Pros of Oil

With oil, a customer has the freedom to change supplier at any time. They can choose who their fuel is delivered by.
Oil can be used alongside renewable technologies.

Cons of Oil

The average installation cost is around £6,500 putting it at approx £2,500 more than LPG^4.
Over the last eighteen months the cost of oil has nearly doubled².
Oil emits 13.25 per cent more CO2 per kWh than LPG¹.
Oil boilers emit a higher level of Nox a particularly harmful greenhouse gas⁵.
As oil customers own their storage tanks they are responsible for its installation, maintenance, annual servicing and insurance.
You will usually have to invest in another fuel for cooking.
Strict regulations are in place for oil storage, and if these are breached the consequences can be severe. Failure to comply with environmental regulations is a criminal not a civil offence.
With oil, customers shop around when a top-up is required and therefore may experience price fluctuations, which can be difficult to budget for.
The owner of an oil tank is liable for leakage however it is caused – whether through poor installation, insufficient maintenance or vandalism.
Some of the UK’s leading insurers do not provide cover for oil storage tanks ⁶
Oil installers do not have to be OFTEC registered, so there is no governing
body like Gas Safe Register (formerly CORGI) protecting property owners

^{* Correct at time of printing. Subject to change without notice.}

Sources (All sources obtained Sept 2008)

1. SAP(2005) - projects.bre.co.uk/sap2005/
2. www.boilerjuice.com
3. Independent pricing research
4. Prices obtained from independent installers and manufacturers
5. www.engineeringtoolbox.com/nox-emission-combustion-fuels-d_1086.html
6. Research carried out amongst leading home insurers.

Call a Calor specialist 0800 181 4530