How much does an oil boiler cost?
Oil boilers are a popular choice among homeowners that aren't connected to mains gas, as they work in the same way as gas boilers. How much an oil boiler costs will depend on the type and brand of boiler you choose, but the average cost is £3,550 including installation. Read on to find out more about oil boilers and what factors affect the cost.>
How much is an oil boiler in the UK?
How much an oil boiler costs in the UK depends on the type of oil boiler you choose, how big you need the system to be and where you live. Here are the average costs for oil boiler installation in the UK:
|
Type of oil boiler |
Average cost |
|
Combi boiler |
£3,900 |
|
Conventional boiler |
£3,500 |
|
System boiler |
£3,250 |
Labour costs will differ based on your location. Generally, if you live in the south east of England, a heating engineer will charge a higher hourly rate than if you live in other areas.
HaMuch has a large database of hourly and daily rates for heating engineers across the country, so take a look at the tables further down the page to get a better idea of labour costs in your area.
How does an oil boiler work?
An oil boiler works in a very similar way to a gas boiler. It uses oil as fuel to heat up water which is then used for your radiators, showers and taps.
The difference between oil boilers and gas boilers is that oil boilers will need fuel storage. Gas boilers don’t need storage because they’re connected to your mains gas supply, but an oil boiler needs an oil storage tank to draw from when it’s needed.
You’ll need to keep an oil storage tank on your property, buy heating oil and have it delivered to your home. In some areas, there are community oil schemes allowing you to take advantage of bulk oil prices by buying as a village or town.
Types of oil boiler
Like gas boilers, there are three main types of oil boiler: combi, conventional and system. Which one is right for you will depend on your hot water usage and the size of your home.
Combi oil boilers
Combi boilers are the most popular type of boiler in the UK. They are compact, sealed units that are great if you’re short on space as you don’t need a hot water tank or cylinder. They provide hot water on demand, so you won’t ever run out of hot water.
The disadvantage to combi boilers is that they don’t cope well if you use lots of outlets at the same time. For example, if you have two bathrooms and one person is running a bath while someone else is having a shower, you may find that the pressure is reduced. A conventional boiler would suit you better.
Conventional oil boilers
Conventional boilers, sometimes called regular, traditional or heat-only boilers, have been around for years and were the most popular type of boiler. They have a hot water cylinder and a water tank that’s usually stored in the loft.
Conventional boilers are ideal for homes with low water pressure and larger properties with two or more bathrooms. One disadvantage is that when you’ve used all the hot water in the cylinder, you’ll have to wait for it to heat up again before you can use it.
System oil boilers
System boilers have a hot water cylinder but no water tank in the loft. They’re suitable for large homes that use lots of hot water at the same time, just like conventional boilers. However, they’re not suitable for homes with low water pressure as these homes need the water tank in the loft to provide artificial pressure. Again, when the hot water runs out, you’ll need to wait for it to heat up before you use it.
Top oil boiler brands
While only 6% of households use oil boilers, there are still plenty of oil boiler brands to choose from. While premium brands might be more expensive, they may last longer and come with better warranties.
|
Boiler brand |
Price range |
|
Firebird |
£1,140-£2,900 |
|
Grant Vortex |
£1,655-£3,400 |
|
Viessmann |
£700-£3,500 |
|
Worcester Bosch |
£2,000-£3,750 |
Should I replace my 20 year old oil boiler?
If your oil boiler is 20 years old or more, it’s probably time to think about replacing it. Most oil boilers will last 10-15 years without problems, but after that you may start to notice a decrease in performance.
It’s also likely that your oil boiler is inefficient if it is 20 years old. Efficiency decreases as boilers get older, and as technology is improving all the time, newer models of oil boiler are probably more efficient than your current boiler was when it was new. If you’re finding that you’re going through your oil stores more quickly than usual, it might be time to replace your boiler.
Are oil boilers to be phased out?
Yes, oil boilers are being phased out – in new build homes. Soon, property developers won't be able to install oil boilers in new homes and will have to add a renewable source of heating, like an air source heat pump, instead.
Homes with oil boilers already installed aren't affected by this law – you won't be required to remove your oil boiler and you can even get a new one installed after then. It won't be until the mid-2030s that you would have to replace an old oil boiler with a renewable heating source, and even then it's unlikely you would be forced to replace it. It would only be once your boiler breaks down that you'd have to replace it with a renewable heating source.
If you're ready to replace your oil boiler, make sure you use an OFTEC-registered engineer. They are qualified to work on oil boilers and can self-certify that their work meets Building Regulations. Post your job on HaMuch now to get in touch with local heating engineers that are available to install your new oil boiler.