Less expensive than Agas to keep cosy cottage feel in new house

How about a Rayburn? They are cheaper to buy than an Aga. Ours heats the water, does the central heating and cooks! We run ours on oil but you can get electric ones. We got a new (blue) one 3 years ago as the existing 1970s one was solid fuel and getting a bit of a nuisance!

I have a small electric Rangemaster with a ceramic top.

I was going to suggest both the above!

I have a Rangemaster which I really like but no way does it act as a room heater anymore than any other electric cooker
Incidentally the glass cooker top developed a nasty crack ( for whatever reason ) we had difficulty getting it replaced even though it was Rangemaster whom we contacted we do live at the far end of north west Wales but even so I think six weeks is a bit excessive

I’ve got an Everhot, which I run on economy mode and switch up before cooking. I’ve had it years, and it’s been the best investment ever. They also make a cast iron stove heater, which is the same size as a log burner, and costs around £2k, which might be an option too.

Myrtlerosebud

We need to replace the ancient, failing Aga in our cottage. There’s lots of jobs need doing so we have to be pragmatic around spending. My preference is for some sort of range cooker which would maintain heat much of the day - we have considered a new electric AGA which can be switched on and off. The expense is an issue however. I’ve thought of a Rangemaster cooker with an electric top.. we can’t have gas. I will be having a pacemaker fitted so cannot use an induction hob. Has anyone got ideas for something like an AGA which would fit aesthetically into our cottage, possibly adding cosiness, if only for times in the day when switched on?

There are companies that will convert your exiting AGA to electricity. I just searched on converting aga to electric cost and it offers alternative and tells you how much they will cost to run. You can also get AGAs re-enamelled and have the lids replaced, expensive but possibly worthwhile if you live in a property which suits an AGA?
We have a family holiday home and used our AGA there for the first time for some years at Christmas. It was really wonderful to have the heat and the oven space again. Until I moved house in 2020 I had one in my own home which I only ran in the colder months, and I'd forgotton how lovely it was.

sorry, typo, "existing AGA"!

We inherited a reasonably new Rayburn when we bought this house. It incorporates a boiler for heating and hot water and has two ovens. Although the kitchen is very snug when it is on, the racket that the boiler part makes is horrendous. All conversation has to stop, it is impossible to use the telephone and the radio or anything on the computer cannot be heard.

Just be aware. It is oil fired but I do not know what LPG or electric ones would be like. We are not using it for the above reasons, so I cannot give any idea of running costs. Have you thought of converting yours to LPG?

20 years ago, I had a 4 oven LPG AGA, which I loved with a passion but we had a separate boiler house, so the noise wasn't an issue.

Let us know what you decide to do - it might give me some ideas about what to do with mine!!

granny'sbuttons My mom had a Rayburn, it was brilliant in every way 🌷

Casdon

I’ve got an Everhot, which I run on economy mode and switch up before cooking. I’ve had it years, and it’s been the best investment ever. They also make a cast iron stove heater, which is the same size as a log burner, and costs around £2k, which might be an option too.

I too was going to recommend the ever hot heater/mini stove.

You would probably need a conventional oven too.

My Rayburn is not noisy!!

There’s nothing quite like an Aga. You could go for second hand… Everything else is a pale imitation. Rayburn maybe at a push but Agas are crazily expensive because they’re fab…

You’re right Scottiegran999, for tradition an Aga is best, but I deliberately chose an Everhot because of its advantages over an Aga. Mine has an induction hob as well as hot plates, is more controllable, and considerably cheaper to run, having sustainability as one of the design principles. It looks just as nice too, and is completely reliable.

20 years ago we had our oil fired aga which is at least 50 years old renovated and converted to gas. It cost a fraction of the cost of a new one and is still going strong. As an aside, I have a pacemaker and I use an induction hob, they are fine with modern pacemakers if used sensibly.

Another vote for a Rayburn! Ours also does cooking/heating and hot water and runs on oil. Very efficient and has been a fantastic investment! Also in an old cottage and it suits us perfectly.

Casdon

You’re right Scottiegran999, for tradition an Aga is best, but I deliberately chose an Everhot because of its advantages over an Aga. Mine has an induction hob as well as hot plates, is more controllable, and considerably cheaper to run, having sustainability as one of the design principles. It looks just as nice too, and is completely reliable.

I've never heard of Everhot before and just looked them up so thank you. Not that I'm in the market right now but will be in the future. We already have solar panels installed, with a battery, and this looks like it will bring electricity costs down even further. I don't know anything about Agas, Rayburns, etc as I've never had one so it's going to be a research project for me for the next year I think.

I have an Alpha Range Cooker (looks to all intents and purposes identical to an Aga).
The huge benefit is that it runs on an adjustable timer so is a lot more cost effective.
Running for a couple of hours in the morning, and hour at lunchtime and a bit longer in the evening, plus a boost button if needed. It keeps the whole of downstairs warm, and the heat rises at bedtimes for the bedrooms.