When it comes to heating your home, you do have multiple options in terms of energy sources. Oil, gas and electricity are the most popular, and homeowners often have a hard time choosing between them. If you are thinking about using an oil heating system, you might be weighing the pros and cons. Well, there are certain misconceptions regarding heating homes with oil, which often deters homeowners from using it. However, oil is actually a great choice for heating purposes.
What makes oil suitable for heating homes?
Oil is extremely popular as a heating fuel and you can easily find heating systems that run on oil. Some of the key reasons why you might consider using oil are:
- Efficiency
Heating oil generates much more heat than natural gas. This implies that you would need a greater quantity of oil than gas to generate the same amount of heat. Essentially, this means that heating oil is a more efficient fuel. Although natural gas is cheaper, you will have to purchase less fuel if you use oil to heat your home.
- Environmental impact
A very common misconception regarding the environmental impact of heating oil is that natural gas is cleaner and using oil results in high emissions. However, heating oil is actually a clean source of energy too. Modern technologies allow heating oil to burn much cleaner than in the past, resulting in very low emissions.
- Cost
Heating systems that run on oil are relatively less expensive, which means that the upfront cost would be lower too. Heating oil itself is cheaper than it used to be about thirty years back too. Essentially, this means that installing and running an oil-based heating system would not be too expensive.
- System lifespan
The lifespan of your heating system is a major factor to consider while comparing the costs. The less frequently you need to replace it, the cheaper it is in the long run. Gas heating systems come with a lifespan of about 11 to 15 years. An oil heater, however, can last up to 30 years if you take proper care of it.
- Safety
A major characteristic of heating oil that makes it a popular choice for home heating purposes is that it is safe to use. In fact, heating oil can actually extinguish a lit match and your oil tank would not explode as long as you store the oil properly. Natural gas, on the other hand, is highly inflammable and in addition to fire hazards, also possesses the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Availability
Natural gas is not available everywhere, especially in rural areas where it would be difficult to lay the pipelines. However, you can easily get heating oil delivered to your home by a reliable heating oil company. You may purchase a bulk amount of oil at once and store it in an aboveground or underground tank.
Things to keep in mind when installing an oil heating system
If you have chosen to install an oil heat system in your home, there are certain things that you would want to keep in mind. These would help the system achieve maximum efficiency and lower your expenses. For instance, you might want to invest in a sophisticated heating system with an AFUE rating of above 90%.
Features such as smart thermostats would help to control the fuel consumption as efficiently as possible. You should also look for one of the leading suppliers of heating oil near you and make sure to purchase quality fuel. A good oil company would provide you with timely delivery of high-grade heating oil.
