Oil boiler installation in Scotland
Plenty of homes across East Lothian and the Borders sit off the gas grid and run on oil, and a well specified oil boiler remains a sound choice for them. We are OFTEC registered, and we install boilers and tanks together so the whole installation meets current standards rather than just the part that is being replaced.
Gas Safe
OFTECOil boilers and tanks, installed to standard
We install internal, external and oil combi boilers across Scotland, along with the oil tank. As OFTEC registered engineers and Grant and Defender specialists, we size and site everything correctly, across East Lothian and Midlothian.
Oil boiler replacement
Internal or external, condensing units fitted to current OFTEC standards. We check the whole system rather than swapping the appliance and hoping.
Oil tank replacement
Older single skin tanks reach the end of their safe life and become a real environmental liability. We install bunded tanks sited to current regulations.
Full system upgrades
Where the boiler, tank and controls are all past their best, replacing them together usually works out simpler and less disruptive than doing it piecemeal.
How it works
Free survey
We look at the boiler, the tank, the oil line and the flue, and tell you what genuinely needs replacing rather than everything at once.
Fixed written quote
A clear quote covering the appliance, the tank if it is being replaced, and all the associated work.
Installation
A straightforward boiler swap is usually one day. Boiler and tank together, or a relocation, generally takes two.
Commission and handover
We commission the burner with combustion testing, notify the work through OFTEC and walk you through the system.
What is included in an oil boiler installation
Oil installations involve more than the appliance itself, and the tank and the pipework matter just as much. Every job includes the following.
- A full survey of the existing boiler, tank, oil line and flue before anything is quoted
- Removal and responsible disposal of the old boiler, and of the old tank where it is being replaced
- The new boiler, flue and oil supply line, installed to current OFTEC standards
- A fire valve and, where required, a filter and de-aerator on the supply line
- A system flush and a magnetic filter to protect the new heat exchanger
- Commissioning with combustion testing, so the burner is set correctly rather than left at factory default
- Notification of the work through OFTEC, with the certificate passed to you
- New controls and a handover covering the boiler, the tank gauge and what to watch for
Where a tank needs relocating to meet current separation distances we will explain why before you commit.
The tank is half the job
Oil boiler quotes often cover the appliance and stop there, which is how households end up with a new boiler feeding off a tank that is already past its safe life. Single skin steel tanks corrode from the inside, and plastic tanks become brittle with age and split at the seams.
A leak from a domestic oil tank is not a small problem. Contaminated ground is expensive to remediate, and clean-up is not always straightforward to claim for, so a tank in poor condition is worth dealing with before it fails rather than after.
Current standards also govern where a tank can sit in relation to the house, the boundary and any openings. Tanks installed decades ago frequently sit closer than would be permitted now, and a replacement is the natural moment to put that right.
Oil boiler installation questions, answered
How long does an oil boiler installation take?+
A straightforward boiler replacement is usually one day. Replacing the boiler and the tank together, or relocating either of them, normally takes two.
Do I need to replace the tank at the same time?+
Not always, but it is worth checking. Single skin steel tanks corrode from the inside and older plastic tanks become brittle, so we assess the tank at survey and give you an honest view.
What is a bunded tank?+
It is a tank within an outer skin, so that if the inner tank fails the oil is contained rather than escaping into the ground. Bunded tanks are the standard specification for domestic installations now.
Are you OFTEC registered?+
Yes. All our oil work is carried out under OFTEC registration, and the installation is notified through OFTEC with the certificate passed to you.
Can I switch from oil to a heat pump instead?+
Often yes, and the Home Energy Scotland grant can help considerably with the cost. We will talk you through both options at survey so you can compare them properly.
Where is the tank allowed to sit?+
Current standards set minimum separation distances from the house, the boundary and any openings. Tanks fitted decades ago often sit closer than would be permitted today, and a replacement is the moment to correct it.
Do you work in rural properties away from the main towns?+
Yes. A good deal of our oil work is in villages and rural properties across East Lothian and Midlothian, which is exactly where the gas grid does not reach.
What local customers say
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Page last updated: 27 August 2026