Benefits & Disadvantages of LPG Central Heating Boilers -Homeadviceguide
It may not seem that way with so many houses having gas heating systems, but nearly 3.6m households all around the UK have no relation with gas lines.
In those locations and houses where gas is not available, many utilize the power of LPG or liquefied petroleum gas. The basic system is a ‘wet’ system, with an LPG-fired boiler heating the water for central heating requirements with the help of radiators and supplying hot water through taps for domestic needs.
What is LPG?
LPG Home Heating, also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas heating, is an alternative option growing in popularity among domestic property owners in the UK. Designed as a safe-to-use alternative to regular gas central heating or oil-burning boilers, LPG can be stored in cylinders or tanks on any property large enough to house it. LPG gas can even be delivered directly from a pipeline straight to your heating system in some areas.
What is the difference between Gas and LPG?
The basic distinction between gas and LPG is that you may need to purchase or rent LPG, as it is stored in tanks and is supplied by different suppliers. Note that a few boilers targeted to gas are actually capable of using LPG.
Yearly expenditure related to fuel for water and house heating purposes (with the exclusion of installation charges)
- Expect to pay around £1,500 ( for 25 000 kWh)
- The rate of carbon emission on an average year
- The average emission tends to be near 3.6 tonnes yearly
Although the above figures do not reflect the actual LPG bills very accurately, you may take assurance that the efficiency of heating systems and average costs of LPG were strict determinants. Typically, the data takes into consideration a house having 3 bedrooms which is semi-detached. Other than that, superior insulation is assumed too.
Advantages of using LPG central heating
installation: One of the biggest advantages of LPG is the ease of installation and low maintenance over time.
Efficiency: In addition, the efficiency of LPG is perhaps one of the biggest driving forces behind its popularity. As the latest models of boilers can save as high as 90% of
fuel at times, the choice of LPG seems pretty reasonable.
Replacement: As far as replacing an old model with a new one is concerned, you can have that done with minimal hassle.
Cooking: By installing an LPG cooker in your kitchen, you can easily switch from cooking with electricity to cooking with a flame.
Servicing: Whenever you need a plumber, you are going to find one without much effort. The Gas Safe Register website is a good place to look for one, as according to the lay, anyone related to plumbing or repairing boilers must be on the Gas Safe Register.
Eco-friendly: Compared to oil central heating, gas central heating will produce significantly fewer emissions. Therefore, it’s more eco-friendly and cleaner; gas central heating will only emit water and carbon dioxide and accordingly does not require regular maintenance such as cleaning both the heater and the chimney from combustion residues.
Pollution: With gas central heating, you won’t need a large tank for oil that could leak and poison the groundwater – gas comes conveniently and safely through a pipe.
Cost: While there may be exceptions in areas with no gas main connections, gas central heating is usually cheaper than electric or oil-powered heating. Also, the gas central heating will only require a gas heating furnace that is usually cheaper than an oil furnace.
Fuel theft: LPG is stored in a tank in a compressed form, which makes it impossible to steal.
Disadvantages of using LPG central heating
Storage & Safety: The main disadvantage of using LPG is related to storage and safety. LPG needs to be kept pressurized in a very sturdy tank and cylinders. Furthermore, even though LPG storage tanks are usually placed on a customer’s land, the tank itself could also often be owned by the supplier.
Price: Like many other fuel sources, the cost of LPG keeps rising with time. So this factor may be a hindrance in the future.
Delivery: Sometimes, you may not have LPG anymore when you wait for the next delivery, as LPG delivery is based on road transportation. But since modern technology automatically notifies the supplier about the unavailability of the fuel, you might not need to worry about that.
Installation cost: LPG installation charges are pretty high, especially if you install the heating system without any previous support. The storage tank does not look too good either if you fail to keep it underground.
Servicing: Regular servicing of LPG boilers is also required to ensure that they are running efficiently.
Annual LPG Heating Cost
Technically oil-burning boilers are cheaper to install, but this doesn’t mean that LPG heating costs or initial LPG heating prices are always more expensive in the long run; it all depends on how much you use your boiler and whether or not where you live makes the extra investment worth it:
- Ovo energy: £550 per year (space heating alone).
- Homeheatingguide: £2,500 to £6,000 per year
- Which: £735 per year (12,500 kWh).
- Calor: £926 to £1,000 per year.
Ultimately, the final cost of LPG heating will depend on several factors, including the size of your property and the number of radiators installed on the property, and the number of people regularly in the home.
Just make sure you shop around and compare quotes from several different providers or suppliers before signing a contract. It may also be worth finding out whether you’re eligible for a central heating grant to help with the costs of installing LPG gas heating. If you live in a rural area off the gas mains, you’ll likely be eligible for some grant.
LPG installers should be fully qualified, too, so check credentials before they get started on any serious installation work. As long as you follow these tips and take your time before making a final decision, you should be able to find LPG central heating costs to suit you, no matter where you are in the UK!
Alternatives to LPG heating
If facing high LPG costs does not seem too great to you, you may choose a renewable energy source instead. Solar thermal panels, as well as heat pumps, are trendy renewable heating options. Aside from that, you will most likely get good incentives for heat production under the scheme called Renewable Heat Incentive.
