Should we move away from oil-fired heat in France?

Reader question: Our oil-fired central heating boiler is showing signs of age. We know there are some restrictions on replacing it with another oil-fired boiler. What are the alternatives?

Since July 1, 2022, France has prohibited the installation of most new oil-fired boilers (chaudière au fioul) in both existing homes and new buildings, including as replacements.

Under certain circumstances you can still replace your old oil-fired boiler with a modern oil-fired condensation boiler (chaudière fioul à condensation) – however, this is only permissible where no technically viable alternative heating solutions exist and an exemption is justified, as modern condensing models are still oil-fired and are therefore covered by the ban. The new boiler must be certified to produce less than 300gCO2eq/kWh.

Modern oil-fired condensing boilers are generally considered high-efficiency compared with older, non-condensing models. They also work well with biofuel, a heating oil which contains around 10% plant-based oil and which is closer to diesel than traditional central heating oil.

However, the new boilers are expensive (around €7,000 plus installation), and finding a plumber willing to install them can be difficult – many have turned their backs on oil-fired boilers.

Contact Bright Avocats to obtain advice in English on legal matters in France.

The government has encouraged the replacement of old boilers with air-to-water heat pumps (pompe à chaleur air-eau, or PAC air-eau), where air from outside is compressed to make heat, which is then used to warm water for radiators or underfloor heating.

In most French homes this can be done without changing all the radiators to cope with cooler water, as they have a higher heat output than most radiators in, for example, UK homes.

However, heat pumps are even more expensive than modern oil-fired boilers (around €15,000) and although you can get MaPrimeRénov' grants, applying for them means jumping bureaucratic hoops. 

Heat pumps can also be difficult to site. They require robust electrical systems, with part of the unit located outdoors and part indoors. 

The external component should ideally be positioned in the warmest part of the garden. Noise can also be a problem, but the more you pay the quieter they generally are. 

Another alternative is to have a log burner boiler (chaudière à bûches) or a wood pellet (chaudière à granulés) heating system.

These cost around €7,000 for log burners and €10,000 for pellet burners, with another €1,000 for installation and removal of the old boiler.

Usually the chimney used for the oil burner can be used for the wood burner. Taking out the oil tank will free some space for logs or sacks of pellets, but you will need a lot of wood – around 30 stères (French unit of volume for cut firewood, roughly equal to one cubic metre of stacked logs cut to one metre lengths) for a 200m² house – and the muscles to stack and carry it to the boiler.

Gas is another altnerative, where available in your area. 

Sarah Bright-Thomas is an English-speaking lawyer at Bright Avocats