Gas & LPG Boilers
Gas & LPG Boilers
What is an LPG boiler?
LPG stands for liquid petroleum gas, which is delivered to your home in a canister, rather than accessed via pipelines. Though there are some downsides to this arrangement, there are also benefits that make it an attractive option when compared to the situation’s alternatives, such as oil boilers.
How do LPG boilers work?
Disregarding the differences listed above, an LPG boiler functions in a very similar way to natural mains gas boilers. For instance, it supplies heating to radiators through a central heating system and is connected to a timer and thermostat. It’s also compatible with some smart controls, such as Hive, which your ProTech engineer can install to bring higher energy efficiency to your home.
Pros
Some homes that aren’t connected to the mains gas network may use oil boilers, which are significantly more expensive to install than LPG boilers. In fact, an LPG boiler will often cost less than half of what it does to buy and install an oil boiler.
Meanwhile, LPG boilers offer lower running costs than oil varieties, as a modern condensing model can achieve 90% efficiency or higher. This means that only 10p out of every £1 spent heating your home is wasted, which is a very efficient ratio.
Another benefit is cleaner fuel emissions compared to other options for this type of home, as an LPG boiler produces around 15-20% less carbon than an oil boiler. Whilst it won’t be as environmentally friendly as some of the models available to homes connected to the mains gas network, it will help you to reduce your carbon footprint and run a greener home.
Finally, an LPG boiler is a more compact solution than an oil boiler and it could also offer quieter performance, making for a more spacious and comfortable living environment.
Cons
The downsides of an LPG boiler are part and parcel of a home that isn’t connected to the mains gas network. Due to the LPG being in a canister, you need to store this somewhere on your property. Some homeowners keep the canisters underground, but even if this isn’t an option you’ll be fine as long as you free up a suitable storage area.
The canisters need to be delivered by a supplier, so you’ll have to schedule this into your calendar at a frequency that suits you. And of course, due to the gas coming from a contained source, you must ensure that you always have enough available, otherwise you’ll find yourself without heating for a while.
Aside from these minor drawbacks, which exist regardless of the option you choose for a home without a direct gas supply, choosing an LPG boiler is a very wise decision.
See which boiler is best for you
Personally, we believe that the pros outweigh the cons in the majority of scenarios, but it’s totally up to you whether this type of boiler is installed in your home. To find out more about combi boilers from a range of top manufacturers, get in touch with our team on 0800 138 2223.
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