Oil Boiler Installation Dorset
Off-grid heating on chalk downland and in stone villages
We install and replace oil boilers across Dorset, from downland farms and thatched villages to period houses in the market towns. Our OFTEC registered engineers survey first, give you a fixed price, and look after the boiler with an annual service.
Oil boiler installation in Dorset
Oil boiler installation in Dorset covers farms and villages right across the county, from the chalk downs along the A354 north of Dorchester to farms off the A350 near Blandford Forum. Rain soaks straight through chalk, and spilled heating oil would go the same way, so the Environment Agency maps groundwater source protection zones around boreholes and springs used for drinking water. Building regulations say a tank in the inner zone must be bunded, as must one within 50m of a private well, borehole or spring. If you're on a farm near Sturminster Newton or in the Purbeck villages around Corfe Castle, we check your tank's position against those rules before the new boiler goes in.
We fit and service oil boilers from the Marshwood Vale and Beaminster across to Cranborne, Sixpenny Handley and the Blackmore Vale.
- Dorchester
- Bridport
- Beaminster
- Lyme Regis
- Sherborne
- Sturminster Newton
- Shaftesbury
- Gillingham
- Blandford Forum
- Cranborne
- Sixpenny Handley
- Wimborne Minster
- Verwood
- Wareham
- Swanage
- Cerne Abbas
- Maiden Newton
- Puddletown
The oil boiler work we do most
Flues near thatch
Thatched cottages need extra care with flue positions. A terminal close to the eaves can be a fire risk, so we follow the manufacturer's clearances for thatch and often use a low-level or remote flue. Where that won't work, we'll explain the options before you commit.
Single-skin steel tanks out
Older farms on the downs still have rusting single-skin steel tanks. We drain them, clean out the sludge, take them away for proper disposal and fit a new bunded tank. If the site is near a borehole or in a source protection zone, the bund is a must.
Stored hot water for period houses
Big period houses in the market towns often have an oil boiler feeding a large cylinder and several bathrooms. When we replace the boiler, we check the cylinder, the pump and the controls, as a new boiler on tired parts won't give the hot water you want.
Before an oil swap in a period or thatched home
If your house is listed, check with the council before changing the flue or moving the tank, as consent may be needed. Thatched homes need extra care with flue terminals and the tank position, and we plan both at the survey. In a conservation area or National Landscape, a tank beside the house may also need planning permission, so we look at that too.
Tanks need a non-combustible base and must keep clear of the house, boundaries and any planting. If you want to screen the tank with a hedge, keep it at least 600mm away. Old tanks with oil and sludge left in them are hazardous waste, so they must be disposed of properly. If the old tank has leaked into the ground, tell us, as that needs specialist clean-up before a new base goes down.
For more on balancing heating upgrades with the look of an old house, our guide to heating a listed or period home is a good starting point.
Why choose Wisp for oil boiler installation in Dorset
Over one in five homes off grid
Government estimates for 2024 put about 23% of homes in the council area off the gas grid.
Planning for tanks in protected places
In a National Landscape or conservation area, permitted development doesn't cover a tank between the side wall and the boundary. We site it to avoid needing permission.
Proper annual servicing
Our oil boiler service strips down the burner, changes the nozzle and filter, tests the fire valve and checks the tank.
Thinking of a heat pump?
Oil-heated homes with no mains gas can get £9,000 off a heat pump until March 2027. We'll price both and let you decide.
How oil boiler installation in Dorset works
Tell us what you have
Boiler, tank and any range cooker.
Site survey
We check the tank position, base and flue.
Fixed quote
One price for the boiler, tank work and commissioning.
Fitted and certified
Commissioned, with your OFTEC paperwork.
What is included
- Survey of boiler, flue and tank
- New condensing oil or LPG boiler fitted
- Tank checks against current regulations
- Commissioning and OFTEC paperwork
- Annual servicing to keep the warranty valid
Oil Boiler Installation Dorset FAQs
How do I know if I'm in a source protection zone?
The zones are shown on the government's Magic Map, and the gov.uk guidance explains how to find the layer. We also check during the survey, so you don't have to work it out yourself before we visit.
Do I need planning permission for a new oil tank?
Usually not for a domestic tank up to 3,500 litres. The exceptions are listed buildings, tanks in front of the house, and in protected areas a tank beside the side wall. Our oil tank installation page covers the rules.
Can you service my Aga as well as the boiler?
Yes, oil-fired range cookers are covered too. See our range cooker servicing page, and we can often do both on one visit.
Is a condensing oil boiler worth the upgrade?
If your current boiler is old and non-condensing, usually yes. A condensing model recovers heat that an older boiler sends up the flue, so the same tank of oil goes further.
What happens to my old oil tank?
We drain any oil that's left, clean out the sludge and remove the tank for proper disposal. If the oil is still good, we can sometimes transfer it to the new tank. Old tanks and their residues are hazardous waste, so they go to licensed facilities.
Oil boiler installation in your area
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For expert oil boiler installation in Dorset
A few questions about your home, then a free survey and one fixed price.