Re: Gas bottles?
 

We live in the campo and don't get our bottles delivered. Mind you, we haven't got a gas contract either. We, and all of our neighbours just buy the orange bottles from the local monthly car boot sale. Average price is about 25€ for an empty bottle, then about 12€ to exchange for a full one at the local petrol garage. We have about eight bottles and that does us fine.

Re: Gas bottles?
 

I think they are slowly trying to take the small orange bottles out of circulation. Mind you, we've been hearing that for 3 years now....

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Our gas bottles are located in a purpose built-gas-house about 10 metres from the main house. I agree it is not safe to house gas bottles indoors

As for the 12 euro orange bottles ..... surely they are not the enormous ones we have (I think they are 35kg each) .... I have never seen our type at petrol stations.... nor could I possibly lift one when full!

Please keep the replies coming .. it is all very interesting .... thanks

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Hi Noelrosie and welcome to the forum.

The 12€ orange bottles are the small ones (for cookers & heaters, etc) not the ones you are using.

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Thanks for the welcome MnM ....:D
We don't live in Spain at the moment, although plan to move out in a couple of years when the kids have finished university.
I was delighted to find this website when searching the internet for information on the recent Gota Fria in the Costa Blanca. There is so much useful information on here.
I suspected that we weren't talking about the same gas bottles (the 12 euro ones) as we run underfloor central heating throughout the villa when it is occupied. I realise now that this is very much a luxury in Spain, as is never having to wear a jumper indoors, on the plus side. None of our immediate neighbours do this, relying on estufas, real fires, electric heaters etc for those chilly winter nights .....
But it is good to hear of other people's experiences on this and so many other topics...:)

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Yes, I did think that 3 weeks of 5 large orange bottles was a bit over the top, but then if you have underfloor heating, that explains everything.

This site is a great source of info (even for those of us that have lived here for a while) and it's always good to hear of peoples experiences, whether they live here full or part time ;)

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Hi noelrosie and welcome,

In the villa we are having built I would like to have underfloor central heating (my sister has just installed it in her new house in Wales) but my architect says it will not be necessary with the insulation and inverter air con. I am undecided. I don't think it would be a luxury. What do you think?

Regards,

John.
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Re: Gas bottles?
 

Hi John
Only you can decide whether or not it is a luxury. To heat a brand-new, detached, three-bed, three-bathroom villa, with double-glazed windows and doors, to a temperature equivalent to what we expect in England is costing us 200 euros every 3 to 4 weeks in the coldest weather .... on the plus side .... everyone locally is envious of the ambient heat we enjoy, because it means that you do not experience cold spots/rooms/mould etc etc.
Can't comment on the effect of inverter air-con because we do not have it ....
Nights in Spain can be colder than you think, and on a visit to Denia last year in January we actually had snow! Frost is also not uncommon!
Wish we could be of more help ... but good luck anyway!

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Our gas bottles ( Cepsa) came from the local petrol station, walked in with the paperwork for two bottles, paid the 80€ and shoved them in the car boot!! No other legalities were asked for, no home checks or anything. Refills in Sept were 9€ each, don't know what they will be next week when we return.

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Our big issue is 'how big are yours';)
Ours are over 1 metre tall and contain 35 kg gas (torpedo style)..... which is why it is difficult to pick them up at the local petrol station!
xxxxx

Re: Gas bottles?
 

We have the 12.5kg orange bottles delivered by Repsol. I think the current price is 12.60€. As stated before, the price of gas is government controlled so as five of your 35kg bottles is equivalent to 14 12.5kg bottles you shouldn't be paying more than about 180€.

When we arrived here in 2003 we were quoted 7,500€, by Repsol to install central heating with the five large bottles. In the end we decided to fit three invertor heating/aircon units at just over 3,000€.

We heat the lounge/dining room with one and just before bedtime we turn on the other two in the two bedrooms we use (only one now as our daughter is at uni).

Over the four years we have been here our largest two month electricity bill has been 134.13€ which has been for the mid November to mid January period.

When we have guests we use oil filled radiators in their rooms.

We have one of those portable gas heaters, that take a 12.kg bottle, in the bathroom, one bottle lasts Nov-March when it's used. We also use gas for hot water (12.5kg lasts about 10-14 days in the winter and about 3 weeks in the summer), and for the hob, about six months per bottle.

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Also against the law to carry the 35kg gas bottles in the car I believe.

Re: Gas bottles?
 

We find that aircon heating causes dryness of eyes and throat and so never use them for heating purposes.....and especially not in the bedroom.

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Noelrosie,

Have you thought about installing a gas tank? That is, of course, if you've got the available space. Usually a builder who would have installed underfloor heating should have recommended that instead of bottles.

I think it's more cost effective AND obviously you don't have to refill as often, but again the tank needs to be housed and x metres away from the house (and any other houses in the area) and all other security measures that need to be taken.

Re: Gas bottles?
 

Luckily for us that hasn't been a problem, perhaps the inverters are different?

Our lounge is currently 21c and 58% humidity. not too dry?