Most UK houses have gas combi boilers due to having access to the grids. However, over 3 million houses in the UK do not have access to the gas grids, meaning that they have to be reliant on oil boilers to heat their homes. To learn more about oil boilers, please read our guide to oil combi boilers here.

Why are oil boilers bad for the environment?

Oil is a fossil fuel; a non-renewable source of energy. Fossil fuels have to be burned in order to provide the energy we need. However, they create a lot of unwanted products when burned, including carbon dioxide.

Are oil boilers being phased out?

As the UK government pledges to become carbon neutral by 2050, they have put different rules in place to ensure they can meet their goals. This includes stopping the installation of oil boilers in 2025 for newbuild homes. Currently, there are no plans to ban all oil boilers, but there might be more plans in the future to introduce alternatives.

Are there any alternatives to oil boilers?

Companies such as Worcester Bosch are in the process of creating hydrogen boilers. Hydrogen boilers use a mixture of hydrogen gas and natural gas to heat your home. Burning hydrogen gas only produces water as a waste product, meaning they are more environmentally friendly. Hydrogen boilers have not been released yet, but are looking promising to be released and used as an alternative to oil boilers long-term.

In addition to this, there are renewable sources of energy that can be used as an alternative to oil boilers, including solar power.

If you have any questions or would like a boiler installed, please contact us on 01274 317169 or at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk.

Find out more about how Bradford Boiler Company can help with your oil boiler here.

Oil boilers are very similar to gas boilers in that they both heat water to send through your radiators and hot taps. However, oil boilers are not directly connected to any grid; meaning a physical tank is required to store the oil.

Are oil boilers efficient?

Oil boilers can be just as efficient as gas boilers; sometimes even more efficient. An A-rated oil boiler can be up to 98% efficient. Due to age and heat being lost through the flue, boilers will never be 100% efficient. To maintain your boiler’s efficiency as it ages, you should annually service your boiler to identify any current and potential long-term issues. To see the full list of benefits to servicing your boiler, please click here.

If you are interested in boiler efficiency, please read our blog about efficiency here.

What are the advantages of an oil boiler?

There are a variety of benefits to having an oil boiler, including:
-If your house does not have access to the mains gas supply, then oil can be delivered to your house
-Oil does not produce carbon monoxide when heated
-It is easy to stock up on oil when oil prices drop
-Oil boilers work well with renewable sources of energy, such as solar or wind power
-You are not restricted to specific oil suppliers under a contract

What are the disadvantages of an oil burner?

Despite how efficient oil boilers are, they do also have their drawbacks:
-Oil is a fossil fuel, which when burned has a very negative impact on the environment.
-Oil prices can fluctuate, which can impact affordability
-You have to regularly check your oil container to know when to buy more oil
-Oil boilers are being phased out by the UK government to protect the environment. No new oil boilers can be installed after 2025.

If you would like a boiler installing or repairing, please contact Bradford Boiler Company at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk or 01247 317169.

Find out more about how Bradford Boiler Company can help with your oil boiler here.

What is a combi boiler?

A combi boiler, also known as a combination boiler, is a water heating and a central heating unit, combined into one. Due to the small nature of combi boilers, they are best suited for smaller houses.

An oil combi boiler may seem similar to a gas powered combi boiler, but there are a few big differences. For example, an oil combi boiler has instant access to water as it is directly connected to the water mains supply. In addition to this, an oil boiler requires an oil tank to store the oil in.

Advantages of an oil combi boiler

There are multiple benefits to having an oil combi boiler, including:
-Instant water access: As the boiler is connected to the water mains, it has instant access to water to heat up.
-Efficiency: Oil has a better return on every unit of energy used than gas, meaning an oil boiler is more efficient as it has a reduced amount of waste products. Newer models of oil boilers are estimated to be 92 – 95% efficient.
-Accessibility: For those who do not have access to the grid, particularly in rural areas, having an oil combi boiler is a great alternative.
-Size: Oil combi boilers are generally smaller than most types of boilers, meaning they take up less space in your kitchen or utility room.
Build-ups – Calcium, dirt and scaling build-ups are less likely to happen with an oil combi boiler as no hot water is stored.

