The Poultry Keeper

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject:

We're on oil heating here and as prices have gone up phenomenally in the last year (18 months ago, £350 to fill tank, 3 months ago £550 to fill tank), we programme the heating to go off and on at particular times, so it makes the supply last that much longer.

poultry poofs · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:32 am Post subject:

CP · Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:54 am Post subject:

That sounds about right Rich. We were quoted around £8000 for a similar system several years ago. Mad

I've a feeling that our rather ancient oil boiler will either need a complete overhaul or a replacement pretty soon, & that will mean one of the new condensing ones.
But I don't know if we would be able to afford a different system altogether. Confused

Would be nice not to have to worry about the cost of filling the oil tank though, wouldn't it? Wink

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 629 Location: St. Asaph

we leave the heating on really low to keep the chill out and just boost it when we first sit down with a flueless, catalytic converter mains gas fire.

Best bit about the fire is you can move it to any gas point or tgake it with you when you move.

Have to admit we would be bankrupt if we didn't work what with council tax and heating bills.

10 years ago we paid £30 a month for gas with a surplus at the end of the year, now they want £150 a month and we both work full time and no kids so have the minimum gas useage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you harness chicken poop like cow yuck to make heat?

wemfish · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 196 Location: Wem Shropshire

wemfish · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 196 Location: Wem Shropshire

poultry poofs · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:48 am Post subject:

CP
Its a well researched fact that 60-65% of fuel bills goes on hot water heating much of which goes down the drain almost immediately.Whichever system you choose as a replacement it is going to cost a lot, you need to choose the system best able to provide you with long term fuel and cost savings and still provide the heat requirement you need.
The solar water heating system is available cheaply if you shop around from abroad and although termed solar actually converts all light to heat(not direct sun light) so works throughout the year depending on the available daily light-even on grey days.Obviously it works more efficiently in the summer but still provides some significant rise in water temperature in the winter(up to 20 degrees) which means minimal fuel requirements to further raise heating water to satisfactory temperature 50-60 degrees.In the summer the system would heat water to that temp in an hour or two in mid day.I would combine that system with another efficient form of fuel fired heating boiler but better still with the heat pump system.That would take care of heating or water and space.For cosy ambience a woodburner fits the bill as fuel could be cheap or free depending on where you live and how handy you are with a chainsaw and axe!
Yes its expensive but you could obtain a bank loan to fund the cost and repay some of that with the grant money when you got it. Potentially saving many hundreds of pounds a year on fuel helps financially and the environment too.
There are other systems solar voltaic panels or wind turbine you can add to save fuel and provide free power which you can think about with the savings you make with the heating system replacement.
If you have to spend money on a replacement system it would make more sense spending money on eco-friendly heating with savings than that same money on traditonal heating methods.

stephen · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:31 am Post subject:

poultry poofs · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:14 am Post subject:

No it does seem odd that 50-60 degrees became the target since most people and appliances use water between 30-40.
I suspect Legionaires disease had a lot to do with this since all public buildings are required to have chlorinated water in storage tanks and air conditioning systems and hot water has to be 60 which is dangerous in itself as severe scalding can occur at that temperature.

CP · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject:

Our hot water is set to the lowest we can on our controller, which is 52 degrees & is plenty hot enough for our needs. Wink

I sent for the brochure from Ice Energy but it hasn't arrived yet. I'm not sure we will be able to change over if we need due to costs, but we will see....

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1740 Location: norfolk

This is so interesting! We had our window frames removed and replaced in a different style when we moved here (they were all rotten) and insisted on single glazing, much to the joiner's surprise. I have made fully lined curtains for the windows and even on the coldest days with the ch turned down to 60 deg f we are seldom cold. I am so glad you agree with me Wemfish as I too think double glazing is very over-rated.

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1531 Location: Clawddnewydd

Perfect, I'm going with single glazing then when I get the windows replaced Very Happy

wemfish · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 196 Location: Wem Shropshire

If you are having to pay for new windows anyway, then the extra cost of double glazing may be worth it, as long as your having wood frames that should last 100 years. its the £5000 for new uPVC windows that might only last 15 - 20 years, when you have perfectly good single glazed wood framed windows that is the big waste of money.
I used to live in North wales, half way up a mountain in a 130 year old house, the original frames, made of deal were still in good condition. Replacing them would have been silly, but the window sales men were on the phone and at the door regularly. . . .
My current house, although only 10 years old had uPVC windows fitted a couple of years before I moved in, I can't believe that the original windows had anything wrong with them - silly fools!! the original wooden ones would have lasted much longer the uPVC replacements!

debcat · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject:

my house had the back windows and both doors double glazed when I moved in, the front was single glazed
I have just had the 4 front windows double glazed, I couldn't stand the noise and wind blowing through them anymore. The old ones where about rotted through.

I can appreciate that single glazing is adequate in most cases but when you think that we live with gales regularily gusting up to 90mph (and it normally hits the front of my house)
It is so quiet now, even in a gale, I can actually sleep now which is something I couldn't do before

poultry poofs · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:52 pm Post subject: