No Mains Gas - Oil v LPG heating

[Dani101]

We will shortly be moving to a property with no mains gas. CH is provided by an ageing oil boiler with a not-to-current standard oil storage tank, so will need to replace both. Our dilemma is whether to get another oil boiler or install LPG. Neither we nor anyone we know has experience of using oil heating.

Does anyone here have experience of both and what do they prefer? Obviously, gas has the advantage for more controllable cooking and for a gas fire for cooler evenings when the CH isn't justified. Apart from that, is one cheaper than the other to run and are servicing and maintenance costs comparable?

Many thanks.

Unless you live in a super insulated eco box oil is the way to go.
If the tank you have is big enough (ours is about 2000l) I wouldn’t necessarily change it just because it’s not new. Likewise older oil boilers have very little to go wrong and trundle on forever. You may use a bit less oil with a modern one but the servicing costs and life expectancy may not work out cost effective overall.

Agreed. My last oil boiler lasted 35 years.

If you have the correct size radiators to heat the space in the first place, you don’t need to change them for air source heat pumps. People in the uk scrimp on insulation, effective glazing and radiators and then blame heat pumps. Old oil burners are smelly, produce exhaust and are hardly eco friendly.

@TizerorFizz that may be true but if you already live in a house that hasn't got big enough radiators to cope with air source then that's not just additional expense but also a bigger job with more disruption than just swapping the boiler. Being eco friendly is going to be trumped by cost for vast majority of people.
The best candidates for it are probably new builds with super insulation and small easy to heat rooms.

I would disagree, we have an 1800s cottage, plus extensions from the 70s and 80s. There was pretty much no insulation when we moved in. We added some external wall insulation, plus internal wall insulation in the loft of the single storey part of the building, but this was way before we had even contemplated changing away from oil heating - it was because the house was an igloo! Before installing the ASHP we added better loft insulation (sheep's wool), but that's it. Since having it, we've changed 2 radiators, to bigger (deeper, not longer), better spec ones. Whilst I'd say our house is now insulated quite well, the floors still leech heat (they're concrete, so no easy fix); the rooms are variable sizes, and some are large. It's definitely not an eco house!

I'm not saying an ASHP is a cheap option, and some research is required, but if you are having to make major changes anyway, like the OP, then it should definitely be an option that's considered.

Agreed. We're in a 200 year old cottage and have ASHP. Choose a good company and they will look carefully at your house and tell you what you need / don't need. They assess your 'heat needs'.

Another vote for the heat pump. Ours is great and house is warm even when it's -7c outside.

Yes, there's a perception you need to be insulated to the hilt for a heat pump but we're in a bog standard extended 1930s house - yes we have cavity wall and loft insulation, plus double glazing, but that's it.

We don’t have mains gas and when we moved into our property 6 years ago we had an oil boiler. I did my research and opted for a large LPG tank. The LPG runs most of our heating and all our hot water. We have an Electric AGA that heats the kitchen. We have a log burner over a gas fire for background heat (just because it suits the house better I guess and we are used to having one). We wouldn’t change anything about what we have done. The LPG has turned out to be cheaper than oil would have been and also the servicing costs of LPG compared to oil systems are cheaper.

I think the insulation and heatpump thing is that of course if you don't have insulation your pump will have to work harder and it will is more electricity to keep your house warm and electricity is expensive. Of course that's the same for any heating and normal gas heating will need to be used more and use more gas in a poorly insulated home. Most that gas used to be cheap so it wasn't so much on an issue. Not cheap now.

I’ve had experience with both oil and LPG heating, and each has its pros and cons. LPG tends to be more user-friendly, providing better temperature control and compatibility with gas appliances like cookers and fires. However, it requires regular refilling and rental costs for the tank if you don’t own one. Oil heating, on the other hand, is often cheaper per kWh but requires a properly maintained storage tank and can have higher upfront costs for installation.

That said, if you're looking for an efficient, low-maintenance, and cost-effective heating alternative, you might want to consider infrared heating panels. Unlike traditional systems, infrared panels heat objects and people directly rather than just the air, which reduces heat loss and makes them highly energy-efficient. They also provide instant warmth, require minimal maintenance, and can be installed on ceilings or walls to save space.

For a modern and smart-controlled solution, I’d recommend looking at Kiasa Smart Wi-Fi Infrared Panels. They can complement your heating system or even replace it entirely in well-insulated areas.

@kiasa I don’t think the OP has waited two years for your reply. I would suggest she has made her decision by now.

Neither, a heat pump. Grants available.

@TheSandgroper Haha, fair point! I figured I’d drop in just in case someone else stumbles upon this thread with the same question. After all, good heating advice never goes out of style! 😄

Besides, if the OP did wait two years, I’d say they’ve mastered the art of patience—and maybe a few layers of heated clothing by now! 😂