Many people are worried about the rising cost of household energy, but if your home isn’t connected to mains gas your heating bills are likely to be growing faster than average. There are four million UK households relying on alternative fuel sources like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), heating oil or solid fuel like wood or coal. 

Unlike mains gas and electricity, there’s no Energy Price Guarantee to help control the cost of these types of fuel. There aren’t many options to help you save money on energy at the moment, but this guide shows you a few ways you can limit the impact of price rises. 

The cost of heating oil depends on a few factors, including:

• the price of crude oil 

• how much you’re buying

• which suppliers cover your area, and 

• when you buy it.

Although some of these might be out of your control, there are still a few ways you can save money on heating oil.  

When it’s time to refill your tank, ask a few suppliers for a quote, and see if there are savings to be made. You can enter your postcode at UKIFDAOpens in a new window or Liquid Gas UK to find the suppliers that cover your areaOpens in a new window

You can also go to BoilerJuice.comOpens in a new window or fueltool.co.ukOpens in a new window to get a price. Then use UKIFDA or Liquid Gas UK to see if you can find a local supplier that’s cheaper.

If you live in Northern Ireland, you can use the Consumer Council’s Price checkerOpens in a new window to keep track of the average cost of heating oil near you. 

Community buying schemesOpens in a new window are where several households group together to bulk buy energy for a discount.  If there are other houses in your area who use heating oil, find out if there’s already a community or group buying scheme available for you to join.

Find out by asking your neighbours or posting a question in local Facebook groups or on Nextdoor the neighbourhood networking website and appOpens in a new window Buying your heating oil in larger quantities can mean lower prices for members, however it might be more difficult to start your own club. 

If you can, try and bulk buy your heating oil during the summer. There’s more demand for it when the weather is colder so prices can go up.

Heating oil tanks can fill with sludge that can make them unreliable. If your tank is leaking, it’s bad for the environment and it’s a waste of money. Book in a service for your tank to try and fix any issues to avoid the expense of needing a new tank. It’s recommended that you get your heating oil tank serviced once a year and do visual checks for any problems regularly. The Heating Hub has a list of preventative maintenance checks you can make yourselfOpens in a new window

Although there’s a significant upfront cost to getting a new boiler, it should mean long-term savings on repairs and lower energy use.   

Boilers that use heating oil are usually more expensive than conventional gas boilers. However, if your boiler isn’t working properly, it might be using more fuel than necessary so it might still be worth switching. 

LPG supply has been affected by the same wholesale price rises as mains natural gas. However, there are ways to cut costs. 

If you buy LPG in bulk for a tank, compare prices from different suppliers that are available in your area if you’re out of contract and able to switch. 

If you’re tied into your current contract and can’t switch now, set yourself a reminder to shop around just before your contract ends.

If your tank is leaking, it’s not only dangerous, but wasting money. If you’re worried get in touch with a gas engineer who’s qualified to work on LPG tanks. Check if the maintenance of your tank is the responsibility of your supplier, as it might save you money on servicing and repairs. 

Although you’re not covered by the Energy Price Guarantee or some of the discounts available to people on mains gas you can find schemes, grants and benefits that will help with both the cost of bills and installing energy-saving measures.

The UK Government, Scottish Government and Welsh Governments have announced help for vulnerable households. If you’re facing immediate financial difficulties because of rising heating oil prices, contact your local authority to find out what support you can get.

You can get support from the new Crisis and Resilience fund by contacting your local council. Find your local councilOpens in a new window

If you’re on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, you could get a one-off £200 payment to help with your heating oil or LPG costs. You have six months from the scheme's launch to claim, so it's worth applying as soon as you can.

Find out how to claim on the Welsh GovernmentOpens in a new window website.

Find out what extra financial support you could get from Discretionary Assistance FundOpens in a new window

For energy-saving tips and home improvement grantsOpens in a new window, go to nest.gov.wales. 

Households struggling with the cost of oil or LPG heating can apply for £300 of support.

You might qualify if you're already receiving benefits. If you're not on benefits, you may still be eligible, for example, if you're in debt on your energy bills or have a medical condition that means you need to heat your home more. It's worth checking the full eligibility criteria to see if you qualify.

Find out how to apply and check if you're eligibleOpens in a new window on homeheatingadvice.scot.

You can contact your local council to find out what extra financial support you might get from Home Energy ScotlandOpens in a new window

You may be eligible to apply for a £100 prepaid card that can be used at heating oil supplier. You may be eligible if you are:

• receiving disability benefits 

• a pensioner household not receiving Pension Credit, with an income below £30,000

• a household with an income below £30,000 and not receiving income-related benefits. 

You may also be able to get help through the Discretionary Support scheme. Find out about Discretionary SupportOpens in a new window on nidirect.

Contact your local councilOpens in a new window or the energy officers for help, including the Affordable Warmth SchemeOpens in a new window

For energy-saving tipsOpens in a new window, check out nidirect.

For more details about other help you can claim, read our guide What to do if your energy bill is high.

Claim all the benefits you’re entitled to (especially Pension Credit or Universal Credit) because these will make it easier for you to get further help, including a Warm Home Discount worth £150 a year.

If you're struggling to pay your bills, our Help with the cost of living guide gives you lots more information about extra support available and what to do if you’re worried about keeping up with bills and payments.