Electric heating or Oil central heating

[MK22]

Hi everyone, advice appreciated as always.
Renovating old property, currently on old storage heaters. No mains gas nearby, ASHP is not on the cards and between oil and lpg I’ve always preferred oil.
What would be more sensible? Full plumbing of the house, installing oil boiler and oil tank. Or, no plumbing up required and just replace existing radiators with modern electric oil filled radiators?
Hot water tank also needs replacing, but that could work from either oil or immersion.
Does anyone have any idea the cost savings of doing either?
Thanks.

 

[Rodders53]

ASHP is not on the cards

Why not. It's likely a best solution if you improve the house insulation and glazing - and you'd be needing to do that regardless of heat source.

Modern high heat retention storage heating and E7 style off peak electric tariff with overnight immersion for HW would be better than any snake oil filled peak rate electric panel heaters.

 

[Notch7]

ASHP is not on the cards

Almost certainly the best solution.

But it needs installing by people who know how to do it correctly….sadly it can be the case that very experienced heating engineers….tend to do it wrong.

Proper heat loss calculations are necessary, most ASHP units are oversized.
And the volume of the water in the system is usually too small so the flow temperature can’t get down low enough.
If you are starting from scratch, the pipe sizes and rad sizes can all be done right from day 1



Have a look at Urban plumbers and heat geeks on YouTube.

 

[MK22]

Thanks for the replies.
ASHP is a no go simply because of the amount of mixed reviews I’ve heard. Some telling me it worked fine, others saying they’re burning the electric to keep the house just tepid. I’m not willing to risk it personally, mixed with a seemingly low number of quality installers?
I’ve used oil before, it worked fine. Hence my decision between oil and replacing the electric radiators.
I suppose my question is, at what point will the oil installation have paid for the cost of running the electric radiators? As doing a full house central heating plumbing, plus boiler and storage tank will be a lot more expensive than just replacing the electric radiators. But the running cost of electric radiators will be much higher.
However I appreciate there will be many variables with this question.

 

[Burnerman]

Your simplest solution could be an oil fired combi.....Grant maybe?
Obviously you are at the mercy of the electrical power supply and maybe the reliability of a combi (pause for cries of derision here) and no stored hot water.
However, I run 2 Heatslaves in 2 properties, the showers are great and both houses well snug. One is 1930's, one is 1960's.
If you have the space, go for a large bunded tank, gravity feed the boiler, and rejoice in the oil price of 52p per litre just now.
Only my opinion and I stand by for a battering!
John

 

[Murdochcat]

If you are completely renovating a property, then surely ASHPs must be considered

Ruling then out is very short sighted IMHO

 

[Rodders53]

I run Kerosene here. When the boiler is due replacement then I'll be looking at Heat Pumps with the chance of Government subsidy to change.

ASHP is a no go simply because of the amount of mixed reviews I’ve heard. Some telling me it worked fine, others saying they’re burning the electric to keep the house just tepid. I’m not willing to risk it personally, mixed with a seemingly low number of quality installers?

Reading forums tends to be mostly those dissatisfied and few who have no issues ever post (about any matter/subject).
MSE forums have a few HP users who tell it warts and all and with due diligence and research you should be able to select / install a good system properly designed.

Government Grants and incentives will help with ASHP but not with gas, oil or hybrid where VAT is another extra cost.

Get some quotes for both oil and ashp done with proper heat/loss calculations... remembering to factor in those insulation and glazing and draught-proofing improvements you will need to do.

HHR storage electric is probably the cheapest install/run as much, if not all, the needed mains cabling will exist and night economy tariffs should be available. Even the existing storage heaters might be refurbished to save cash?

 

[Burnerman]

A couple of our greener neighbours are having these things installed. One house is a 30's cottage, the other a 60's terrace.
I look forward to hearing how successful they really are, when there is 6" of snow sitting on the unit and it's been minus 4 for a fortnight.
I'd also need to see the size of their electricity bills too.
Not being facetious or condescending here - I'd like to be convinced but somehow I doubt it.
John