Oil or Gas Central Heating

Hi,

I have just got a quote for central heating.   The supplier suggests i go for an Oil based system rather than a Gas setup.

I currently have a Gas Casiter (is that right???) but it is in the wrong place so now could be a good time to convert to oil and scrap the gas completely. 

What do you reckon?  Any pros and cons gratefully received. 

Many thanks.

Hi TP1

            I have had experience of both, purely as a layman/owner, you understand.

I don't know whether you are on an urbanisation or not, but I did fall foul of rules once when they wouldn't allow oil tanks on the urbanisation and had to remove it. Worth a check.

I know of people who have oil and constantly moan about the price rises.  A bit like people do with gas I suppose. In addition it is said to be messy. There is also a question of supply. Also siting of tank etc. Regulations seem to vary in different regions but I would have had to have the tank housed in a brick 'Casita'. That would have been if I was allowed to keep it. Also yearly checks for leakage.

I had gas installed once and there were, as with oil, numerous regulations. The main one apart from the 'Corgi' type installation was that the 'Casita' had to be outside the house. It had to have a steel door and ventilation. Quite an easy task for a builder or handyman. I had large bottles linked to a regulator. Was easy to use, clean and supply was not a problem. I don't know if there is a possibility of a bulk supply to a large tank in you area.

There doesn't seem to be much difference between the efficiency of the two. I just considered how often I used it, easyness of operation etc. I used gas for cooking also live in Spain during the winter.

It is personal choice really, coupled with cost, availability and efficiency. Worth getting a few different quotes for both

I hope that helps

M

Hi maylin,

Thank you for your reply.

I am not on an urbanisation but still think maybe sticking to gas and keeping my existing 'Casita' might be the best option.  Doesn't seem any benefit in oil central heating just the added complexity and expense of installing an oil tank.

I will endevour to get more quotes.

Thanks once again.

We renovated a very small casita over the period Nov 08 and Mar 09.  So we missed out most of winter. We found the best option was to go for a propane Ariston boiler which supplies hot water and one large radiator controlled by thermostat. Our walls are 60 cm thick. During March the radiator came on most nights and kept us warm. There was no hassle with the gas bottles. For about  200 euros we got a deal with Repsol for four full bottles (I don't know the size, knee high and about 20kg). They are installed in an ordinary small room with the boiler. The boiler connects to two bottles at a time, one of which is in use with the other on standby. They are easy to connect and disconnect. We swap bottles at local Repsol petrol station, about Euros 9,40 a pop. In March (cold, but not winter) we used two bottles a week. Now we use one bottle a week, and my wife and I each have a couple of showers a day, plus general hot water. It's clean, easy and cheap.

Many thanks.  Another positive vote for Gas.  I am definately sticking with the Gas option.

Gas or Oil .. the continuing saga ....

Having decided to go with Gas, the builder, that has quoted for the central heating, is advising me that the cost of reinstating the Gas Contract could be up to 1000 euros!

I have an existing casita with six large gas bottles ( 2 pairs of 3) that had an original contract setup in 1988! ... the builder says it had new hoses in 2001 (judging by date stamp on the hoses).   Apparently i need the hoses replaced then it will just be a matter if disconnecting the existing gas pipe to the old obsolete gas heaters and connecting it instead to the new central heating boiler.

Anyone any ideas of how much it would cost to setup this new contract? -  assuming the builder (or his relevant plumber type person) does the relevant disconnections/connections legally as appropriate.

Thanks in advance for any help and/or advice.

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