Aga/Raeburn Central Heating

[Jacks]

Is anyone using an Aga/Raeburn to run central heating? Would you recommend it? We need to run about 15 radiators would this be possible? How do they compare with an ordinary boiler? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

Jacks    

 

[Will]

You can certainly use certain models of Rayburn to run that many radiators - you couldn't, as far as I know, use an Aga. We had a solid fuel Rayburn running the heating at a former French house - it was a bit iffy running on wood, though I know other people use wood successfully in France, so it probably depends on the quality of the wood and the number of radiators. There are French-made wood-burning alternatives. Coal and coke are generally rather difficult to find in France.

Had we stayed at that house we would have certaily converted the Rayburn to run on French heating oil (you can't use most British oil-burning Rayburns, though some with the pressure jet burner will work). You can of course use a diesel-fired Rayburn with French oil.

If you want chapter and verse look at http://www.tradcookers.com. The owner of the site has sold plenty of Agas and Rayburns to France and knows exactly what is required.

[Mysfloss]

http://www.agafrance.fr/ maybe

[Tourangelle]

Having lived with an Aga, it does not provide water for central heating, but it does heat water. However the water can often be very hot, so it is important to think about adding something (technical term) to regulate the mix with cold water.