Will LPG Boilers Be Banned From 2026?
Everything you need to know about the “gas boiler ban”
Article first published May 2022
You may have read various articles in the news discussing a gas boiler ban, so we’re here to separate the fact from fiction and answer some of the questions we’re commonly asked.
The UK government has committed to reduce emissions to Net Zero by 2050. One of the proposed solutions to help meet this is a fossil fuel boiler ban, that could come into force as early as 2026.
So what does this mean for LPG customers and those considering moving to LPG today?
Why is the government proposing a gas boiler ban?
According to the Committee on Climate Change, almost a third of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions are produced by heating. Plus, 95% of UK homes are centrally heated, with gas or oil boilers making up the largest majority in homes.
How will a gas boiler ban help?
In a similar way to the governments’ moves towards phasing out diesel and petrol cars in favour of electric ones, they are also looking into alternative fuels for heating homes – such as hydrogen and renewable sources of electricity.
A lot of these proposals are still just that – proposals – and a lot of work is being done to understand how the various alternative fuels options suit different house types – including those homes off-grid, currently relying on LPG or oil-fired heating.
So is there going to be a gas boiler ban?
It seems highly likely that a gas boiler ban will happen in the future, but no dates have been confirmed yet. It was originally announced in the budget in 2019, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed in the ‘Future Homes Standard’, but it’s clear that this is not something the government can jut put into place quickly. It will require a great deal of planning to ensure customers can transition smoothly to alternative fuels.
Will I have to replace my existing LPG boiler before 2026?
No – LPG boilers are not going to be banned from 2026!
Though it’s possible that anyone building a new home after 2026 (or 2025 in Scotland) will have to consider renewable heating alternatives to achieve government carbon reduction targets, this does not mean that boilers in existing homes will have to replace their boilers by this date.
Can I still replace my old LPG boiler? (and do I need to replace it before 2026?)
Yes! – You can replace your existing LPG or oil-fired boiler and no, you don’t have to do this before 2026.
On average a boiler will last anywhere from 15-20 years, so if yours is currently anywhere over 10 years old it may be nearing the end of its lifespan. You could find that repairs become more frequent and parts more expensive – or, worse still, your boiler could simply breakdown when you need it most!
What’s more, when LPG’s green gas substitute (biopropane/bioLPG) is more widely available, this will simply drop into your existing system – so there’ll be no more upgrades required for the lifetime of your new LPG boiler.
Why should I replace my oil boiler now?
If you’re using oil-fired heating for your off-grid energy, an oil to gas conversion now can have sustainable and cost-saving benefits.
There are alternative fuels on the market, but in many cases the technologies are still in their infancy and are very costly. What’s more, many off-grid homes may find themselves unsuitable for solutions such as heat pumps without other efficiency or improvement works being carried out.
If your home is currently heated by heating oil, a new LPG system with a domestic LPG tank is currently likely to be the most cost-effective solution for you.
LPG – energy for today and tomorrow
LPG and bioLPG can help support the path to Net Zero. You can read more about how, as well as other fuels such as hydrogen and rDME, in the Flogas 2040 Vision and Sustainability Report 2021.
Switch from an oil boiler to an LPG boiler
At Flogas, we can help anyone currently on oil switch to LPG with our complete package – we’ll replace your existing boiler, remove your oil tank, and get you Flo-ing on LPG in just weeks.