Kitchen refurb - AGA/Esse/Other for winter heat and a usable cookspace.

[Nsar1]

It’s possible to convert an old Aga to electric. We inherited a “pre-1974” gas fired one with internal back boiler type tank. It was filthy and green - the colour not the rancid contents of the ovens. We had it completely refurbished so it is now electric and grey and without the boiler inside. We also have a full size electric oven and an induction hob, so the Aga is only used in the winter. I’m not much of a cook so admit the Aga was kept more for aesthetics and also to heat the kitchen which would be very cold otherwise. Looks wise they did such a good job you wouldn’t know she isn’t a new Aga. Done by Blake and Bull who did everything from dismantling, collection and redelivery assembly and commissioning.

Do you know what the running costs of the AGA are now? We looked into converting ours to electric when we installed solar but the economics didn't really stack up as I recall, not least because solar is at its worst in the months you want the AGA to be doing more heavy lifting of warmth in the house.

 

[lagori]

Do you know what the running costs of the AGA are now? We looked into converting ours to electric when we installed solar but the economics didn't really stack up as I recall, not least because solar is at its worst in the months you want the AGA to be doing more heavy lifting of warmth in the house.

I have the same question, really. Maybe I am being a dunce here, but if this thread is correct, I cannot see why an oil/gas AGA is worth converting to electric, but an electric something else, I.E. Esse, is apparent madness.

 

[Nsar1]

I have the same question, really. Maybe I am being a dunce here, but if this thread is correct, I cannot see why an oil/gas AGA is worth converting to electric, but an electric something else, I.E. Esse, is apparent madness.

https://tncook.co.uk/AGA-running-costs.html
If you take that table and apply 62 pence per litre of oil and 27p per KwH, an oil fired AGA is an easy decision.
In basic terms, oil AGA = low running costs with low flexibility on increasing/decreasing heat for cooking, but with the advantage of being a steady background heat source. In your instance you have very low capital cost to implement. Electric AGA = much higher running costs, better but not great flexibility, same advantage of steady heat. In your instance additional cost to covert to electric. Buying a new range = higher running costs if you want background heat, more flexibility on when cooking heat is available. In your instance way higher capital cost. Pick what suits you best!

 

[fernicarry]

One of the reasons we keep our oil Aga is that it keeps running if there is a power cut. Admittedly this has been pretty rare and never for that long a period but recent events like Heathrow/Spain/Portugal give pause for thought if your only power source at home is leccy as required by net-nothing. I doubt very much if the UK could black start its grid as fast as Spain did. This is after all the country that thinks the best way to avoid the trains running late is to just not bother running the trains...

Also I wonder how well those electric conversions actually work in practice. As I understand it in a combustion cooker the heat is distributed by channeling the flue gases around the different heat zones before they exit out the back. An electric element sat in the burner box isn't going to have the same effect. Maybe there is a circulating fan (which would be annoying) or they put heating elements in each of the different zones like you'd have in stand alone appliances. Seems like it could be quite a different experience.