Disadvantages of an oil combi boiler

Like all boilers, oil combi boilers also have some drawbacks:
-Oil prices: Oil prices fluctuate a lot, meaning there might be a period of time where oil combi owners are paying a lot more for the same amount of oil.
-Timing: Despite having instant water access, oil combi boilers provide hot water slower than gas boilers.
-Breaking down: If an oil combi boiler breaks down, you will lose both hot water and heating.
-Water pressure: The water pressure may decrease if multiple appliances are using the hot water at the same time.

Oil Combi Boiler Models

There are a variety of oil combi boiler models, which will perfectly fit your home and your needs. A few models we recommend are:
Worcester Bosch Greenstar Heatslave II
Grant VortexBlue
Firebird Envirogreen Combi
Warmflow Agentis Combi

Conclusion

In conclusion, oil combi boilers are efficient boilers that are perfectly suited for small houses, especially for those who do not have access to the grid. Despite having to pay for oil and the potential decrease in water pressure for multiple appliances, oil boilers are estimated to be 92 – 95% efficient bringing costs down and have instant water access when required.

If you have any questions or would like a boiler installed, please contact us on 01274 317169 or at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk.

Find out more about how Bradford Boiler Company can help with your oil boiler here.

Why Is Carbon Monoxide So Dangerous?

When carbon monoxide is breathed in, it mixes with the bloodstream to stop the blood from being able to carry oxygen. As a result, cells, tissues and organs do not have enough oxygen to function, causing them to fail and die. Breathing in small amounts of carbon monoxide can make you unwell, but being highly exposed to it can be fatal. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
-Headaches
-Nausea
-Stomach pain
-Feeling and being sick
-Shortness of breath
-Feeling tired and confused
-Loss of consciousness
These symptoms usually occur when the brain is starved of oxygen. If you show any symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, you should immediately contact emergency services and seek medical advice.

What Are The Signs of Carbon Monoxide Leaks?

There are multiple clues that could suggest you have a carbon monoxide leak. If you notice these signs, you should immediately start to evacuate the property and call the emergency services:
-Other people in the building fall ill with the same symptoms
-Pets fall ill
-Symptoms disappearing when you are away from the building
-Smoke buildups
-Yellow flames instead of blue flames
-Sooty or black/yellow stains around appliances such as boilers, stoves and fires.

Oil Boilers and Carbon Monoxide

Oil boilers, like all boilers that burn fossil fuels, produce carbon monoxide. Boilers, when working properly, produce very small amounts of carbon monoxide, but this is carried out of the boiler and your home by the flue exhaust. If the flue is blocked, then carbon monoxide will be leaked into the house.

Your oil boiler cannot produce carbon monoxide if it is switched off, due to being unable to burn the fossil fuels. However, if you are concerned about a leak, you should switch all appliances off at the mains. As you will not be aware of which appliance is leaking, it is the safest option to switch every appliance off and call an oil boiler specialist to check the appliances.

What Should I Do If My Boiler Might Be Leaking?

If you start to show signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, the first thing you should do is turn off all appliances, to prevent more gas being produced. To reduce the amount of carbon monoxide gas in your home, you should open all doors and windows, and evacuate everyone from the building.

Even if your exposure to carbon monoxide was minimal, you should still contact emergency services and seek medical advice. Once all appliances have been checked and the oil boiler specialists deem the house as safe, you can then go inside the building.

How Can I Prepare Myself For A Carbon Monoxide Leak?

Carbon monoxide leaks can occur at any point, but there are multiple factors that can reduce your chances, and help you stay safe.

