The oil combination boiler, being a modern boiler type, will also often include accessories such as a digital control panel, automatic thermostats, frost protection, external thermostat, an automatic ignition, making them on a par with most modern gas condensing boiler types.

It is also possible to find a fairly small oil boiler that is suitable for a small house or apartment, and where space is particularly tight you can make your choice from among the many different types of wall-mounted oil boilers now available on the market. These often have a fairly high BTU output, and being a high output boiler, especially the high-efficiency oil boiler type, and provide enough heat and hot water for most situations.

However, if you happen to live in a place where the temperatures are quite cold, especially one with the winters are harsh, you may need a large oil boiler, in which case it can be a good idea to look at some of the various external oil boiler types. These tend to be very powerful boilers, and so will need a certain amount of floor space to be installed properly. They can be suitable for rural locations where they can be installed outside, something which can also be a preference for many people.

Many people are now looking at oil non-condensing boilers as a way of improving the heating system, and many of these have extremely good efficiency ratings, although they may not be as high as some of the most efficient gas condensing combination boilers with an efficiency rating of 97% or more. However, many of oil boiler systems can also be integrated with solar panels to provide a thermal heating in some way, giving a heating system that uses oil and solar power at the same time. Some of these are tankless oil heating systems, though it must be remembered that installing oil-based heating system like this is not a cheap boiler solution. In order to find the cheapest boiler, it may be worthwhile looking at some of the discount gas boilers, though these will not give you the efficiency that an effective oil boiler system will.

It can be a good idea to consider the Buderus G115WS oil fired hot water boiler, a unit fitted with low emissions Beckett AFG burners and a cast iron casing. It is a positive pressure-fired boiler, needing a 2" side clearance, coming with draft diverter and full swing burner door. It has an 87% AFUE rating, non-combustible base, Honeywell aquastat and 1-1/4" supply and return tappings.

Also take a good look at the Weil Mclain Gold oil boiler. It is a 184,000 BTU boiler with tankless heater and an 85% efficiency rating. A built-in air separator is standard, with temperature controls, draft damper and refractory combustion chamber. Finally, consider the Tobago oil fired hot water boiler from Crown, a cast iron Energy Star boiler with Beckett oil burner, Honeywell controls and thick insulation, along with pressure temperature gauge and ASME relief valve.

You also need to bear in mind the types of oil boiler maintenance that will need to be carried out at certain times. An oil boiler can be a messy piece of equipment which will need cleaning and maintaining at regular intervals throughout its life and so it is essential you find a reputable oil boiler servicing company that you can rely upon to do this job. Keep all the above points in mind and take some professional advice from a heating engineer to see what can be offered by the oil heating before making the right decision for you.