For homes not connected to the gas mains, an oil-fired heating system is a great option. There are an estimated 4 million people in the UK using oil-fired heating systems as an alternative to gas. But how efficient is it?
Gas central heating and oil-fired boilers are equally efficient these days as both are A-rated. Oil itself is a highly efficient fuel and you will get a good return on every unit of energy used. With the recent advances in oil heating technology, modern oil-fired boilers are much more efficient than the old oil-fired boilers.
How oil central heating works
With an oil boiler system in your property, you’ll need to store the oil somewhere close. This is typically in an oil tank either next to the property or in the garden. Oil is delivered to your home via large trucks, which does mean that you heavily depend on the oil arriving when you need it. However, most oil tanks now have an alert system so that vendors are notified when your oil tank is running low.
Disadvantages of oil central heating
Oil prices have been fluctuating sporadically over the last few years. 2014 saw a huge price hike which rendered oil central heating an extremely expensive fuel. Since then, prices have dropped to about 35p per litre but the instability of oil means this could rocket back up again. The average home costs about £1350 a year to run with oil heating, compared to gas which costs around £770 to £950. Oil is also a fossil fuel which means it’s not an environmentally friendly way of heating your home.
If you’re considering an oil boiler for your property, ensure you choose an OFTEC approved installer so you can rest assured about the quality of your central heating system. DHS are professional heating engineers who carry out boiler installations in Bristol, with over 40 years of experience and are OFTEC approved.
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