What Is an Oil Boiler?
An oil-fired boiler is the most widely used alternative to gas central heating in rural UK properties. Approximately 1.5 million homes in the UK — particularly in rural areas of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland — rely on oil boilers for their heating and hot water. In Northamptonshire and Rutland, many villages and isolated properties depend on oil heating because they are not connected to the mains gas network.
How Does an Oil Boiler Work?
Kerosene (also known as 28-second oil or home heating oil) is stored in an external tank — typically made from plastic or steel — positioned outside or nearby the property. The oil is fed to the boiler via a supply line, where it is atomised and ignited in a pressure jet burner. The resulting heat warms water that is then circulated through your radiator system and hot water cylinder, just as a mains gas system would.
Modern oil boilers are condensing boilers, recapturing heat from exhaust gases to achieve efficiencies of up to 93%. This represents a significant improvement over older non-condensing models.
Running Costs and Oil Prices
Oil prices in the UK are not fixed — they are subject to international market fluctuations. As a result, many oil boiler owners buy in bulk when prices are lower, typically in summer. Most households use between 1,500 and 2,500 litres of oil per year, depending on the size of the property and insulation levels.
Oil Boiler Installation in Corby and Northamptonshire
Corby Boiler Installations installs and services oil boilers across rural Northamptonshire, Rutland, and Lincolnshire. Our OFTEC-registered engineers are qualified to work on oil heating systems and can advise on the correct boiler size, tank placement, and ancillary equipment for your property.