The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) announced in March 2022 that stock levels and availability were good for a number of industrial products, despite rising demand in the first few months of the year. Boilers were identified as one of the key products experiencing supply chain issues and delays1.
The CLC also noted that the Russian invasion of Ukraine could lead to uncertainty over the rising cost of components and associated supply issues1. Some UK boiler manufacturers were experiencing electricity fluctuations of up to 300% daily in 2022, which had a knock-on effect on productivity in the winter months of that year1.
The supply chain problems in 2022 came alongside other pressures: transport delays affecting the import of raw materials and products, with some merchants reporting that only 25% of goods turn up on time; increased demand for solar panels and renewable energy products; shortages of certain materials such as barrier pipe and glass; and price inflation and the rising cost of living1.
Supply chains returned to normal in 2023, with availability increasing by 20% in January 2023 compared with the same time the previous year1.
The disruption sat within a market where 23 million homes in the UK have a gas boiler supplying central heating and hot water, and 80% of boilers sold in the UK are combination heat and water boilers1. Over two-thirds (78%) of UK residents use gas central heating to heat their homes; the next most popular options are electric storage heaters and oil central heating, both with a 5% share1.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| UK homes with a gas boiler | 23 million1 |
| Share of boilers sold that are combi | 80%1 |
| Households using gas central heating | 78%1 |
| Households using electric storage heaters | 5%1 |
| Households using oil central heating | 5%1 |
On costs, a typical gas boiler replacement including thermostatic radiator valves was put at around £4,000, with the equivalent for an oil boiler around £4,7001. A new boiler alone could be bought for as little as £500, though this excludes installation and any additional work1. Budget boilers were given as £500 to £900, with premium models starting around £1,3001. A 24-30kW boiler was described as suitable for a home with up to three bedrooms, while larger houses require 35kW or more1.
Why it matters for households
A named shortage of boilers is a supply-side risk that reaches the household through lead times and price rather than through any change in the gas itself. When availability tightens, a replacement that would normally be a same-week job can stretch, and the cost of parts and labour can move with it. For a household weighing up whether to repair or replace, the practical question is how long a home can go without heating and hot water, and what a delay does to the total bill.
The figures above show how concentrated UK home heating is: 23 million homes on gas boilers, and 78% of residents using gas central heating1. That concentration means a disruption to boiler supply is felt across a very large share of homes at once, and it also shapes what a household can fall back on. Electric storage heaters and oil each account for 5% of homes1, so alternatives are not evenly distributed.
Supply chain pressure also interacts with the rules and support around heating. Any new-build property is required to have a 31% reduction in its carbon footprint under the 2022 adjustment to Building Regulations for Heating Systems1. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme launched on 1 April 2022 with funding approved up until 20251, and grants are administered differently across the nations, with separate routes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
What happens next
The CLC's March 2022 assessment is the dated point in this account. Availability was reported as having increased by 20% in January 2023 compared with a year earlier, which the statistics describe as supply chains returning to normal1. No further CLC assessment of boiler availability is given in the reported figures.
Sources1 cited
- UK boiler statistics 2023 - Uswitch, uswitch.com