A-Z of DIY & Building Guides Boilers: Alternatives To Gas

Date Published:

18/05/2009

Other than gas boilers, there are several other types available - from Oil or electric boilers to LPG, solid fuel and biomass boilers. Which is which?

A good qualified installer should help you choose the right boiler for your home, but it's worth getting your head round the different types before you start thinking about the options.

What Is An Oil Boiler?

Oil-fired boilers are available in combi, conventional and system models (for more on these boiler types, see our feature on gas boilers. You can buy high efficiency condensing models that operate at 90% efficiency compared to 50% and less in older models. Conventional and regular and system boilers are invariably compatible with solar panels to provide a renewable energy source. Increasingly heating oil is available blended with biodiesel, which produce less CO2 emissions than pure heating oil.

What Is An Electric Boiler?

Electric heating boilers are an alternative to gas and other conventional heating systems. Proponents of them argue they are quiet, compact, light and can be run off cheap rate electricity, such as cheap rate night-time electricity.

What Is An LPG Boiler?

LPG is an alternative fuel to natural gas that can be used to power combi, conventional and system models – although the boiler may need to be made compatible via a conversion kit. LPG is usually supplied in replaceable 1m high cylinders. LPG works in exactly the same way as natural gas but you will need a boiler that can be made compatible via a conversion kit.

What Is A Solid Fuel Boiler?

Solid fuel heating boilers are mainly back boilers or kitchen ranges which can heat water from materials such as anthracite and biomass (which is made up of plants and untreated wood or wood waste that is often formed into high energy pellets). Biomass is an increasingly desirable fuel source because it is carbon neutral.

What Is A Biomass Boiler?

A biomass boiler usually runs on logs, wood off cuts or pellets that is an efficient and CO2 neutral fuel source because the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere when the wood is combusted is only the CO2 that would have returned to the atmosphere when the tree died and decomposed. Biomass boilers are not condensing units but are said to be as efficient as one, operating at 90% efficiency. They are capable of heating a whole home and work well with radiators and underfloor heating.