What’s the future of oil boilers in 2021?

The UK government has made some dramatic pledges on the environment over recent months, as it seeks to reach challenging new targets to reduce CO2 emissions to zero by 2050. Among some of the biggest talking points are pledges to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the foreseeable future, as well as talk of banning the installation of gas and oil boilers in new builds. So is such a move likely to take effect anytime soon and what does it mean for those considering getting a new or replacement oil boiler in 2021? We take a closer look.

Are oil boilers going to be banned?

According to data collected in May 2020, 85% of UK homes rely on gas for their central heating, while oil boilers are used by just 6%. Before ruling this out as insignificant, it is worth noting that there are currently an estimated 29 million homes in the UK. The so-called ‘boiler ban’ was first announced publicly by then Chancellor Philip Hammond in 2019, and has remained a key objective of the current government, whose current plan is to ban gas and oil boilers in newbuild homes only from 2025. Existing domestic properties are not included.

Is it worth investing in a new oil boiler?

It is clear from this focus on newbuilds that little is expected to change regarding existing properties for some time. It is also worth noting that there is another major factor in this transition for new builds - the fact that existing building regulations in the UK are simply not ready for such a change - so there is a lot of ground to be covered before this target can be feasibly achieved. In the meantime, you can relax as it is likely to be decades before any changes cascade down to other homeowners. If you have been looking to replace your oil boiler in 2021, you can go ahead safe in the knowledge that it will likely enjoy its full working lifespan.

Are there any recommended alternatives to oil boilers?

New technologies are gradually transforming the options available to heat your home, with manufacturers such as Viessmann leading the way in alternatives to traditional gas and oil boilers with a range of technologies including heat pumps, solar thermal systems and their ground-breaking fuel cell technology. In comparison to traditional heating and hot water systems, the cost of entry for such solutions is still extremely high at present, and it is not always a suitable option for retrofitting existing homes, which may not be able to benefit from sufficiently improved efficiency to merit the investment outlay.

Can I get any support towards alternative heating technologies?

In its efforts to encourage uptake for more efficient and environmentally friendly domestic heating solutions, the government has made some grant funding available in addition to the existing Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme. The recently introduced Green Homes Grant includes funding towards low carbon heating solutions such as air source or hybrid heat pumps. It is important to be aware, however, that this scheme is currently exclusive to England.

For all your oil boiler installation and service needs across North Wales, speak to the experts at D.R. Plumbing & Heating today. Call now on Wrexham 01978 291 923 or Mold 01352 620 125 to find out more or request a free, no-obligation quotation.