Oil Fired Heating is something you might come across if buying a property in a rural location.  Approximately 1.5 million homes throughout the UK are off the mains gas grid with oil being one of the most popular forms of heating.

It is a clean-burning fuel and the oil can produce a lot of energy, which makes it an effective option for heating systems.  Unlike Gas there isn’t a constant supply of it so you need to keep an independent storage of the oil at your property - so you will probably see a big tank in the back garden somewhere that stores the oil.

If you’re considering buying a property with this type of heating system there are some questions to ask….

How much does it cost to run?

Ask the Seller how often they have to re-fill their Tank and when they have their heating on.  This will give you an indication of cost.  Prices do seem to vary across the country but they are all around the same ballpark – for 500 litres it’s around £430 and for 900 litres around £765.

The running costs of oil boilers are cheaper than most electricity tariffs and are around the same cost as gas (depending on market fluctuations).

Has the Oil Tank been well maintained?

I cannot stress how important it is to give the Tank a visual once over.  Check for damage, rust, bleaching or damp patches on the floor that might suggest a leak.  Most importantly make sure the Tank complies with OFTEC regulations.  It is recommended that a Tank is inspected once a year at least by an OFTEC qualified heating engineer.  It should be made from fabricated steel or plastic and can have one or two layers of protection or be protected internally by an integral bund.  A Tank with an integral bund gives better protection than single or double layers around a tank because a bunded tank is essentially a tank sitting within a tank – so if there is a leak it’s more likely to be contained.

The seller can do easy maintenance themselves on the Tank too – keeping it clear of debris on a regular basis.  If it looks clean and tidy then it’s a good sign the Seller has been doing their job but make sure you check all of the other points too.

How old is the Oil Tank?

An oil tank should last around 20 years, some a little less so if the Tank is around 10 yrs old or more you should factor in the cost of replacing it into your budget.  You can request to see the building regulations compliance certificate to establish its age.  This would have been issued at the point that it was installed.  If a certificate is not available to be seen questions need to be asked as it may not have been installed in accordance with building regulations – which is a legal requirement.

It is also important to establish where any underground pipework is, if you are planning on any building works you want to be sure that any alterations that you have planned do not damage the pipes.

Also, despite it not being a legal requirement it really is a good idea for the Tank to have a secondary containment around the oil storage.

Is the Tank accessible when the time comes to re-fill it? 

If the delivery pipe needs to go through your home many delivery companies may refuse to re-fill it.

Check the following is adhered to:

• The Tank must not be located in the front elevation fronting a Highway.
• Must be no higher than 3 metres.
• Its total height must be no more than 2.5 metres if it is within 2 metres of a boundary.
• Additions of other buildings must only cover half or less of the area surrounding the original house.
• To protect the Tank from an ignition source it should be sited 1.8 metres away from non-fire related eaves of a building.
• It should also be situated 1.8 metres away from a non-fire rated building or structure (e.g garden shed) and 1.8 metres away from openings (doors/windows) in a fire rated building or structure (e.g brick built house/garage).

How’s the Boiler looking?

Check with the seller what the Boilers service history is.  Ensuring that it has been well maintained is really important to save you from future breakdowns and get the most from your heating oil.

The oil boiler itself are also legally required to have a Sedbuk rating of at least 86%.  The most energy efficient oil fired boilers are 89-93%.

Protection from Thieves!

Oil thieves’ are a thing!  Check if any security measures have been put in place to deter them.  Security lighting and quality locks are important and a great deterrent.  You can buy reasonably priced security cameras too that will show you any movements in the area through an App on your phone when you are away from home.

Insurance

If you decide to buy a house that has an Oil fired heating system you will need to ensure that your House Insurance covers loss from a spill, rupture or theft.  Most importantly make sure the policy covers the arrangement and cost of spill clean up which can be considerable.

If you are considering buying or selling a home, you may find some of these services useful: