I can't be definitive about the shower because I can't remember. We moved from the rental with gas hot water on demand. All I can say is I was never disappointed at how long it lasted which did seem to be AAAAAges for 2 of us showering daily and washing up. Because in reality you very often don't even trigger your heater when washing hands the usage is very low. But I can tell you that we now have bottled gas cooking. The bottle lasts for 6 months and we cook daily! Sometimes we use a bottled gas heater. That only gives us around 10 days on most of the time in cold winter. But I love the independence of deciding whether to use gas or or woodburner for heat. We even have the option of gas or electric cooking for most purposes but tend to use the gas for the hob and a small electric oven only occasionally. We live on a VERY tight budget but I can tell you I've never found the cost of bottled gas a problem. I'd go for it. If nothing else it's freedom from unexpected cuts in supply

Hi Jon,

just a quick tip. Most people tend to use butane gas but I prefer propane (or propano)as a bottle seems to last a bit longer and it is also slightly cheaper than butane. You can get a lever connected where your gas is installed so you turn it from the empty bottle to the full one without having to disconnect and reconnect your bottles every time they run out.

We have just changed from bottled gas to electric not because we were not satisfied just for convenience and logistics of carrying bottles upstairs etc. They are quite heavy when full. It has freed up a cupboard in the utility and also a space where the spare bottle stood. The regular 15kg bottles here in Spain are I think subsidised? They are about half the price of Calor Gas in the uk. but have gone more expensive recently. Mike used to say we got about 40 man days from a bottle for daily showers, bathroom and kitchen use. i.e. 2 of you 20 days. We have electric for cooking.
The cost of the conversion to electric last week was 200euros for boiler and fitting. We are very pleased with it so far.

Thanks everybody for all the recent information. I will have to take a look at the tank sizes and costs of propane etc and for that lever to swap supplies (great idea), an what space we have.

When I return I'll check the standing charges for the time not there and make an estimation of the costs based on the great info above....

One big issue for us is the space the 2 bottles would take up - but I could maybe build something there...

Thanks
Jon

Mike thinks the last 15kg. bottle was about 16 euros they were 13 euros for ages. Calor Gas in uk is only a 13kg bottle and was £26 in July 2012very expensive for the motorhome.

Great now I/we can do some numbers

2 people = 20 days on a bottle at 16 Euros. Say 24E for every month of usage - showers and hot water. To give some slack I'll do some numbers based on 25 and 30 vs actual charges + Standing charges.. and time spent there. And add initial charges and changing of boiler settings etc etc....

Anyone know how much it is to set up the cylinders with this great guy - and if there is any extra charges please, e.g for having the cylinders / valves / 2 way switch over tap etc etc - Meaning anything over and above the bottle charge...

Anyone can adapt this for their particular situation to do the maths..... once we have the final bit... If I do a s/sheet - I will post it here for all.

THANKS

Jon

The Repsol butano bottles are 12.5 kg whilst the propano are 11 Kg

http://gasbutano.net/glp.htm

I did the numbers some years ago when my gas boiler blew up and changed to electric.

I personally have always been a big fan of combination gas boilers... they are so convenient = unlimited hot water at +/- mains pressure for a good shower...and if you have Gas CH great for that too. I've done a few renovations and use it always - and in fact always upgrade the boiler to a higher BTU as the difference is so small up front... just my own personal preference. Though the pilot is a bit of a waste, I think there are new models which spark up only when needed - though Ive never used one.

We have electric boilers here, heating a hot tank, that although is pretty modern and insulated, I wonder if it works for the 2 of us as we do need to over specify it for when guests arrive. Meaning we are heating up a lot of water all the time. I would prefer to have gas here, but our place had no gas supply.

Thanks again for all the inputs - nearly there once we have the initial costs sorted.

Jon

We would have objected to a monthly standing charge too for the few weeks we were able to get out whilst we were working. The bottled gas has suited us fine for many years. Just no longer want to carry the bottles up 2 flights of stairs.

The Stannah company are missing a trick here

Morning all
Gas conversion cost me 200, this meant that new pipe work fitted from boiler to where I wanted the regulator located with the additional 1metre regulatory rubber hosing, two new bottles and fitters certification. Bottles cost 16€ to replace I've only replaced one cylinder following 5 visits in the last year with a number of guesses.

Cheers for the info. I have called him and discussed what need and we have arranged to meet up next time I am over to do the work. Sounds simply enough and could save us plenty of money over the years to come! Will keep you informed!!

I am pretty certain that we get charged about 30-35 euros every two months for the standing charge and a bit of gas usage. That is about 200 euros a year, so at 200 for the conversion after year one you are quids in. Even if you do 10 bottles a year at 16.50 it is still cheaper!

It certainly does look like a slam-dunk. Maybe a s/sheet is unnecessary.. its down to the space taken, initial cost and having to drag the bottles up in our case 5 flights of stairs... but not that many times a year it seems.....

Thanks

Jon