Are Oil Fired Boilers as Efficient as Gas Boilers?

Are Oil Fired Boilers as Efficient as Gas Boilers?

Oil fired boilers and gas boilers are the two main types of boiler used in domestic households today. Most new houses and flats have gas condensing boilers fitted as standard, however, some areas of the UK still have trouble connecting to mains gas and in these areas oil boilers are used instead. Many people still believe that oil fired boilers are less efficient than their gas counterparts and that they are significantly worse for the environment as well. So are these people right?

New guidelines for the installation of gas boilers state that all new or replacement boilers fitted after the 1st April 2005 have to be condensing boilers with an efficiency rating of either A or B. This means that they have to be 90-95% efficient at all times. Gas boilers fitted before this date may not be as efficient and so very old gas boilers can have an efficiency rating as low as D which equates to 50-55% efficient.

The same guidelines as mentioned above also state that any new or replacement oil fired boilers installed after 1st April 2007 have to be of the condensing type. They also have to have an efficiency rating of A or B as well. This means that the newest oil fired boilers are easily as efficient as the newest gas boilers and in some cases they will also be cheaper to run. Older oil fired boilers, however, are often less efficient than similar aged gas boilers and they are probably less friendly to the environment as well.

There are a few methods that can be used to increase the efficiency of an aging oil boiler and the central heating system that it feeds. Firstly you can add vent dampers to the flue. These dampers are remotely controlled and can be closed when needed so that heat doesn't escape from the vents. This ultimately means that more of the heat energy produced by the oil boiler is kept within the central heating system of the house.

Secondly, you can change the type of oil you use in the boiler. Some types of oil burn with more efficiency than others and finding the right one for your boiler will almost certainly save you money on your heating bills. If the manufacturer's guide says it's okay to do so, you could try your oil boiler with bio diesel oil or recycled oil – both of which have lower emissions and are better for the environment.

To get the maximum efficiency you will probably need to replace your old oil fed boiler for a new condensing one.

Because of the new regulations concerning the installation of new/replacement boilers, oil boilers are now easily as efficient as similar models of gas boilers and they are equally as good for the environment. Older oil boilers may not be as efficient as they could be though and so it may be worth thinking about making a few modifications or upgrading to a newer, more efficient model.