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Deciding on the best heating system in Ireland depends on your specific needs, as there isn't a single solution that fits everyone. The most suitable system for your home will be a balance between installation cost, running costs, and environmental impact. Heating systems can cost anywhere from €1,000 to €10,000 and more to install depending on the type of system you choose. There are SEAI grants available for the installation of heating systems such as solar panels and heat pumps but there are no longer grants available for gas or oil boilers.
There are various types of home heating systems in Ireland with each using one of the following fuel sources:
Our home heating systems guide will take a look at each in more detail and will highlight the pros and cons of each system.
How Much CO2 Does Your Heating System Produce?
Gas boilers work by using natural gas to fire a condensing boiler to heat water which is then pumped through radiators to heat homes.
Your home must be connected to the gas network and you will need to be in contract with a gas supplier to access the gas.
Condensing boilers are more efficient as they recapture heat from flue gases, with some being 99% efficient in fuel energy extraction.
Combination boilers can heat water from source instantaneously and are much more efficient than immersion heaters and easier to repair and service.
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Oil fired boilers work in a similar way to gas boilers in that the boiler burns oil to heat water which is then pumped throughout your home.
Unlike gas boilers, oil fired boilers require an on site source of oil which is normally stored in a large tanker on your property. You will have to have oil delivered to your home to keep your heating system working.
Oil boilers are a good option for people living in rural areas as often these homes don't have access to the gas network.
Carbon Tax Increase 2024
The rate of carbon tax will increase to €63.50 per year in line with the annual rate increase of €7.50.
More and more people are opting to heat their homes with renewable sources of energy. This is to reduce dependency on fossil fuels such as oil and gas as a heat source given the volatility of their price, along with the negative environmental impact they have from carbon emissions.
Renewable sources of heating in Ireland at the moment are:
Heat pumps are an efficient way to heat your home, drawing heat from the environment and working best in well-insulated houses with proper glazing and low-temperature radiators.
They are cost-effective, reducing heating bills by up to 50% compared to gas boilers, and are environmentally friendly, significantly cutting down on carbon emissions. Most heat pumps also provide hot water, making them a versatile and eco-conscious choice for home heating.
Heat pumps are also an effective means of fuelling underfloor heating which is a much more efficient way of heating your home compared to traditional radiators.
The SEAI are offering grants for heat pump installation of up to €6500 depending on the type of heat pump you are installing.
They also add to the value of your house as they improve your BER (Building Energy Rating).
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Hybrid heating systems are a popular and efficient choice that combines both a traditional fossil fuel boiler (gas or oil) with a modern, high-efficiency heat pump.
The system is designed to automatically select the most cost-effective and energy-efficient heating source at any given time. The heat pump will typically handle the majority of your heating needs, operating at high efficiency in milder weather.
When temperatures drop significantly, or if there is a sudden, high demand for heat (e.g., for hot water), the boiler will automatically activate to provide a quick boost.
This setup offers a balanced approach, providing significant energy savings and reduced carbon emissions without the need for a full, and sometimes costly, overhaul of your home's entire heating infrastructure.
It's an excellent transitional option for homeowners who want to improve their energy rating and environmental footprint but are not yet ready to fully commit to a renewable-only system.
SEAI grants are also available for the heat pump component of these systems, making them a financially attractive option.
If you have solar panels installed on your home, you can use the heat captured from the sun to directly heat your water. They are particulary effective in summer time when hot water needs are less than in winter.
Similar to fuel pumps, they are a carbon neutral means of heating water and can help improve the BER rating of your home.
The SEAI offer grants of €1200 to help with the installation of solar water heaters.
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While renewables are a great option, electricity remains a common and often more accessible heating source for many homes.
Electricity is another common source of heating fuel and is often used in smaller homes that don't have access to alternative sources of fuel, or lack the space or budget for the installation of alternative systems.
As electricity tends to be more expensive than gas or oil, it can be an expensive source of heating for your home.
Similar to gas and oil boilers, electric boilers use electricity as their means of heating hot water that is then pumped throughout your home.
Like with other boiler systems, electric boilers also come as standard or as a combination gas boiler which can heat water from source on demand reducing the need for a hot water tank and take up less space in your home.
However, they can also only heat small amounts of water at a time meaning they may not be suitable for larger properties and given that they run on electricity, can be expensive due to the cost of electricity in Ireland.
