LPG Central Heating Cost

Most homeowners in the UK use mains gas as fuel for their central heating. However, some people must seek other options if they are not connected to a main gas grid.

Where mains gas is not accessible, a popular alternative is LPG fuel. You can use this type of fuel with the same kind of conventional gas heating system.

We'll go over everything that you need to know about LPG fuel, what it is, how you can get it and what the average costs are.

How Much Does LPG Central Heating Cost?

Most homeowners in the UK use mains gas as fuel for their central heating. However, some people must seek other options if they are not connected to a main gas grid. Where mains gas is not accessible, a popular alternative is LPG fuel. You can use this type of fuel with the same kind of conventional gas heating system.

The average cost of LPG central heating can vary. Mains gas is usually cheaper than other fuel types, including LPG central heating running costs. However, this is not always an option for everyone. LPG heating does tend to cost considerably less than electric heating, though.

The installation costs that you can expect if you are replacing an older LPG central heating boiler with a newer, more efficient model are usually around £2500 - £6100. If you want a conventional or a heat-only boiler, this will cost around £2200 - £3700. A system boiler will usually cost up to £4300.

The costs will depend on the type of boiler system you require and your location in the UK. People based in the London area can expect to pay more for the labour side of this job than those based in the North or other parts of the UK.

LPG Central Heating Installation Prices

In the table below, we will go over the various costs that you can expect when installing an LPG boiler:

Supply Only Costs

Suppose you are considering purchasing your boiler yourself rather than sourcing the boiler through your contractors. In that case, you may be wondering about the costs of the boiler alone without the cost of labour included.

There are various different types of LPG boilers to choose from. Below, we will go over a breakdown of the different prices that you can expect for an LPG boiler:

Additional Costs

There are some additional costs that may come up when installing a new LPG fired central heating system. Below is a list of the different things that you may need to budget for with this type of work:

New Radiators

If you are replacing your central heating system, it may make sense to get some new radiators. This is particularly true if you have old radiators that could be updated to modern, energy-efficient models.

The cost to remove and replace a radiator is usually around £150 - £300 per radiator.

Power Flushing

Power flushing your central heating system can help to clean out the system by removing all of the debris and sludge that can build up over time. This can improve the efficiency of your heating system and make it work much better.

The average cost of power flushing your heating system is around £300 - £400.

Labour Costs and Timescales

If you are considering buying your boiler separately and then hiring someone to come and install it for you, you may be curious about the cost of the labour side of this job. This is the cost of paying someone to fit the new system for you without factoring in the cost of the system itself.

You will need to hire a Gas Safe engineer to complete this work for you. On average, you can expect a Gas Safe engineer to charge around £150 - £200 per day.

The job will usually take around one to two days to complete. This will depend on the ease of installation. If extra pipework is needed, this could add some additional time.

If you are looking for a straight swap of an old boiler with a new boiler of the same type, this may take just one day to complete. However, if you're looking to get a completely new style of boiler fitted, this may take up to three days, depending on the job's complexity.

You may also need to think about the additional time it may take to install your LPG tank. This is where the butane and propane fuels will be stored. Some installation companies offer an underground tank installation. This type of installation usually takes around one to two days to complete.

Cost Factors of Installing an LPG Central Heating System

You may need to consider several cost factors when installing an LPG heating system. We have listed these cost factors below:

Type of Boiler

The type of boiler that you choose can affect the overall cost of the job. As we have mentioned above, you can choose from a range of boiler systems, each with its price point. Combi boilers tend to be the most expensive option, whereas heat-only boilers are usually the cheapest.

Additional Parts

You may have to pay for some additional parts to ensure the boiler is installed properly. For example, you may need a flue kit which could cost around £50 - £280 depending on the style of boiler that you have. Flue extensions tend to cost around £80 - £125, and flue bends will cost around £20 - £60.

Type of Installation

The type of installation you need is another thing that can alter the cost of the job. As previously mentioned, installing a like-for-like boiler in the same position is much easier. If your new boiler needs to be installed somewhere else, this will need additional pipework, which could significantly increase costs.

Similarly, if you are replacing your boiler with a different type of boiler, this may increase the timescales of the job and, therefore, will increase the costs.

Ease of Access

The ease of access can also play a part in the price you pay for your new LPG boiler installation. The more difficult the site is to access, the longer the job will take. This additional time will result in higher labour fees for the work.

Property Location

The location of your home can also affect the overall cost of the job. Those based in the London area can expect to pay more for the labour side of this job than those based in the North or other parts of the UK.

What's Involved in Installing an LPG Central Heating Unit?

LPG gas central heating systems require a boiler that is plumbed into a house which can accommodate LPG gas. If you need to get a new boiler, you should hire a Gas Safe engineer to install this for you.

The first thing the engineer will do is check the positioning of your current boiler and flues. They will then decide if they will install the boiler in a new location or the same position as your old boiler.

