Choosing the right boiler for your home is an essential but often tiring process. With plans for Ireland to slowly phase out fossil fuel boilers altogether, you may be left with more questions than answers.
In this guide, we aim to help you choose the right oil boiler for your home and discuss oil boiler alternatives as Ireland pushes to reach net zero by 2050.
How Do You Choose The Right Oil Boiler?
A new boiler is a long-term investment, so it is crucial to get it right. Your oil boiler should suit your household’s specific heating needs, budget, and general lifestyle.
If you are unsure of how to choose the best oil boiler for your home, start by considering the following factors:
Energy Efficiency
When looking for your next boiler, you want to choose the most cost-effective option. Energy-efficient oil boilers use less energy to heat your home, leading to lower operating costs. These boilers also produce less waste energy, providing more heat for your home without consuming more energy.
Combi oil boilers are among the most efficient, with ratings of up to 90%. Combi boilers are compact and space-efficient, providing both heating and hot water from one unit. They are a popular choice for their lower running costs and are the most affordable boiler type.
Heating Requirements
You must also consider your home’s heating requirements, as this can help determine the type and size of the oil boiler to buy. For example, a system boiler is the best option if you have a large 4-bedroom home with multiple bathrooms, radiators and underfloor heating.
System boilers are larger than combi boilers as they require an additional hot water cylinder to provide hot water. System boilers work by heating water directly from the mains to warm radiators. They also fill up a tank with hot water, creating a reserve that’s used for taps, showers, and so forth, making them ideal for households that frequently use hot water.
Combi boilers are an ideal option for smaller homes or flats with a lower heating demand because they don’t have storage tanks. While this type of boiler can provide hot water on demand, it can also affect water pressure.
Price
Your budget is a primary consideration when investing in a new oil boiler. Combi boilers tend to boast more affordable prices as they only require the installation of one small unit. They are also the most cost-effective, requiring less energy to run.
You must also factor in the price of fuel when choosing your boiler. Oil boilers differ from gas as you are responsible for supplying your own fuel and storing it in an oil tank.
Internal Or External?
When purchasing an oil boiler, you can choose whether to install it internally or externally. The right choice depends on your budget and how much available space you have inside your home.
External boilers can save a considerable amount of space inside your home but have the drawback of being the more expensive option to purchase and install. They also present the risk of freezing in the winter, but this can be mitigated with protective coverings.
Internal boilers are a money-saving choice and are ideal if you have the space in your home to keep them. Of course, personal preference is also a factor.
What Are The Oil Boiler Alternatives?
The Irish Government is currently phasing out fossil fuel boilers in an attempt to lower carbon emissions and plans to ban gas and oil boilers from new-build properties from 2025. These plans don’t affect properties that already run on gas and oil but are important for homeowners to keep in mind.
If you are looking for eco-friendly gas boiler alternatives, sustainable heat pumps are currently the most popular option. While buying and installing these systems is a large investment, they are highly cost-effective, with efficiencies of up to 400%, saving you a significant amount on your utility bills!
Heat pumps work by transferring heat from the ground or air to inside the home. They are far more environmentally friendly, eliminating the combustion process and replacing it with renewable heat transfer.
Are Oil Boilers Worth It?
If you already have an oil boiler system and are looking for an upgrade, a new oil boiler is undoubtedly a worthy investment. The government’s goal to reach net zero by 2050 involves phasing out the use of fossil fuel boilers; however, this does not affect homes that currently run on gas and oil.
Consider the above factors when purchasing your next boiler, and make the best decision for your home!
