Wood and coal boilers will be banned in Czechia in September. Switching to gas is a good choice, especially for older homes

The ban on old solid-fuel boilers takes effect as soon as September. Many people are considering what to use for heating next. While heat pumps are one option for new buildings, older homes with greater heat loss are better off opting for a cheaper gas boiler. Around 60 % of buildings in Czechia were built before 1990. Compared with other heating sources, gas offers an attractive combination of an affordable purchase price, lower running costs and reduced emissions.

From this September, a ban on using old solid-fuel boilers will take effect in the Czech Republic. These are among the largest local sources of air pollution. Specifically, the ban will apply to their use in all buildings intended for residential purposes. Any boiler in emissions classes 1 and 2 that fails to meet the minimum emissions requirements set by regulation will have to be replaced. Estimates suggest the ban will affect 150,000 to 220,000 households in practice. Violators face a fine of 50,000 crowns. For households looking for a replacement for their old boilers, switching to a reliable and safe gas boiler is an affordable and technically accessible solution.

Demand for new gas boiler connections is growing. People should apply to connect to the network as soon as possible. Processing all the necessary paperwork can take several months.

“We are prepared for increased interest in gas. The level of gas coverage in Czechia is among the highest in Europe. The gas network reaches almost every town with more than 2,000 inhabitants,” says Ivo Jirovský, Director of Development and Distribution Network Management at GasNet.

In addition to the ban on old boilers, the development of natural gas prices is also contributing to increased demand. After more sources of natural gas became available to Europe, prices have been falling over the long term. They have returned to levels seen three years ago.

Don’t delay—you’ll save

A gas boiler is the most economical heating source for older buildings with greater heat loss. Around 60 % of buildings in Czechia were built before 1990, and it is often their owners who will have to deal with replacing their boiler in the coming months.

Gas boilers are also attractive because of their relatively low purchase price. Compared with electric heat pumps, a gas boiler, including the connection, can cost a household up to six times less. People also prefer gas to pellet boilers because it is reliable and easier to operate and maintain.

“It is important to start switching to gas as soon as possible. Demand is growing, and preparing a connection to the distribution system takes several months,” warns David Lochman, GasNet’s connection specialist, adding: “Connecting a new point of consumption that requires the construction of gas infrastructure may seem like a fairly complex technical process. That is why we are here. We help customers resolve any complications.”

Europe is counting on gas for heating

At the beginning of this year, some media outlets reported inaccurate information that it would no longer be possible to buy or operate a gas boiler from 2029. The Czech Gas Association (ČPS) pointed out that this was a gross misinterpretation of one of the European Commission’s proposals, and that no ban on gas boilers is planned for 2029.

“The European Commission’s proposal is not aimed at banning gas boilers or heating buildings with natural gas. The Commission’s proposal focuses on the efficiency of new gas boilers. Under the proposal, the efficiency of these appliances would have to increase compared with today’s condensing boilers. The conditions for achieving this are still to be discussed, and the proposal has not yet been approved,” says Josef Kotrba, Executive Director of ČPS.

European plans envisage not only heating homes with natural gas, but also with renewable biomethane and hydrogen.

More information is available at plynovodnipripojka.cz.