Four Alternatives to Gas Boilers

We all want to live in a warm and cosy home and a gas boiler is often the system of choice to achieve this here in the UK. Gas boilers may be the default, but there are plenty of other options out there if you’re looking for something a bit different.

There are several reasons to use an alternative to gas; you might be concerned about your carbon footprint, looking to cut down on your heating bills, or you might live in a remote area that isn’t connected to the central grid. Whatever your situation, there’s bound to be a gas boiler alternative to suit you, so see below to find out more.

Home heating oil

Most oil boilers in the UK are fuelled by kerosene, a lighter, cleaner alternative to diesel. Home heating oil is popular amongst those who live ‘off-grid’ as the fuel can be stored in bulk onsite. Boilers that use home heating oil also tend to be cheaper to run compared to gas or electric boilers.

Ground source heat pumps

Also known as a geothermal heat pump; this method transfers heat from the ground into a property. If you dig one to two metres underground, you’ll find that the earth’s temperature remains at a stable 10 to 15°C. Ground source heat pumps extract this heat and transfer it through pipes to deliver central heating, and in some cases, hot water. This heating method is a form of renewable energy, so ground source heat pumps are a good option for anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

Electric boilers

All boilers require some electricity, but electric boilers use it as their primary source of fuel. Electric boilers are considered much safer than gas or oil boilers as they don’t need to burn fuel to function. They’re also less prone to faults but they don’t have the capacity to heat large amounts of hot water or heat bigger properties. Electric boilers are best suited to flats, smaller homes or households with low demand (e.g a holiday home or a one to two person household).

Solar thermal panels

This is another type of renewable energy that harnesses heat from the sun to power a central heating system. Solar thermal panels contain tubes of fluid that absorb heat from the sun’s rays. This energy is then transferred into a heat exchanger, which heats water inside a cylinder to provide heating or hot water.

If you’re looking for affordable home heating oil delivery in Nottingham, Leicester or Derbyshire, get in touch with the experts at Northern Oil. We’re proud to offer reliable and flexible delivery services of high quality heating oil at a competitive price. We’ve got everything you need to stay warm and cosy all year round, as well as additional fuel products and services for the commercial and agricultural sectors. For more information or to arrange a delivery, give us a call today or contact us via the website.