Winter Heating for Off-Grid Homes with Calor Ireland
30/10/2025 •
10 min
For rural
households in Ireland and Northern Ireland, the colder winter months bring more
than just frosty mornings. They often mean higher heating bills, draughty rooms
in older houses, and the constant risk of power cuts that can disrupt daily
life.
Many homes rely
on oil or electricity for heating, but both come with challenges. Oil can be
expensive and less efficient, while electric systems are costly to run and
leave families vulnerable during outages.
That’s why more
households are choosing Calor LPG and BioLPG - a reliable energy solution that
delivers controllable warmth, fast hot water, and dependable cooking all winter
long.
Rural Ireland and
Northern Ireland are home to a wide mix of property types, from farmhouses and
cottages to hotels and guesthouses. Many of these buildings share common
heating challenges:
Lack of access to mains gas: About one in three homes in Ireland are off the natural gas grid, leaving rural households in need of secure, alternative heating.
Calor addresses
these challenges directly:
Controllable home heating: LPG provides instant warmth, instant hot water and controllable cooking
Cleaner combustion: LPG emits fewer particulates compared with oil or solid fuel.
Versatility across property types: Whether it’s a new build,
farmhouse, cottage, vernacular home, detached house, small hotel, or rural
Airbnb, LPG and BioLPG offer flexible, efficient energy.
Many homes across Ireland and Northern Ireland still rely on oil or electricity for heating. While both have served households for decades, they come with clear drawbacks. Oil boilers can be costly to run, less efficient, and carry the risk of leaks or spills. Electric heating, meanwhile, is expensive and unreliable during winter storms, when power lines go down, so does the heat and hot water.
That’s why more households are making the move to Calor LPG and BioLPG. The benefits are immediate:
Switch from oil to LPG and you can look forward to cleaner combustion, fewer emissions, and no risk of oil spills.
Switching to BioLPG and benefit from a renewable alternative that cuts carbon emissions by up to 80%*! Plus, BioLPG works in any existing LPG system with no modifications.
Best of all, switching to Calor LPG or BioLPG is easy and our dedicated customer care team is here to assist you
every step of the way.
For rural
households, a reliable fuel supply is essential in winter. Heavy snow,
flooding, or blocked roads can delay deliveries, so it pays to prepare both
your tank and your delivery plan before bad weather sets in.
Keep your tank winter-ready:
Check levels early → Don’t wait until the first cold snap. Make sure your tank is at a healthy level going into storm season.
Keep access clear → Snow, ice, or fallen branches can block delivery routes. Clearing the path to your tank ensures drivers can refill it safely.
Protect fittings → Regularly check that valves, lids, and gauges are secure and free from ice or debris.
Homes in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland can choose
between the following bulk tank refuel options:
Top-Up → Calor remotely monitors your usage and automatically refills your tank, ensuring you’ll never run out unexpectedly, a popular choice for households in exposed rural areas.
Order-Only → You manage your usage and place an order once your tank gauge reaches 30%. This gives you more control over scheduling.
Fabric-first upgrades for rural homes
Heating fuel is
only part of the winter comfort equation. Many rural homes in Ireland, from
farmhouses to cottages were built before modern building standards, which means
they lose heat much faster than newer properties. Improving the “fabric” of
your home (the walls, roof, windows, and floors) ensures that the energy you
pay for stays inside, reducing bills and improving comfort.
Practical, cost-effective upgrades include:
Draught-proofing: Unsealed gaps around doors, windows, and chimneys can let in cold air and drive up heating demand. A weekend’s work with draught excluders, sealant, or chimney balloons can significantly cut heat loss.
Radiator optimisation: Bleeding radiators to
remove trapped air, installing thermostatic radiator valves, and ensuring
radiators aren’t blocked by furniture all improve heating efficiency.
These
“fabric-first” improvements, combined with an efficient LPG or BioLPG heating
system, mean rural households can stay warmer for less - a win for both comfort and long-term savings.
Hot water efficiency on LPG
Hot water is a
year-round necessity, but in winter it becomes even more important for comfort
and hygiene. With Calor LPG, households benefit from a system that is not only
reliable but also highly efficient.
Instant heating – Modern LPG combi boilers provide hot water on demand, so you’re not paying to keep a tank heated all day. This reduces wasted energy and helps lower bills.
