Gadgets
Gadgets that save you oil
Sourced, honest guides to the kit that genuinely cuts how much oil your home burns — no fake reviews, no star ratings, just what works with an oil boiler and what it costs.
Best smart heating controls for an oil boiler
What actually works with an oil boiler + hot-water cylinder, what it costs, and the SEAI €700 grant catch most sites get wrong.
Oil tank level monitors, explained
How they work, why dipping the tank and float gauges let you down, and whether one's worth it for an Irish oil home.
Pipe Lagging for Oil Heating: A Quick, Cheap Win
Lag the hot pipes between your oil boiler and cylinder so the heat reaches your taps, not the hot press. Cost per metre, what to buy, and how to do it.
Read →Do Radiator Reflector Panels Actually Work?
An honest look at radiator foil for Irish homes: where it saves, where it won't, and how much you'd really notice on your oil bill.
Read →Draught-Proofing in Ireland: Where to Start, What It Saves
Cheap fixes for doors, windows and unused chimneys that stop draughts and save heating oil. DIY vs fitted, with rough savings for Irish homes.
Read →Heating Controls vs a New Boiler: Which Saves More Oil?
Before you spend thousands on a new boiler, see why upgrading your heating controls often saves more oil per euro, and how the SEAI grant helps.
Read →Smart Radiator Valves (TRVs) for an Oil Boiler: Worth It?
Room-by-room heating control on an oil and cylinder system. What smart TRVs actually do, what they don't, and the real savings for an Irish home.
Read →Do Cylinder Lagging Jackets Save Oil? The Cheapest Win
An 80mm cylinder jacket is one of the cheapest ways an oil home cuts heat loss. Here's the rough cost, the real saving, and how to fit one yourself.
Read →What actually cuts your oil use
Not every “smart home” gadget helps an oil-heated home. The ones that move the needle do one of two things — make the boiler fire only when it's needed, or stop heat leaking out. The biggest wins:
- Smart heating controls & zoning. Heat the rooms you're in, when you're in them — the single biggest controllable saving (and the SEAI €700 grant).
- Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs). Set each room's temperature so the boiler isn't overheating empty rooms.
- A hot-water cylinder jacket & pipe lagging. A ~€29 jacket pays for itself in weeks — heat stays in the water, not the hot press.
- Draught-proofing. Stops the warm air your oil paid for leaking back out the doors, windows and an unused chimney.
Our smart heating controls guide covers the first two in detail — more guides on the way.