Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
Dec 22nd 2008, 2:55 pm
#1
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Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
Anyone worked out which is the cheapest way to heat water (baths/kitchen etc),bottled gas boiler or electric water heater?
Rgds
Rotor
Rgds
Rotor
Dec 22nd 2008, 4:25 pm
#2
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Location: O'Vicedo, Galicia
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
We are going to go for a wood burning boiler which will do hot water and central heating. They are carbon neutral, they will burn through the night and keep the radiators hot so that the house is comfortable. The new ones have a heat exchanger in them so that you are not pumping hot gases up the chimney. They have come a long way since they came on the market. The boiler is expensive but no one knows how much gas/oil will be in the future.
Dec 22nd 2008, 9:43 pm
#3
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
Well ... don't forget solar! Which is ..... free!
Dec 23rd 2008, 6:00 am
#4
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
yes, but your looking at €15k plus to be totaly of the grid
Dec 23rd 2008, 7:35 am
#5
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Location: Sevilla/Cordoba border
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
The OP wasn't asking about being off-grid, only water heating. Vast difference. A solar water heating system can be got for 1500€ or thereabouts, depending on size of course.
(As an aside, I'm off-grid and the cost was 10k
).
(As an aside, I'm off-grid and the cost was 10k
).
Dec 23rd 2008, 7:56 am
#6
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
We are going to go for a wood burning boiler which will do hot water and central heating. They are carbon neutral, they will burn through the night and keep the radiators hot so that the house is comfortable. The new ones have a heat exchanger in them so that you are not pumping hot gases up the chimney. They have come a long way since they came on the market. The boiler is expensive but no one knows how much gas/oil will be in the future.
Dec 23rd 2008, 8:43 am
#7
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
How about a solar boiler ( big black tank in the sun ) that feeds a small gas combi condensing boiler or in door electric hot water tank
Dec 23rd 2008, 7:54 pm
#8
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
It never reaches 40 degrees here, maybe 22/23 degrees during the summer. The boiler is in a corner of the house, the boiler is insulated, it also has a heat exchanger and the heat output into the room it is housed is minimal. I am actually looking forward to having not only hot water in the summer from the boiler but the heating on as well. The house is always cold whether it be summer or winter.
Dec 24th 2008, 12:22 am
#9
Joined: Apr 2008
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
Just getting ready hot water for bath now Mansabdar, I am cooking on wood mark 5
Last edited by poshnbucks; May 30th 2009 at 5:39 am.
Dec 27th 2008, 1:42 pm
#10
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
Might be of some help here. Moved into this new house 2004 where a small emersion heater was fitted. If you had a decent shower, the next person had to wait about 2 hours. Absolutely terrible and the ON light never seem to go off. Friend told me to throw it out and fit a gas boiler (275 euros). Needs an outside wall for the flue. A resonable job for a competent DIY person. I use bottled gas at 13.74 euros a bottle (A price reduction in the pipe-line - unlike electricity) Use about 10 bottles a year. Lashings of hot water on demand .
Dec 27th 2008, 2:34 pm
#11
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Location: Granada Costa
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
It was obviously a rubbish heater and too small.
We have a 200 litre electric water heater.
It is on a timer for 4 hours each night on off peak electricity and provides hot water all day at a cost of 70 euros a year.
Dec 27th 2008, 6:35 pm
#12
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
Whats the price difference.
Dec 28th 2008, 6:42 am
#14
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Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
By that do you mean 30% more than the overnight rate or 30% more than the day tarrif on a normal meter.
The second case applies here in UK so it is a fine calculation but we have lots of timers and run high usage items overnight (dishwasher, washing machine, immersion heater and bathroom towel rail) the first two for their full cycle after midnight and the latter two from 4 am till 6 am when the gas boiler is timed to fire up. This means that the bathroom and water are warm for the early starters.
I think you have commented before that you run your pool pump overnight in summer so that alone must make it worthwhile and give a sparkling clear pool. That is the way I want to go and perhaps an immersion heater for hot water first thing since our solar water heating system will be at its lowest ebb just on dawn.
Regards,
John.
Dec 28th 2008, 7:09 am
#15
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Granada Costa
Posts: 10,894
Re: Hot Water ,Which way is cheapest?
Yes, it is 30% more than the normal tarif during the (now shorter) peak period.
We are currently using just over 70% of our consumption in the off peak period and it saves us a large amount! Also we do not have to pay the 25% "fine" if we exceed 500kw/h per month.
