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There are numerous reasons for replacing an oil heating system. It could be because the heating system has reached the end of its service life or because you want to help the environment, protect the climate and reduce the burden on your housing budget. Climate change is forcing us to adapt our behaviour and emit less CO2. Heating costs will remain high because of rising CO2 taxes, even if oil prices fall again. That's why homeowners with an oil heating system should slowly but surely start thinking about replacing it.
On average, an oil heating system lasts for 20 years, and a boiler for 15 to 25 years. That's a few years longer than other heating systems. Nevertheless, replacing an old oil heating system with a new one is no longer reasonable or timely, even though it costs less than the alternatives. For one thing, operating costs are high because of high oil prices and rising CO2 taxes. That's why the higher investments in renewable energies pay off more and more quickly. On the other hand, oil heating systems emit too much carbon dioxide and are partly responsible for climate change. That is why more and more cantons are considering allowing new gas or oil heating systems only in justified exceptional cases.
Gas and oil heating systems account for a significant share of CO₂ emissions in the canton of Zurich. With the revised Energy Act, which was clearly approved by Zurich voters and has been in force since 2023, strict rules now apply to the replacement of fossil heating systems.
Oil and gas heating systems must generally be replaced by a climate-neutral heating solution once they reach the end of their service life. Permitted alternatives include in particular:
Replacing an oil or gas heating system with a new fossil system is only allowed in justified exceptional cases, for example if the switch to renewable energy is technically impossible or if the total lifecycle costs of an alternative system are significantly higher. There are no exceptions for new buildings: renewable heating systems are now standard in new construction due to their energy efficiency, cost effectiveness and environmental performance.
With our heating calculator you can find out how much carbon dioxide your heating system emits. You can also compare the costs, service life and environmental compatibility with other heating systems and calculate how quickly a heat pump, for example, pays for itself.
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Heat pumps are becoming increasingly popular. The high natural gas and especially oil prices have accelerated and strengthened this trend. The investment costs are higher than for a new oil heating system, but the operating costs are lower. This speaks in favor of a heat pump as an alternative to oil heating:
An oil heating system for a single-family house with an annual heating energy requirement of 14,400 kilowatt hours emits 4,680 kilograms of CO2 per year, according to WWF Switzerland. An air-source heat pump (490 kilograms) nine times less, and a ground-source heat pump (380 kilograms) twelve times less.
Modern wood-fired heating systems have a low climate impact when properly operated. Pellet or log wood heating systems are suitable for single-family homes, and pellet heating systems for apartment buildings with condominiums. This speaks in favor of wood heating as an alternative to oil heating:
A pellet heating system for a single-family home with an annual heating energy requirement of 14,400 kilowatt hours emits 710 kilograms of CO2 per year, according to WWF Switzerland. This is six times less than oil heating.
Heating networks are widespread in Switzerland. The central heating plant transports hot water via insulated pipes to apartment buildings and single-family homes, where it is distributed to the apartments or rooms via heat exchangers and pipes. This speaks in favor of district heating as an alternative to oil heating:
The climate performance varies depending on the heating network. According to WWF Switzerland, the values for district heating are best if the heating network burns wood or uses waste heat from waste incineration plants.
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Heat pumps work according to the same physical principle as refrigerators — with the difference that they make ambient heat usable for heating buildings. While a refrigerator removes heat from its interior and releases it to the outside, a heat pump extracts heat from the environment and raises it to a higher temperature level.
In a closed cycle, a liquid refrigerant is evaporated, compressed, liquefied and then expanded again. During the liquefaction stage, the refrigerant releases the absorbed heat via a heat exchanger. This heat is transferred to the heating system and stored for space heating and hot water production.
Depending on the system, the heat is drawn from the air, the ground or groundwater. In Switzerland, air-to-water and ground-source heat pumps are the most commonly used systems for single-family and multi-family homes.
The cost of a heat pump depends heavily on the building type, heating system and local conditions. As a rough guideline for an average single-family home, the following investment costs (including installation) can currently be expected:
Annual heating costs typically range between CHF 900 and 1,500, depending on electricity prices, tariff models, building efficiency and any on-site electricity generation (e.g. photovoltaic systems). Annual maintenance and servicing costs are usually around CHF 200 to 300.
These figures are indicative only. Actual costs may vary significantly depending on individual circumstances. Calculate the investment costs for your heat pump with the Houzy heating calculator or ask a certified heating expert from your region if you want to know more.
The Gebäudeprogramm supports the replacement of fossil heating systems with renewable solutions such as heat pumps or wood-fired heating systems. The amount of funding depends on the canton, the heating system, the output and the building characteristics.
Depending on the location, subsidies can range from several thousand Swiss francs to more than CHF 20,000, especially when replacing an oil or gas heating system with a heat pump. In some cantons and municipalities, additional local funding programmes are also available.
With the Houzy heating calculator, you can estimate both the investment costs for your new heating system and the subsidies you may be entitled to.
Absolutely, from an ecological point of view. The climate impact and environmental damage caused by the operation of an oil heating system are more serious than those caused by the construction, transport and installation of a heat pump. The replacement is also economically worthwhile in many cases. The higher initial investment pays off after just a few years thanks to generous subsidies and lower heating costs, especially in times of high oil prices and rising CO2 taxes. In addition, maintenance and servicing cost less. Whether it is worthwhile for you to replace your oil heating system before the end of its service life depends on several factors. One thing is clear: the older the oil heating system, the sooner it pays to replace it.
