Heating oil increase this morning

[addjunkie]

Just to be devil's advocate, I wonder do all boiler repair guys advise on keeping old boilers as it keeps them busy?

It seems like a common theme that's all.

The guy we use has a similar view…..modern stuff just over complicated!

 

[DAPPH]

Had a 30 yr old boiler , 3 x 1200 litre of oil in 13 months , FireBird 1 fitted under Warmer Home scheme ..nothing but problems two pumps new change over valves rubber fuel hoses rotted with BIO oil and loads of leaks of both fuel & water . Fuel . Replaced under another heat the home scheme with another Firebird ( Chinese crap) it died of burner plate burn out & burn through on the balanced flue joints after five years used 1200 litres every 10 months .

Paid for my own expensive Worcester four years ago , we've only use 1 x 1200 ...........21 Dec 2022 to 21 Dec 2023 but have had a massive insulation project going , tripple glazing all round with trickle vents for when needed , latest roof void insulation No letter box the front door which is also tripple insulated . it's made a heck of a difference to our thermostat settings . Previously we ran at 19 oC on the dial now we are quite toasty at 18 oC on the dial , able to sit in the bungalow in any room in tee shirt & slacks . Come night time close the bed room doors and the bedroom rad stats hold the temp down in the bed rooms till the heating goes off at 23 15 each night , till 07 30 hrs next morning.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

it's made a heck of a difference to our thermostat settings .

We renovated and insulated 10+ years ago...we can turn the heating off at night and in the morning the house is still a nice temperature. I'd does make a massive difference to comfort I think.

 

[prepman]

Nobody on here been buying since November? In the spirit of sharing (my pain) I've just paid 67.24 inc. VAT per litre for a 1500 litre delivery.

No...not till june onwards, but price of diesel at pumps is coming down, so all should follow?

 

[MysterG]

Just to be devil's advocate, I wonder do all boiler repair guys advise on keeping old boilers as it keeps them busy?

It seems like a common theme that's all.

Obviously that's got to be partly true, but given all he's had to do for the last 7 years is a service every 12 months which you'd get done on a new one I guess.
From tales I've heard I'd be lucky if a new one lasted 7 years without needing some new part or other.

 

[JOEPRO]

Had a 30 yr old boiler , 3 x 1200 litre of oil in 13 months , FireBird 1 fitted under Warmer Home scheme ..nothing but problems two pumps new change over valves rubber fuel hoses rotted with BIO oil and loads of leaks of both fuel & water . Fuel . Replaced under another heat the home scheme with another Firebird ( Chinese crap) it died of burner plate burn out & burn through on the balanced flue joints after five years used 1200 litres every 10 months .

Paid for my own expensive Worcester four years ago , we've only use 1 x 1200 ...........21 Dec 2022 to 21 Dec 2023 but have had a massive insulation project going , tripple glazing all round with trickle vents for when needed , latest roof void insulation No letter box the front door which is also tripple insulated . it's made a heck of a difference to our thermostat settings . Previously we ran at 19 oC on the dial now we are quite toasty at 18 oC on the dial , able to sit in the bungalow in any room in tee shirt & slacks . Come night time close the bed room doors and the bedroom rad stats hold the temp down in the bed rooms till the heating goes off at 23 15 each night , till 07 30 hrs next morning.

All your problems noted are installation problems! Also, Firebird boilers are made in Co Cork, Ireland & the burners are made in Italy so not sure where the China thing is you are quoting.....

Obviously that's got to be partly true, but given all he's had to do for the last 7 years is a service every 12 months which you'd get done on a new one I guess.
From tales I've heard I'd be lucky if a new one lasted 7 years without needing some new part or other.

I think some people and installers who are old school don't want to look at condensing boiler's. But this is short sighted IMO and they are reliable units there is no mythical "short lifetime" risk with them if, like anything else it is installed and maintained correctly.

Anyway, I've offered some of my insight and based on my own personal experience if you want to hang onto older boilers or go with a different brand that is of course your own decision

 

[Gareth J]

Can echo the experience of upgrading to condensing a boiler. Notable oil use reduction. Not to mention the fact the 30yr old one was noisier, smelly and draughty.

I bought a second hand Grant unit and dismantled and cleaned myself before a plumber fitted it. I couldn't see anything particularly complicated, delicate or exotic looking to be concerned about.

Not sure but maybe it's possible that very cheaply built gas condensing boilers have unfairly given oil boilers a bad reputation too.

 

[MysterG]

Interestingly Grant was the brand that my boiler service man recommended if I ever have to replace my old thing.

 

[dobbslc]

The Riello burners are pretty good as far as I can see. I have a Grant condensing boiler about 4 years old and it needed a new photo cell/flame sensor last year which I replaced myself.
It replaces an old Potterton one that was at least 40 years old and still going strong but was smelly, full of asbestos and in the way of the house refurbishment work so we moved to an external boiler.
I'm slowly collecting a stash of spares for the Riello burner so I can fix it without having to call out the plumber.

 

[dobbslc]

I was just flicking through eBay looking for boiler parts and found this

What a mong!

