Do consider the logistics as the years creep on you. They are heavy and awkward to carry. At 200euros you could go electric. Our boiler was very basic and not very good. It didn't hold any hot water therefore once the shower was running you couldn't stop it and re-start it. Well you could but prepare to be drenched in cold water till it came hot again! With the electric this is eliminated. Much more civilised.

Do you not have a lift Jon ?

Hi VS, Sorry, I thought you knew we are in Marina Esuri... there are no lifts, there and maybe in places a face-lift is needed as well

You are right Olivia re the logistics and 'lugging', as Ive mentioned above, we also have a problem of the cylinders taking up space. I am (personally) a big fan of gas (combi) boilers though - so will keep that. We also don't have the problem of cold drenching, that you had... but do have to run a lot of water through before the hot comes through to our shower/sink/bidet. That would be the same with electric and depends on the pipe-run length from the boiler. Its great that you are happy with your system. We have electric here in Brussels and the tank ('immersion') heats up at night on half price electricity. But the tanks are family sized and we heat a lot of water we 2 don't use, in order to have enough when guests arrive... which for us isnt all-the-time.

The maths do seem to bear out gas bottles, vs gas. Certainly for people that have a second home there, and don't use it year-round. Even us that spend several months a year there may save money with bottles. But yes we have to consider it against the space used and the lugging etc. If we lived there permanently we would probably stick with mains gas, for the facility of it... We may still anyway, when I've checked the bills - and thought through the logistics - and spoken with the 'boss' Also if we want to come there permanently - we would leave it as it is.

Also there is now probably another discussion around costs of gas (whichever) vs electricity....

Thanks
Jon

You could always rig up a block and tackle to winch the bottles up to your level
[or persuade your community to put lifts in the lift shafts

Do you not have a delivery service and can they not deliver to the door or to the boiler, with a little incentive if required?

Yes there is one. Cepsa and he will carry it to the door. We used to be able to catch him from time to time. He blows his sounder when he is in the area. I also think you can phone for him. With most having piped gas on the urbanisation perhaps it would not be economical for him to go there.

Does anyone know if there is a way to tell how much Gas is left in the bottle by a dial of some sort. The one I have at home For the barbie, you have to shake it to find out. It kills the wife's back

Bathroom scales

Bit heavy to drag into the bathroom though

We have Calor Gas in the motor home. We bought a magnetic thing to stick on the tank but not much good. We have a digital luggage scale from our flying days and we are just about to try that. Empty bottle/Full bottle Will it go high enough??? Anyone put one of these luggage scales to the test?

Just taking the weight of one side by tilting it slightly rather than lifting the whole thing soon gives you a good guide once you get the feel for it.

Also give it a rap with your knuckles and you will hear an echoing sound when it is close to empty.

we have done exactly this and envisage saving quite a lot! Antonia from ADA contacted someone on our behalf. He came that afternoon, with a cylinder and changed the jets and gave us a gas safety certificate (essential) then a form to take down to the gas office near the market where we registered for gas bottles (which you can purchase anywhere).
The tricky part is trying to inform the mains gas people that you wish to cancel the contract - you need a fluent Spanish speaker to use your name and verbally cancel this, then follow up with a fax. Some banks will do this for you and then cancel the standing order.

We still have the original gas water heater but the hot water stopped working on the last visit. Not looking forward to cold showers in January when we're next on holiday. Can anyone recommend someone to repair and service it?

After the burglary of friends' house, we had to call a locksmith. He was extremely helpful, and speaks good English.
His name is Ahmed and his phone: 651.561.376.

According his business card, he also does painting, assembling furniture, pergolas, lamps, mosquito nets, awnings, repairs and renovations of masonry, plaster, drywall, plumbing, electrical, etc ...

Highly recommended!

Hiya

The above was a very helpful post by the Lord Mayor; maybe Ahmed could give you the contact details of a registered gas boiler fitter ?

Mel

Dave
I will post you details shortly.