Boiler running costs (oil or LPG?)

Discussion in 'Plumbers' Talk' started by limestone, Jul 31, 2007.

  1. limestone

    limestone Member

    Does anyone know which of the tow types of boiler (oil or LPG) is currently the cheapest to run?
     
  2. heatyman

    heatyman Well-Known Member

    Oil is cheapest to run, but oil boilers and tank are more expensive than LPG equivalents. Also you can shop around for the cheapest oil, whereas onceyou have a LPG tank, you are tied to the supplier.
    Martin
     
  3. Dick Puller

    Dick Puller New Member

    I agree with Martin, oil is cheaper.
     
  4. Jimbo

    Jimbo Screwfix Select

    where did my post go!?
     
  5. limestone

    limestone Member

    Thanks chaps, oil it is then.
     
  6. Water Systems

    Water Systems New Member

    Thanks chaps, oil it is then.

    Not so easy a choice these days. LPG is quite cheap to run "overall", when cooking is via LPG too. Probably equivallent to oil CH/DHW and electric cooking.

    There is now much more competition in LPG supply and makers will bargain to get your business - not as it was before when they chnaged what the hel they liked.

    Installation costs are far less with a £350 to £400 boiler available from B&Q, if cost is really that important. No oil boiler comes close in cost. Service costs are cheaper with parts and service readily available. LPG boilers are just mass produced NG boilers with a modification and gas tanks can go underground too, out of the way. They are cleaner and don't smell like oil boilers. They are also small and wall mounted too.

    If an oil tank leaks you may have ruined foundations. Serious stuff.

    LPG is worth assessing these days and not dismissing out of hand.
     
  7. Dick Puller

    Dick Puller New Member

    As someone who fits both, I still stand by my view that oil is cheaper.
    Domestic LPG from a bulk tank is normally supplied by one supplier and you are stuck with their prices - which is not cheap.
    While commercial LPG is at bit more of a competitive fuel.

    Whilst with oil/kero, when you've your tank fitted, you can shop around all oil suppliers and you'll find their prices will rise & drop more swifty, when the price of a barrel of oil moves.

    But the gap between LPG & oil is closing.
     
  8. Water Systems

    Water Systems New Member

    As someone who fits both, I still stand by my view
    that oil is cheaper.

    That it is, however when LPG cooker vs electric, is taken intro account the gaps narrows.

    Domestic LPG from a bulk tank is normally supplied by
    one supplier and you are stuck with their prices -
    which is not cheap.

    There is competition these days.

    While commercial LPG is at bit more of a competitive
    fuel.

    Whilst with oil/kero, when you've your tank fitted,
    you can shop around all oil suppliers and you'll find
    their prices will rise & drop more swifty, when the
    price of a barrel of oil moves.

    In some areas the competion between supplioers is not great at all - little to no haggling.

    But the gap between LPG & oil is closing.

    That it is:

    Look at these. LPG is a lot cheaper to install and takes 7 years for oil to be cheaper.

    http://www.calor.co.uk/home/central-heating/fuel-comparison.html

    Interesting site that quotes SEDBUK figures on LPG running costs.

    http://www.ruralfuel.co.uk/fuel-comparisons/fuel-comparison-chart.htm
     
  9. Water Systems

    Water Systems New Member

    SEDBUK running costs per ann. figures for a detached house using a 90% effcient boiler

    Elec: £1602
    LPG: £897
    Oil: £488
    Natural Gas: £401

    Using LPG over electricity could drop cooking costs by £100 per year, so making LPG £797 per ann. Then cheaper LPG servicing costs to oil saving maybe £50 per ann.

    I am not sure how up to date these figures are.
     

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