Solid fuel and high efficiency oil boiler link up system:

I have recently installed a heating and hot water system for a customer which seamlessly links a solid fuel Rayburn cooker and a Worcester high efficiency condensing oil boiler.

Previously the Rayburn was used for cooking and to heat the water  via a  gravity circuit to a cylinder. This was used alongside an electric central heating system.

The client came to me to enquire if it would be possible to retain the solid fuel Rayburn and install a wet central heating system, possibly with oil, as an alternative fuel source.

I recommended using Thermal Storage technololgy and combining the solid fuel appliance with a high efficiency condensing oil boiler. This provides the means to harness the energy from the solid fuel appliance and have the boiler there as an alternative if the solid fuel appliace is not lit or has gone out overnight, for example. The energy harnessed from the solid fuel appliance can then be converted into high performance mains pressure hot water and heating. This helps to keep the use of the oil boiler to a minimum and hence keeps household running costs down.

The system is now up and running and the customer is pleased with the result.