LPG Boiler Installation
Being able to take our fuel supply from the natural gas network or through the use of an electric boiler is something that most people take for granted. However, there are roughly 4 million homes across the UK that are not connected to the network or gas grid, with these residents traditionally being reliant on an oil boiler to power their central heating and hot water.
While oil boilers undoubtedly have their advantages, Woolfoot’s engineers are qualified to install LPG combi boilers that are both cheaper to buy and produce fewer carbon emissions than those reliant on oil.
What is an LPG boiler?
LPG is an acronym for liquefied petroleum gas, which is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases, which simply means they’re made up of hydrogen and carbon and as the name suggests, they take the form of a liquid when stored in an underground tank. Whilst an LPG boiler works similarly to standard gas boilers, LPG boilers are powered by LPG fuel rather than from the gas mains.
An LPG boiler can still be classed as an LPG combi, regular or LPG system boiler as it will be the same liquid petroleum gas that’s being used as a fuel source in each case.
Most of the most commonly known boiler brands offer an LPG option and while a non-registered person may carry out ‘wet work’, ie the installation of water pipes and radiators for a heating system, any work on the gas boiler itself and the final connection of the water pipework to the boiler, must be done by a Gas Safe-registered LPG boiler installer.
How does an LPG boiler work?
An LPG boiler works in a similar way to both natural gas and oil boilers in that the boiler burns the fuel to produce the energy needed to heat water from the main supply. This hot water can then be used as central heating to warm the radiators in your home and to supply your taps.
The main difference between natural gas boilers and both oil and LPG boilers is that the fuel needs to be delivered and stored in a tank at your home, rather than being connected to an ever-present supply. As a result, to introduce an LPG heating system to your home, you will need an LPG gas boiler, storage tank and LPG supplier.
Pros of LPG boilers
LPG boiler cost
The overall cost of a new boiler depends on the brand of the model but starts at around £400, which is considerably less than an oil or gas boiler.
This does not include the installation cost of a new LPG boiler and the cost of an LPG tank, which will need to be kept in your garden either above or below ground, depending on your preference.
In terms of running costs, while the unit cost of LPG boiler installations is more expensive than oil, it is a more efficient fuel overall, meaning your heating bills are likely to reduce, especially if you are replacing an older less efficient boiler with a grade-A model.
Fuel emissions
Switching from traditional off-grid fuels to LPG is one way homeowners can be more environmentally conscious. Despite it being a fossil fuel, LPG emits 30-40% lower carbon emissions than solid fuels and around 20 per cent less than heating oil.
Unlike oil, LPG boilers do not emit other harmful gases such as sulphur and nitrous oxides and unlike natural gas, LPG is heavier than air so can be stored in a relatively small space.
What do you need to be aware of with LPG boilers?
LPG boilers do have their limitations, the most obvious of which being the fact that overall fuel cost is often more than conventional gas boilers.
Delivery is also something that homeowners need to be aware of, so it’s worth always being conscious of how full the fuel tank is so that you are not left without heat and hot water.
You will also need to invest in an LPG storage tank either through outright purchase or rental payments.
At Woolfoot, we have boilers specifically designed to work using LPG. But, if you already have a gas boiler and don’t want to invest in another boiler, we can install LPG conversion kits that can help your gas boiler use LPG.
Are LPG and BioLPG environmentally friendly?
If you’re switching from an oil boiler, you can reduce your carbon emissions by up to 40% with an LPG boiler.
Why choose Woolfoot for your LPG boiler installation?
Woolfoot have over two decades’ worth of industry experience, but we have never forgotten the values upon which the company was founded.
All of our engineers are Gas Safe-registered and trained to address all types of boilers in the greater Leeds area. We are also continuously investing in developing the skillsets of the people within our organisation.
To get an idea of how much it will cost to install a new LPG systems boiler, just answer a few quick questions here