Gas -

Debs G · Post by **Debs G** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 6:19 pm

We're still in the very long process of buying our property in cvo. We had noticed that the property uses small gas bottles for the cooker and hot water etc. Where are these usually bought, how much are they (roughly) and do you return the old ones?
We're hoping to complete on the house soon and wanted to make sure we have hot water asap once we're there.

Thanks in advance for any help.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 7:51 pm

One just telephones the Bottle man...he comes the same day and takes away the old one(s) and connects the new ones. I don't know the exact cost but I think I pay about 65Euros per big bottle....just for cooking they last a long time but if you use them for central heating...they get empty very quickly .....There are many suppliers here and you can find them in Yellow pages etc....or if you cant find that...post a message and I'll dig out the number of my Bottle man...

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:52 am

you can probably get them cheaper if you pick them up at your local petrol station (GALP in Lagoa or BP by Porches).
You can also get the contact for delivery there, just leave them a map to your house so they know where to drop off the bottles when you call.

Debs G · Post by **Debs G** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 10:16 am

Thanks for the advice. Good to know we can get these fairly easily. We won't be taking cold showers then!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 12:38 pm

Little word of warning here, make sure the gas control valves meet current standards, ours didn't but do now. Sorry to give you another worry but could be important. Mike

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 1:24 pm

Mike,
that is a requirement if you want to rent the villa out. A gas certificate is needed and you will have to make some modifications to get the approval from the Certiel.

If you are just going to live there yourselves, you don't have to be too fussed with the regulations, just let a professional make sure they system is safe.

Debbie · Post by **Debbie** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:24 pm

We use Alagoagas in Lagoa 58 euro for a big bottle. We run our hot water and gas hob but the gas runs out very quickly and the hot water takes ages to get through. Thought about changing to an electric system -anybody have any experience of systems that work nearly as effectively as the UK?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 10:19 pm

Fit a simple Solar system.........Costs about £ 1500 and thats it,...no more hot water bills foir showers washing etc......all year.....Its Free...Yehhhhh

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 7:56 am

Solar is good, but be sure to get a decent water decalcifier (sp) or the immersion heater will not last through the winter (yes, there will be some days where you have to add electrcity to get warm water

)

Other than that you should have a good 8 months without having to spend a dime for hot water.

Debbie · Post by **Debbie** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 9:10 am

Many thanks for the replies -we had always assumed that the installation of solar was expensive -so had put that aside as an option. Any suggestions/recommendations for local Companies?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:14 am

SACL or RX.......both very good....about £1500

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:24 am

When we bought our plce it had a load of solar panels and other stuff which we were told would cost about five grand to put right ..im now wondering since we have the panels (about ten)would it be worth while to go for the afore mentioned system..any advice?

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:37 am

10 Panels?! What were you supplying with 10 Panels?

A normal 300 Lt tank can live with 2 panels and usually supplies 3-4 showers before it needs to re-heat. In summer it takes about 2 hours to get back to temperature.

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 1:59 pm

Yea.... god knows ...but theres also a huge tank like a space ship and rads all over the house..this is apart from the gas water heater ..also like a space ship and electric air coolers /heaters ...by the way is there a reason why nobody uses oil fired central heating?any way if there is any body out there that can give me a bit of info on (in simple terms)on basic solar panel heating it would be great....jaysus isn,t yer man chippy /builder a bloody godsend...keep him on a retainer...oh and listen G will ye delete that aul post of mine on the le cog thing about the prodestant whiskey...ye don,t know who might be flicking thru and get upset,
gerry

Debs G · Post by **Debs G** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 3:28 pm

I'm not sure whether we'll go for solar. We probably won't be in the property long enough to make it pay.

Thanks for all the replies about getting the gas bottles though. We thought it would be easy but didn't want to go to the first place we saw and get ripped off, or end up not knowing where to go and having no gas for a while.

We had oil fired heating out in the sticks once and that can be a bit of a pain. Not as much as coal fired heating though, can't believe people still have that.

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