How oil central heating works
Although most households in the UK have gas central heating, an estimated 3.6m households are not connected to the gas network.
In some parts of the UK where there is no gas network to connect to, such as rural areas, some homes 
use home heating oil instead. This is normally used in a ‘wet’ heating system where an oil-fired boiler heats water, which provides heat to the radiators and hot water through the taps in your home.
The main difference between gas and heating oil is that is delivered by tanker and stored in an oil storage tank, which is situated on your property. You may have to buy or rent from your supplier.
Heat-only and combination condensing oil-fired boiler types are both available. Most oil-fired combi boilers have an internal hot water store to supply domestic hot water rather than the instantaneous heating more common in gas boilers.
Annual fuel cost for heating and hot water (not including installation costs)
- Fuel cost for heating and hot water: £950 (due to recent price rise)
Carbon emissions per year
- Carbon emissions: 5- 6.5 tonnes
These are estimated yearly costs based on heating and hot water demands of a three-bedroomed, semi-detached, well-insulated house (insulated cavity walls, 270mm loft insulation, thermostatic radiator valves and insulated primary pipe work), the efficiencies of typical heating systems and the current average price per fuel per kWh (as of Dec 2010). They are not derived from actual fuel bills.
Advantages of oil central heating
Oil is a highly efficient source of fuel, so you get a good return on every unit of energy. Newer condensing boilers, which use hot flue gases that are wasted in a standard boiler, now achieve efficiencies of 90% and more. Replacing a standard oil boiler with a highly efficient modern condensing boiler is relatively straightforward.
Disadvantages of oil central heating
Like gas, oil prices are on the rise and are likely to remain high as the UK competes with growing demand from other countries. Recently prices of heating oil have gone up sharply and the Office of Fair Trading is now conducting a study of the off-grid energy market in the UK.
As oil is delivered by tanker there is a possibility you could run out while you wait for your next delivery. However, systems that monitor the amount of oil in your tank and automatically notify your supplier when it needs topping up are available.
The Watchman Sonic is one method of gauging your current level of oil.
Installing an oil central heating system from scratch can be expensive and disruptive. The storage tank can also be unsightly but every attempt is made to limit how unsightly it is.
Oil boilers need servicing annually to ensure they run efficiently and last as long as they should.
We can arrange to service your oil-fired boiler, please contact 01255 860168 for more information.
Most condensing oil-fired boilers are floor standing so you may have problems trying to find a wall-mounted model. They will also need to be plumbed in to allow acidic condensate liquid to drain away.
Oil-fired boilers usually limit the hot water flow rate to ensure the water is as hot as it should be, meaning the hot water flow rate is lower than a gas combi or hot water cylinder system and that the hot water temperature will decline as more water is used.
As a fossil fuel, oil produces carbon dioxide when it’s burnt and can’t be considered a clean source of energy.
Alternatives
With prices of LPG on the rise on one hand and the generous incentive for renewable heat on the other hand, if you are off the gas grid, you might like to consider a renewable alternative to contribute to heating your house like a wood burning stove, a solar system or a heat pump.
We are able to replace your less efficient oil boiler with a newer, more economical one, please Contact Us for more information
