Decide on your next heating before the old boiler breaks
When a boiler fails you have to replace it in a hurry; deciding early lets you insulate first and choose a heat pump, a hybrid or a heat network rather than another fossil boiler.
Flanders · Subject to change
Sources checked on · next check by . Check the source before you act.
The Flemish government's advice is simple: don't wait until your boiler fails to think about alternatives to oil or gas. A boiler that breaks down has to be replaced quickly, which leaves no time to insulate first or compare options.
Follow the usual order: insulate, move to low-temperature heating, then choose a heat pump or heat network. If the house isn't well insulated yet, a hybrid heat pump, which works with a gas boiler, can bridge the gap. A condensing gas boiler is still possible where there is a gas connection. The Warmtepompklaar tool and an installer's assessment help you decide.
Rules are moving away from fossil heating. Since 1 July 2025, replacing a gas boiler carries 21% VAT instead of 6%, while heat pumps in renovations stay at 6%. Oil boilers are restricted since 2022. Check the official page for the current rules.
Details
| Impact | Not rated · The cited sources don't give a size for this saving, so we don't guess. How we rate impact |
|---|---|
| Estimated saving | Not quantified; the official comparison rates a heat pump best for climate and future-readiness and most expensive to install. (confidence: low) |
| Who acts | You (owner) |
| Needs landlord's agreement | No |
| Type | Action |
Do this together with
Sources
- Verwarming met warmtepomp of warmtenet (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on
- Tijdelijke oplossingen voor de verwarming van bestaande woningen (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on
- Stap 3, overweeg een warmtepomp of warmtenet (in Dutch) · Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be) (official source) · checked on