid too. It just seems inefficient in itself, and an inefficient use of space too - it’s also our boiler so we have various tanks & stuff too... We already have an electric oven separately.

I loved my gran’s Aga which was always on, which I understood, but mine is programmable which just makes no sense to me. It’s such an inefficient way to cook?!

I heard on one of those home renovation TV shows that the one thing people don't regret is getting more storage in their kitchen. I guess the AGA would be pretty sellable.

Fossil fuel heating is soon going to be a thing of the past. Why no take the opportunity now to be a bit more environmentally friendly.

@Daftasabroom

Fossil fuel heating is soon going to be a thing of the past. Why no take the opportunity now to be a bit more environmentally friendly.

What would you replace it with? I get that I can have an electric oven & induction hobs, but my Aga like beast is also the boiler. Putting in a combi boiler instead is still fossil fuel? What’s the other option for an old draughty house?

I think I'd get a range and have underfloor heating in the kitchen.

This was a hard call. I always said I'd do this in my last house which had an Aga. Partly because it was gas fired and I worked out it cost £1.50 a day to run before any cooking. However, I'm really missing it now!

We bought a house with an aga 3 years ago and I love it and similarly miss it when its off for any reason. Ours has also been very reliable so we don't have the issues many people do.

But, we're extending and although we potentially could move the aga we are getting rid and putting in electric ovens and an induction hob (the kitchen will no longer be the kitchen). I do worry about the impact on heat to the house in general as it definitely keeps things cosy, but we'll be adding in 2 new radiators plus UFH in the extension plus more insulation. And since I reckon my oil aga costs at least £500 a year if not closer to £1000 in oil a year to run, we can justify having the heating on more if required.

It will be an adjustment and I'll miss having a spot to stand and keep my bum cosy. BUT on the plus side I am excited to have ovens where I actually know the temperature instead guessing and a hob that I can adjust properly.

Air source heat pump.

Swap the Aga for an Everhot- best of both worlds and you can run it like an Aga in winter and like an electric oven in summer and it has a grill.

@Daftasabroom

Air source heat pump.

Thought these weren't suitable for old buildings that will always be draughty?