Switching from Mains Gas to LPG or Oil: How to Choose

Start with what is available at your property

A fuel choice is only practical if the property can be supplied and the fuel can be stored safely. If mains gas is already connected, keeping it avoids adding a separate storage and delivery arrangement. If the property is not connected to the gas network, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or oil may be options, but each brings different requirements beyond fitting a boiler.

With LPG, you need to consider how fuel will be stored and replenished. Depending on the arrangement, that may involve cylinders or a storage tank. An oil fired system requires suitable space for an oil tank and a route for deliveries. In both cases, the available space, access to the property and the position of the boiler and its flue (the pipe that carries exhaust gases outside) affect what can sensibly be installed.

That makes the first useful question practical: where could fuel storage go, and can it be accessed for regular supply? A space that looks suitable from indoors may be difficult to reach for a delivery vehicle, or may not be appropriate once clearances and the property layout are considered. Do not order equipment or arrange storage based on a guess. The site needs to be assessed before a fuel option is settled.

Compare the day to day supply arrangements

Mains gas arrives through a network. LPG and oil require you to keep track of stored fuel and arrange replenishment. Think about how much storage is feasible, how often you are likely to need a delivery, and whether you can manage the ordering. These are not minor details: running low can mean losing heating or hot water until the supply is restored.

Ask suppliers how their delivery arrangements work and what you would need to do to keep your supply maintained. The answer will depend on your location, chosen storage and supplier. For a home with limited space or awkward access, the practicalities may be more important than an initial preference for one fuel.

When comparing ongoing household costs, avoid judging the options by the boiler specification alone. Fuel prices and your household’s consumption both matter, and neither can be reliably reduced to a single figure without knowing the property and how you use heating and hot water. A realistic comparison should include the supply arrangement as well as the appliance.

Match the installation to how the home is used

Fuel choice does not determine the whole heating design. The boiler still needs to suit the home’s heating and hot water demand. Consider how many people live there, how hot water is used, and whether several taps or showers may be needed at once. The existing heating system also matters: pipework, radiators and controls need to be checked rather than assumed to suit a replacement unchanged.

The age and layout of a property can affect the work involved. A boiler in one position may have a suitable route for its flue, while another location could require changes to how the boiler's exhaust gases are carried outside. Storage space can also influence where equipment can go. These details may narrow the realistic choices before you compare fuel supply arrangements.

A useful discussion with an installer should therefore cover both the fuel and the system around it. Ask what needs to change, what existing parts may be retained, and what has to be confirmed during the assessment. If a recommendation depends on a specific tank location, flue route or pipework alteration, make sure that dependency is clear before agreeing to the proposed design.

Use a simple decision order

Work through the decision in this order:

1. Confirm whether mains gas is available and connected, or whether another fuel is needed.
2. Identify feasible storage locations and check how deliveries could reach them.
3. Consider the household’s heating and hot water use, alongside the existing pipework and controls.
4. Compare the ongoing supply arrangements, including how you will monitor and replenish stored fuel.
5. Have the proposed boiler position, flue route and related system changes assessed at the property.

This avoids choosing a boiler first and discovering later that its fuel storage or installation arrangement does not fit the home. The right option is the one that works as a complete system, not simply the one that sounds familiar or has a specification that looks attractive on paper.

Get the property checked before deciding

At Gas Works MK, we install boilers and work with LPG heating systems and oil fired heating systems across Milton Keynes. We can discuss the practical questions that shape a fuel change and assess what your property can accommodate before you settle on an option. For an overview of our service, see our Boiler Installation page, then get in touch to talk through your home’s requirements.