 

[Morrisman]

Had a 30 yr old boiler , 3 x 1200 litre of oil in 13 months , FireBird 1 fitted under Warmer Home scheme ..nothing but problems two pumps new change over valves rubber fuel hoses rotted with BIO oil and loads of leaks of both fuel & water . Fuel . Replaced under another heat the home scheme with another Firebird ( Chinese crap) it died of burner plate burn out & burn through on the balanced flue joints after five years used 1200 litres every 10 months .

Paid for my own expensive Worcester four years ago , we've only use 1 x 1200 ...........21 Dec 2022 to 21 Dec 2023 but have had a massive insulation project going , tripple glazing all round with trickle vents for when needed , latest roof void insulation No letter box the front door which is also tripple insulated . it's made a heck of a difference to our thermostat settings . Previously we ran at 19 oC on the dial now we are quite toasty at 18 oC on the dial , able to sit in the bungalow in any room in tee shirt & slacks . Come night time close the bed room doors and the bedroom rad stats hold the temp down in the bed rooms till the heating goes off at 23 15 each night , till 07 30 hrs next morning.

I sit watching tv with two pairs of tracky bottoms on and a thermal vest under a sweater, and a wooly hat. It grieves me to heat my whole place just to keep myself warm.

Theres only me and my dog here, so I set the heating to 17° and just turn it on in the evening when I feel cold.

Currently midday, 12.9° in my bungalow, with windows open, fresh air circulating, to get the stinky dog smell out.

I use bulk LPG for heating, a tank lasts about 12 months, last refill was March, £500 or so.

 

[Misterg]

Firebird boilers are made in Co Cork, Ireland & the burners are made in Italy

I've had a Firebird boiler for the last 17 years (Combi Pac? 120). Apart from the burner, IMHO, it's ****. Endless leaks and failing parts. It's getting ripped out next week and a new Grant is going in its place - like I should have bought in the first place.

 

[DennisCA]

I sit watching tv with two pairs of tracky bottoms on and a thermal vest under a sweater, and a wooly hat. It grieves me to heat my whole place just to keep myself warm.

Theres only me and my dog here, so I set the heating to 17° and just turn it on in the evening when I feel cold.

Currently midday, 12.9° in my bungalow, with windows open, fresh air circulating, to get the stinky dog smell out.

I use bulk LPG for heating, a tank lasts about 12 months, last refill was March, £500 or so.

Honestly sounds miserable, was -30 here last night but at least we had +21 indoors with floor heating from heat pump and two fireplaces going.

 

[prepman]

Currently midday, 12.9° in my bungalow, with windows open, fresh air circulating, to get the stinky dog smell out.

I like the stinky dog bit.....

 

[Morrisman]

I like the stinky dog bit.....

She reeks, dermatitis, incontinence, and a morbid fear of water.....

Honestly sounds miserable, was -30 here last night but at least we had +21 indoors with floor heating from heat pump and two fireplaces going.

I'm quite content, and I can't see the point in doubling or tripling my heating bill just so I can walk about half naked. Theres a planet to save, you know.

I also ride a motorcycle all year round, so may have a different idea of comfort to most normal folk...

 

[Blobber]

Honestly sounds miserable, was -30 here last night but at least we had +21 indoors with floor heating from heat pump and two fireplaces going.

Bearing in mind you get much lower temperatures than we get in the UK how do you guys get on with heat pumps?

 

[DennisCA]

Very well personally, the one in our house is a ground source heat pump so it's temperature indifferent, groundwater is the same temp year round. But even air heat pumps work well for the majority of the year, with cold spells like these however, they are only as efficient as direct electric heating. But over the whole year, big savings over direct electric. Put one in my garage and I use half the power while I increased the indoor temp from 5C to 12C.

Gas isn't really a thing here and oil has been mostly phased out (mosty for heat pumps).

 

[JOEPRO]

The Riello burners are pretty good as far as I can see. I have a Grant condensing boiler about 4 years old and it needed a new photo cell/flame sensor last year which I replaced myself.
It replaces an old Potterton one that was at least 40 years old and still going strong but was smelly, full of asbestos and in the way of the house refurbishment work so we moved to an external boiler.
I'm slowly collecting a stash of spares for the Riello burner so I can fix it without having to call out the plumber.

Yes Reillo are very popular on many oil boilers.

My Firebird is one of the latest ones and they come with an Elco Lo nox burner.

Look at the readings I took from my own boiler,



(Readout on right was after my last adjustment to get it as efficient as possible) 0 ppm emmisons!

Very nice bit of kit. Simple and easy to maintain IMO. It even comes with a jet setting tool attached Inside the casing for anyone servicing it! It hasnt missed a beat for 2 years now. Quiet and efficient. Lots of readily available servicing information available online including you toob videos by Elco. One example:

 

[dobbslc]

That link is for rock chicks not Riello burners
I wouldn't mess with some of them

 

[JOEPRO]

That link is for rock chicks not Riello burners
I wouldn't mess with some of them

Not sure what happened there but should be fixed now!