Switching From Oil Fired Heating To Calor LPG Heating & Calor Futuria Liquid BioGas

Switching from oil to LPG for central heating makes a home more energy-efficient and saves money over the long term. The changeover is not a complicated process. 

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What Is LPG?

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LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) is a colourless gas that gets pressurised into a dense, liquid form. Typically collected as a result of refining crude oil or natural gas, it is a low-carbon highly efficient fuel supplied in two main forms, propane and butane.

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LPG boils at a low temperature and to avoid it evaporating due to its low boiling point, it is typically stored in pressurised steel vessels such as gas bottles or bulk LPG tanks.

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Propane has a boiling temperature of -42°C, whilst butane has a higher boiling point at -2°C. As propane functions well in lower temperatures, it is usually used for outdoor use. Conversely, butane is typically used indoors due to its higher boiling point.

 

Butane is perfect for any portable gas heaters and single-burner cooking appliances.  Also, butane produces more energy per cubic metre than propane. Propane is the favoured choice for commercial use; particularly for operating tools, ovens or forklift trucks, for example. It is also well suited for providing heat and cooking fuel for caravans, or even powering a patio heater.

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Reasons To Switch From Oil To LPG

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The following are the benefits of converting from oil to LPG.

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• Green energy –  According to the Energy Saving Trust, savings of up to 40% can be achieved by switching to a modern condensing boiler. This is not achievable solely by switching fuel. However when annual maintenance, out-of-warranty repair costs, and initial installation costs are calculated. there are savings to be made by switching to LPG.

• Maintenance required is minimal.

• Alterations available – LPG can be fitted onto an existing heating system, allowing for an easier process with few adjustments required.

• Modulation – 90% of all oil boilers do not modulate as opposed to 99% of all LPG and gas boilers which are modulating. Boiler modulation is the ability of a boiler to 'turn down' its output. This means the system will run much cooler and have fewer boiler stops/starts as well as many other benefits.

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Advantages Of LPG Boilers Compared To Oil Fired Boilers

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Oil fired boilers are a very popular choice of boiler type for rural areas in the UK.  However, climate change caused by the burning of fossil fuels has meant many homeowners are now seeking environmentally-friendly alternative sources of heating. Switching from oil to LPG provides that alternative, enabling them to reduce costs and to benefit the environment. There is also now emerging evidence that even wood burners are more costly, and damaging to the environment, than gas boilers.

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• Compared to oil, LPG is much cleaner to burn and is far less harmful to the environment.

• Replacing a non-condensing oil boiler with a modern LPG condensing boiler drastically improves efficiency. Many LPG boilers operate between 90 – 98% efficiency (non-condensing 78% efficiency).

• For the most part, an LPG boiler will be a much cheaper option, and is easier to have installed. There is a wide variety of boilers available in the UK market and the outlay cost of an LPG boiler is significantly cheaper than that of an oil boiler. For information on LPG boilers go here.

• LPG boilers are wall mountable offering more siting positions.

• LPG, as the cleaner burning fuel, produces less ash and soot than oil boilers which makes the boiler easier – and therefore cheaper – to maintain and service.

• Annual Service costs are cheaper compared to oil (average service cost between £60 – £75 for LPG and £100 – £140 for oil).

• An LPG boiler is compact in size and quieter in sound (noise level for LPG can range between 45 – 49 decibels, average for oil is 55 decibels which is well above ambient sound levels).

• LPG can be used in cooking appliances such as ovens, hobs, ranges and stoves, and in heaters, fixed fires, and boilers, but oil can only be used in a boiler.

• Wider range of warranties available from 7-10 years.

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Replacing an oil boiler with an LPG boiler usually takes 1-2 days. For more information on switching please use this link to the Calor site, or download the attached PDF below, or view our page on LPG boilers here. For bottled LPG consumption rates explained please go here.