Homes or buildings should have a carbon monoxide alarm installed to detect high amounts of carbon monoxide. This alarm will let you know that there’s a high chance of a leak, and you should begin to turn off all appliances, open windows, and evacuate quickly. A carbon monoxide alarm should be located at head height, near oil appliances, in every room that has an oil appliance. The alarm should not be placed too near the appliances, or the alarm will detect the natural gases produced. For example, if the boiler and the oil appliances are at one side of the kitchen, the alarm should be placed at the opposite side of the room.

Just having a carbon monoxide alarm is inadequate; you also need to regularly service your boiler to identify leaks, and prevent any chances of future leaks. An oil boiler specialist will check the flume to ensure it is not blocked or damaged. It is recommended to service your boiler before the winter season, as you will need to use your appliances more in the winter to heat your home. If you have not recently serviced your boiler, take a look at our blog covering why you should annually service your boiler here.

If you have any concerns or would like to service your boiler, please contact us on 01274 317169 or at info@bradfordboilercompany.co.uk.

Find out more about how Bradford Boiler Company can help with your oil boiler here.

1. Oil Boiler Not Starting

If your oil boiler is not starting, the first thing you need to do is make sure that there is enough heating oil in your tank. There are chances that you might have run out of heating oil without realizing it. This usually happens in the winter season when the boiler is used extensively. If the boiler is out of oil then it is suggested that you contact your oil supplier ASAP and arrange for delivery. If your tank stays empty for a long period then it can result in issues in your boiler. Make sure to activate the automatic shut-off of your boiler to protect your device.
After the oil has been added, you need to follow the manufacturer’s reset instructions and proceed accordingly. In most cases, you just need to press a square red button on the side of the burner. However, the process might be different for other boiler manufacturers.
If the boiler does not start even when the tank is full, then check and make sure that the fuse is not blown. If it has, then replace the original one with a fuse of the same rating. If you have followed all the troubleshooting steps in your manual with no luck then you should give a call to a trusted engineer.
A good way to combat an empty oil tank is to get your Oftec registered heating engineer to install an ultrasonic watchman device that can monitor your oil tank levels.
2. Oil Boiler is Starting But Not Heating

A blocked burner nozzle might be the reason behind your oil boiler starting but not heating. The nozzle has a very small gap, which can easily be blocked with dirt or deposit, which is a result of time or bad quality oil. A boiler nozzle should typically be changed once a year and should be integrated into an oil boiler service, if it isn’t then I would consider getting somebody else who is Oftec registered heating engineer to service your boiler.
To make sure that residue in your tank does not harm your boiler; ensure that your boiler is always filled up. This will ensure that no residue is collected in the base. You should also make it a practice to frequently test for water in your tank, particularly if you have an older tank. If nothing works, call your trusted engineer.

3. There is no Adequate Heat

If it appears that your boiler is running suitably but there is not enough heat, then you need to check if the thermostats are set correctly. If they are set properly a dirty air filter might be the reason behind the problem. There is a possibility that lint might have collected in the air filter, which might have blocked or partially blocked it.
It could be that your fan is either faulty or not working as it should. If it appears that the filter and fan are in good condition, then check to make sure you have good air getting to the boiler Go through your oil boiler manual to check if there are any other tasks
you can complete before having to contact an oil boiler service technician and as per the instructions.
The majority of the oil boiler issues can be fully avoided with a yearly boiler service.

4. The Boiler is Producing Smoke and/or Soot

A blocked outlet or inlet pipe or a broken heat exchanger might be the reason behind your smoky or sooty boiler. If you notice this kind of a problem then, first of all, examine the outlet flue exhaust, particularly where it joins with the chimney, and get rid of any dirt, fluff and debris, which might have blocked the exhaust. You should also make it a point to check the gaskets around the inspection door. In some cases, they might be twisted or cracked and this could be the reason behind the soot and smoke, which might be running off from the furnace. It is important to arrange to get the defective gaskets changed. If you cannot find the reason behind the smoke or soot, then it is better to call an engineer.

We are always on hand to help with your Oil Boiler Installations, Servicing and Repairs
Give us a call on 01274 317169 for more information and advice.

Find out more about how Bradford Boiler Company can help with your oil boiler here.