If your boiler doesn’t need to be moved, your new one can be connected to the existing pipework. The engineer may do a power flush to clean out the existing system.

Before starting the installation, the engineer will remove your existing boiler. To do this, they will need to turn off the gas supply. If they are moving your boiler, the gas feed will need to be capped off, so it no longer works. If your boiler is not being moved to a new location, they will disable the gas until the new boiler is fitted.

If the engineer decides it's best to move the boiler, they will need to fit new pipework in the wall or ceiling. Once this new pipework is in place, they will install your new boiler by attaching it to the pipework and pumps that connect to your radiators and water supply.

If they are installing a conventional boiler, they will need to attach this to the corresponding hot and cold water tanks. They will then connect electrical controls for your convenience so that you don’t have to access the boiler to change the heating settings.

An LPG boiler system needs a storage tank with liquefied petroleum gas inside it. This powers your heating system. Many companies will offer an underground installation. This is most commonly buried in the back garden.

If your garden doesn't accommodate an underground tank, then you will need to store your tank above ground. If this is the case, it should be covered and secured.

Once your supply tank has been fitted, it can then be linked to the boiler and the heating system. Once the engineer has completed the installation, they will test everything to ensure it is all working properly and ensure the installation is safe.

Can I Install LPG Central Heating Myself?

It is not illegal for you to install central heating yourself as a DIY job. However, it is certainly not recommended. Installing an LPG boiler and tank is a very complicated job.

If you are not experienced in fitting these types of heating systems, it's always best to leave it to a professional who will have the skills and knowledge to complete the job safely and properly.

If you install your central heating yourself, this could be very dangerous. If you don’t do the job right, you could end up paying even more money for a replacement or repairs.

If you are installing an underground tank, this will require excavation of the area. You could reduce some of the costs by digging a trench yourself. However, there are certain building regulations that you must adhere to, so it's important to follow those and also ensure that you have the measurements correct before going ahead with the job.

If you do install your new LPG central heating system yourself, you will need to get someone to come out and complete a Gas Safety check on it before you put it to use.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission For LPG Central Heating Installation

You won’t usually need to worry about planning permission when you install an LPG as it is classed as permitted development. However, there are several restrictions where you may need to apply for planning permission. These include the following:

• The tank must hold no more than 3500 litres.
• The height should be no more than 2.5 litres if located within two metres of a boundary or three metres in height otherwise.
• The tank should not cover more than half of the land.
• You should not install the tank in a listed building, national park, or world heritage site.

If any of the items listed above apply to you, you may need to apply for planning permission. This usually costs around £206.

Types of LPG Central Heating

There are several types of LPG heating systems. Below, we will go over the differences between each of these different systems:

Bulk LPG System

Bulk LPG systems hold a large quantity of liquid petroleum gas, and this is normally stored inside a tank. These tanks can usually hold around four tonnes and tend to be owned by large companies with an LPG central heating system. These are most common in rural areas or places or off-the-grid.

However, homeowners can also buy bulk LPG systems. The tanks are usually placed somewhere outside their home, most commonly in the garden, either above or below ground.

Bulk LPG systems can be quite beneficial. It works out at around £0.06 per kWh, and the price is usually fixed. This means that homeowners with bulk LPG systems won't be affected by fluctuating gas prices.

Supplier Owned LPG System

Many LPG suppliers can provide rental services on tanks. This usually costs around £60 - £70 for a tank that lies above the ground and £80 - £120 for an underground tank. This price typically includes a regular refill service. However, it costs around £1500 extra for a below-ground installation.

One of the main benefits of this type of system is the fact that you get an automatic filling service included. This means that you don't need to worry about filling up the tank yourself. However, you will usually be tied into a contract with this, so choosing the right supplier is important.

Cylinder LPG System

Many homeowners don't have the space for a full LPG tank. In these cases, LPG cylinders come in handy. These cylinders can hold anything from 5kg to 50kg. For cylinders with 5kg to 15kg of LPG, you can expect to pay around £60 - £85. Refills tend to range from around £20 - £45.

Hiring Contractors to Install an LPG Central Heating System Checklist

You will need to consider several things before hiring someone to install a new LPG central heating system for you. Below is a list of some of the main things that you should consider when looking for the right contractor for the job:

• Does the engineer offer any guarantees with their work?
• How much is the work to complete? – Ask for a breakdown of costs to ensure you are paying a good price for each element of the job.
• What type of boilers and heating systems does the company offer?
• Will the contractor fix any issues that may arise?
• Is the engineer experienced in fitting the type of system that you are purchasing?
• How many years’ worth of experience does the engineer have in fitting LPG heating systems?
• Is the engineer on the Gas Safety Register?

FAQs

Sources

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/home-heating-systems/article/home-heating-systems/lpg-central-heating-axuLz3Y3Iszl