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Storage heaters use electricity efficiently and take advantage of cheaper night energy rates to heat up ceramic bricks overnight, and then release this energy over the following day.
While utilising night time rates makes them a cheaper means of heating than an electric boiler, the delayed release of heat the next day means they can't be used on demand.
They also can't heat water and as such, are only an alternative to a central heating system as you will still need another means to heat water in your home.
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Immersion heaters are only used to heat water. They are a bit like giant kettles in that a conductive element is used to heat the water. They also run off electricity making them more expensive than gas or oil for water heating.
Despite this, they can also be easily connected to solar panels, and if well-insulated, they will keep water hot for hours after being switched off.
Immersion heaters can be useful as a means of topping up hot water produced by your boiler but if they become the primary means of heating water in your home, will be expensive.
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Biomass boilers rely on a solid state fuels such as wood, coal or pellets to fire your boiler. While pellets and wood can be considered carbon-neutral, coal is a big emitter of carbon and is subject to the carbon tax.
Biomass boilers also require the purchase and proper storage of fuel on your property which require suitable space and storage. In the case of wood, it's very important to ensure that the wood remains dry to be effectively used as fuel.
While biomass boilers can be cost-effective due to their lack of dependency on electricity or gas, they do produce a byproduct in the form of ash which will have to be disposed of.
Biomass boilers may be a good choice for people living in rural areas who have ample space for both storing the fuel, and disposing of ash residue.
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While a well-maintained central heating system should be enough to heat your home, there are times, in particular during winter, when you need to boost the heating in certain parts of your home.
Known as space heaters, they can be physically placed in rooms where you spend more time such as a bedroom or living room while working from home in order to boost the temperature.
Popular space heaters include:
Space heaters are a convenient way to support your central heating system but can be expensive to run as the majority run off of electricity.
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Finding the best home heating system for your home will depend on a number of factors.
Some key issues we advise you to keep in mind when researching, updating or changing your home heating system include the following:
Below you'll find a table offering a overview of the different heating systems and how they compare with each other:
| Heating System | Efficiency | Installation Cost | Running Cost | Environmental Impact | Suitability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | 90%+ efficient, instant heat | Moderate (requires gas lines and radiators) | Lower than electricity, depends on gas prices | Higher due to fossil fuel combustion, but lower than oil | Larger homes, |
| Oil | Similar to gas, decreases with age | High (needs oil tank and fuel storage) | Depends on oil prices | Higher due to fossil fuel combustion, not environmentally friendly | Requires space for oil storage, high maintenance |
| Renewables | Can be highly efficient (e.g., solar, wind,) | High (initial setup can be expensive) | Low to none (depending on source) | Lowest, especially if powered by solar or wind energy | Ideal where space and initial cost aren’t constraints |
| Electricity | Depends on tariff; less efficient with resistive heating | Low (no pipework or flue needed) | High (depending on tariff) | High, unless powered by renewable sources (solar, wind) | Small spaces or apartments, |
| Biomass | Highly efficient, depending on the system | High (requires space for biomass storage and installation) | Moderate (depends on fuel type and availability) | Low to moderate, renewable, but still has emissions in some cases | Suitable for larger homes with space for fuel storage |
Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Install a carbon monoxide alarm in your home and make sure to get your boiler serviced regulary as old and malfunctioning boilers can leak carbon monoxide which is a poisonous and deadly gas.
If you're looking to save some money on your energy bills, there are various home heating hacks you can implement beyond the type of home heating system you choose.
Upgrading your home heating system can be expensive. Fortunately, there are various home heating grants available through SEAI. These include the following:
Currently There Are No Direct Boiler Grants in Ireland! The SEAI no longer offers direct boiler grants to homeowners looking to replace their boilers with a more efficient model. The SEAI now only provides a Heating Controls Grant, which allows you to pay for upgrades that can indirectly improve your boiler’s efficiency.
In addition to the above grants, others are also available that can improve the efficiency of heating your home.
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The services and products mentioned on this website may only represent a small selection of the options available to you. Selectra encourages you to carry out your own research and seek advice if necessary before making any decisions. We may receive commission from selected partner providers on sales of some products and/or services mentioned within this website. Our website is free to use, and the commission we receive does not affect our opinion or the information we provide.
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