Sales of gas boilers are up 15% since the start of the year, according to the French Building Federation. A dynamic which can be explained in particular by the drop in gas prices.
Sales of gas boilers are on the rise again. Installations have jumped 15% since the start of the year, according to the French Building Federation. A surprising dynamic, but their more affordable prices compared to heat pumps and the reduction in gas prices help to convince buyers who need to replace their old boiler.
It’s a good year for Stéphane Jouglas, a heating engineer in Bordeaux, who has had more work than usual. He too has seen more requests for the installation of gas boilers. “That’s about 15% more boilers than in 2023,” he says.
An increase observed everywhere in France, while the gas boiler market has fallen by 40% since 2021 according to the specialized company Vaillant. With an explanation according to Stéphane, the price of raw materials.
“Gas has gone down while electricity has gone up. So, people have fallen back a bit on gas boilers,” he says.
Longevity that appeals
Next to it, the heat pump struggles to convince. And it is even less and less attractive according to the French Fuel Federation, while the State encourages this system with aid. But it is still too expensive, and not as reliable as the good old gas boiler, in the eyes of customers.
“What we feel is that they have very good knowledge of their current system, therefore gas boilers, with a durability that is often long. Their fear is to have systems that are more technological and therefore have a shorter lifespan,” explains Benjamin Dugers, installer.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, 40% of households still heat with gas in France.
Pierre Bourgès with Guillaume Descours
Swiss