Reliable supply – Unlike electric immersion heaters, LPG boilers don’t depend on the grid. Even during power cuts, you’ll have hot water for showers, cooking, and cleaning.
Faster recovery times – LPG systems reheat water more quickly than oil boilers, meaning no waiting around for the cylinder to refill after back-to-back showers or baths.
Everyday family comfort – A steady flow of hot water makes daily routines smoother, from busy mornings with multiple showers to evening cooking and laundry.
Sustainable option with BioLPG – By choosing BioLPG, you can enjoy the same
reliable supply while cutting carbon emissions by up to 80%*.
Rural resilience & safety
Winter storms and
power cuts are an unavoidable reality for many rural households in Ireland and
Northern Ireland. Being prepared means more than just staying warm.it’s about
ensuring safety, access, and peace of mind.
Heating continuity when it matters most: With Calor LPG and BioLPG, boilers and hot water systems keep running even if the electricity goes out. This ensures families aren’t left without essential heat or hot water during outages.
Cooking without interruption: Gas hobs and ovens continue to work during power cuts, allowing households to prepare hot meals when shops may be closed, deliveries delayed, or electricity unavailable.
Safe tank management: Before winter, check that your tank is topped up and that the area around it is safe and accessible. Keep paths clear of snow, ice, or overgrown branches so Calor’s delivery drivers can reach it safely.
Emergency readiness: Store a simple winter kit: torches, extra batteries, blankets, a first-aid kit, and a battery-powered radio. Having these on hand reduces risk and makes it easier to manage through extended outages or blocked roads.
Winter preparation checklist for warmer homes in Ireland & NI
A little
preparation goes a long way in keeping rural, off-grid homes safe, warm, and
efficient through winter. Here are ten practical steps to prepare your home for
winter:
Check LPG
tank levels early: Top up before the cold sets in. With
Calor’s Top-Up service, you’ll never run out unexpectedly.
Book a boiler service: Annual
checks keep your system running efficiently and reduce the risk of
breakdowns during a cold snap.
Draught-proof doors and windows : Simple
seals and excluders stop heat escaping and cut bills.
Your local county council –
for flooding, blocked roads, or other local emergencies
Your GP or local out-of-hours
medical service
If you have a gas emergency, including a
gas leak, or gas supply disruption to an essential service, Calor customers can
call our emergency line which is open 24/7:
Yes, BioLPG is a drop-in fuel, meaning it works seamlessly with any existing LPG boiler or appliance. No modifications are required, so you can reduce your carbon footprint without extra cost.
The easiest
option is Calor’s
automatic top up service, where your usage is monitored remotely, and
your tank is automatically refilled before levels get low. If you prefer to
manage your own supply, the Order-Only service allows you to order once your
gauge reaches 30%.
Switching from oil to LPG is straightforward with
Calor. We take care of the entire
process: safely decommissioning your old oil tank, installing your LPG or
BioLPG tank, and connecting your heating system. Most households can make the
switch with minimal disruption.
No.
Your existing radiators and central heating system will work perfectly with an
LPG or BioLPG boiler. In fact, many customers notice quicker, more responsive
heating compared with oil or electric systems.
Warmth, comfort, and confidence this winter
Winter brings
unique challenges for rural and off-grid homes, from rising heating costs to
the uncertainty of power cuts and extreme weather. But those challenges don’t
have to mean discomfort. With the right preparation and a trusted energy
partner, your home can stay warm, efficient, and resilient all season long.
Calor Ireland
provides more than just fuel. With on-site LPG and renewable BioLPG, flexible delivery options, and expert support, households across
Ireland and Northern Ireland can enjoy dependable heat, hot water, and cooking,
even when the grid goes down. Pair this with simple efficiency upgrades, and
you’ll keep your home warmer, your bills lower, and your family safer through
the coldest months.
Don’t wait for the next storm or cold snap to catch you unprepared.
Find out more about Calor’s reliable off-grid home energy solutions.
*reduce carbon emissions
ROI - Carbon emission savings are calculated using BioLPG carbon value of 45.11 gCO2 per kWh and is based on the weighted average of actual BioLPG feedstocks and deliveries in 2024. All other fuels’ values are reference SEAI Carbon emission factors 2025.
NI - Carbon emission savings are calculated using BioLPG carbon value of 67.46gCO2 per kWh and is based on actual BioLPG feedstocks and deliveries in 2024. All other fuels’ values are reference DEFRA Carbon emission factors 2025.
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