Oil Boilers
In rural parts of Northumberland, County Durham and North Yorkshire, many homes are off the gas grid and heated by oil instead. An oil boiler burns heating oil (kerosene) stored in an outdoor tank to provide central heating and hot water. Older oil boilers, like their gas cousins, are frequently non-condensing and inefficient — and with oil prices what they are, that inefficiency is felt keenly. If your home runs on an ageing oil boiler, you may be able to replace it through grant funding.
How to recognise a oil boilers
Use these tell-tale signs to work out whether this is the boiler in your home:
- There is a large oil storage tank in the garden or yard.
- The property is not connected to mains gas.
- The boiler may stand on the floor in a utility room, garage or outhouse, or be a wall-hung oil model.
- An older unit will usually be non-condensing with no condensate pipe.
- Running costs feel high relative to the warmth achieved.
Still not sure? Our guide on how to tell if you have an old boiler covers the universal checks, and a free survey will confirm your boiler type for certain.
Common problems with oil boilers
Old oil boilers waste fuel in the same way as old gas boilers — by letting flue heat escape — but the cost sting is sharper because heating oil is bought in bulk and prices fluctuate. Ageing oil boilers also need regular servicing of the burner, nozzle and filters, and neglected units become smoky, smelly and unreliable. Corrosion, sludged systems and worn pumps are common after years of service, and a poorly maintained oil boiler can pose safety and environmental risks if the tank or supply line fails.
For a fuller picture across all boiler types, see the problems with old boilers.
Heating oil and rural homes
For the many off-grid homes across the rural North East and North Yorkshire, oil is often the only practical heating fuel, which makes efficiency especially important. Every litre of kerosene an old boiler wastes is a litre that has to be bought and delivered, and bulk oil prices can swing sharply from season to season. An ageing non-condensing oil boiler can quietly add hundreds of pounds a year to a household's heating costs compared with a modern condensing model. Replacing one not only cuts oil consumption but also reduces the frequency of deliveries and the hands-on maintenance that older burners demand, which matters a great deal in homes far from the nearest engineer.
Why replace it — and could it be free?
A modern condensing oil boiler recovers much of the heat an old unit throws away, often lifting seasonal efficiency from around 70% to the high 80s or low 90s. That means noticeably fewer oil deliveries and lower bills, plus cleaner, more reliable operation and modern controls. For eligible off-grid households, replacing a tired old oil boiler is exactly the kind of upgrade grant schemes are intended to fund. If you are unsure whether your home qualifies, our team can talk you through it.
If you have this boiler and your household meets the income or benefits criteria, you may qualify for a fully funded replacement. Check your eligibility or call 0800 246 8135.