If you heat your home with oil, LPG, solid fuel, or storage heaters, this guide explains how infrared heating works, when it makes sense, and what affects running costs.
Infrared heating is suitable for many off-gas homes because it requires no boiler, no fuel deliveries, and allows room-by-room electric heating with low maintenance. Running cost depends on insulation, correct sizing, zoning, and your electricity tariff.
Why off-gas homeowners are searching for alternatives
Living in an off-gas property often means you’re choosing between systems that are expensive, inconvenient, or uncertain long-term. The most common off-gas options include oil boilers, LPG systems, solid fuel, and older electric storage heaters.
Common frustrations include:
- Fuel price volatility (and the stress of “when should we fill up?”)
- Delivery logistics and storage tanks
- Ongoing servicing and breakdown risk
- Hard-to-modernise heating controls and zoning
Infrared heating is growing in popularity because it removes many of those pain points while keeping installation relatively simple.
What is infrared heating?
Infrared heating is a form of electric heating that warms people and surfaces directly rather than heating air first. It works more like sunlight: the heat is absorbed by walls, floors, furniture, and people, and those surfaces then gently re-radiate warmth into the room.
Traditional heating tends to warm the air, which rises and moves around. In many homes that can create uneven temperatures (hot ceilings, cooler floors), drafts, and quicker heat loss when doors open.
Instead of trying to heat the whole volume of air in a room first, infrared focuses on the things that actually make you feel warm: surfaces and your body. That can improve comfort even at slightly lower thermostat settings.
Why infrared heating works well in off-gas homes
1) No boiler, no wet system
Infrared heating does not require a boiler, pipework, radiators, or a plant room. For many off-gas properties (especially older homes or buildings with limited space), this simplifies both installation and long-term ownership.
2) No fuel deliveries
With infrared, you’re not dependent on deliveries, tanks, or fuel contracts. That’s a big advantage in rural locations where supply timing and pricing can be unpredictable.
3) Zoned room-by-room control
Many off-gas homes overheat unused rooms because the heating system is designed around “whole-house” operation. Infrared systems typically allow zoning, so you can heat rooms based on real occupancy and schedules.
4) Strong fit with solar and battery storage
Off-gas households are often more motivated to adopt solar PV and batteries. Infrared heating pairs naturally with electrification, allowing you to offset a portion of usage when generation or stored energy is available.
Running costs: what affects the number most?
Electricity can cost more per kWh than gas, so it’s fair to ask whether electric heating will be expensive. The key is that running cost depends on energy demand (how much heat your home actually loses), not just the price per kWh.
The biggest factors are:
- Insulation & draught control: loft insulation, windows/doors, and obvious drafts.
- Correct sizing: undersized systems struggle; oversized systems waste budget.
- Zoning & controls: heating only rooms in use reduces waste.
- Usage pattern: a home occupied all day behaves differently from evenings-only heating.
- Tariff: unit rate and any off-peak structure can matter a lot.
Infrared heating can be cheaper or comparable to oil and LPG in many off-gas homes when it’s sized correctly and controlled intelligently. The easiest way to avoid guesswork is a room-by-room calculation.
Does infrared heating work in older stone or solid-wall homes?
It can, and many homeowners choose infrared specifically for older buildings. Off-gas homes are often stone-built or solid-wall, and comfort issues are frequently caused by cold surfaces and uneven heating.
Because infrared warms surfaces directly, it may improve perceived comfort and can help reduce cold-surface condensation in problem areas. (Insulation still matters — infrared isn’t a magic substitute — but it can be an excellent partner to sensible improvements.)
Installation: what to expect
Infrared heating is often chosen because it avoids the disruption of pipework and wet systems. Many installations can be done in phases, which is ideal for off-gas homes where upgrades happen room-by-room.
- No pipe runs through floors and walls
- No boiler commissioning or flushing
- Lower ongoing maintenance (no annual boiler service)
- Simple controls and zoning options
Optional: include proof here (photos/case studies). See a real installation
When infrared heating may not be suitable
Infrared heating may be less suitable if any of the following apply:
- The home has extremely poor insulation and major uncontrolled drafts
- Ceiling heights are unusually high without design adjustment
- System sizing is guessed instead of calculated
Most problems come down to design, not the technology itself — which is why a room-by-room plan matters.
Frequently Asked Questions: Infrared Heating for Off-Gas Homes
Is infrared heating suitable for off-gas homes?
Infrared heating is suitable for many off-gas homes because it does not require a boiler, fuel deliveries, or a wet heating system. Performance depends on correct room sizing, zoning, and insulation levels.
Is infrared heating cheaper than oil or LPG?
Infrared heating can be cheaper or comparable to oil and LPG depending on insulation quality, electricity tariffs, control strategy, and how rooms are used. Zoned heating often reduces wasted energy.
Does infrared heating work in older stone or solid-wall homes?
Infrared heating can work well in older and solid-wall homes, especially when combined with sensible insulation improvements. Warming surfaces can improve comfort and reduce cold-surface condensation.
Do I need solar panels or a battery for infrared heating?
No. Infrared heating works without solar panels or batteries, although pairing with solar PV or battery storage can improve overall running costs in off-gas properties.
What are the main requirements for good infrared heating performance?
Good results depend on correct room-by-room sizing, reasonable insulation and draught control, and smart zoning so rooms are heated based on real usage.
When might infrared heating be a poor choice for an off-gas home?
Infrared heating may be less suitable if insulation is extremely poor, ceiling heights are unusually high without design adjustment, or the system is incorrectly sized.
If you want a clear answer fast, sizing the system correctly is the biggest win. A room-by-room plan removes uncertainty and avoids costly mistakes.
Off Gas Home Page