Oil or Gas Central Heating

It's a question that many people will ask - should I choose oil or gas central heating for my home and/or business? It's fair to say that both options have positive and negative aspects. If you are wondering whether to choose oil or gas central heating, following are the pros and cons for each option;

Oil central heating

An estimated 3.6 million households are not currently connected to the mains gas network. To this end, many people rely on oil for their central heating needs. Oil is delivered by road, or stored in a tank that you rent or buy from a supplier.

• Pros
  On the whole, oil is a very efficient fuel - this can ensure that you receive a good return on every unit of energy that you purchase. Most oil systems also incorporate a monitoring option that is able to automatically notify your supplier when a top up is required.


• Cons
  Oil prices are continuing to rise, and they are likely to remain high as growing demand increases from other countries. The installation of a new oil central heating system can be very expensive and some oil systems are reasonably bulky and intrusive. The hot water flow rate can be slightly lower using an oil system. Also, as with any other fossil fuel, oil produces carbon dioxide, therefore it is not a green option and fossil fuels on a whole are depleting.

Gas central heating

Many households in the UK now have access to mains gas central heating. This is often described as a 'wet system' whereby a gas-fired boiler heats the water.

• Pros
  Generally speaking, gas is a highly efficient fuel - again, you will get a good return for every unit of energy that you purchase. Modern condensing boilers now have a very high efficiency rate of up to 90% or more. The gas supply is pumped directly into your home, so you don't need to store fuel. The installation of a modern condensing boiler is fairly straightforward and can be reasonably cost effective over a longer term.


• Cons
  Gas prices are on the rise - and they are likely to remain high. As the United Kingdom is not self-sufficient in gas supply, competition if rife due to growing demand in other countries. The initial installation costs for a new gas boiler can be fairly high - and if you're not already connected to the mains gas supply - further costs can be incurred. As with oil, gas produces carbon dioxide, so it is not considered to be a clean source of energy.