Whether you’ve just moved into a new home that relies on heating oil or you’re thinking of making the big switch, getting your head around heating oil can be difficult. While the majority of households in the UK are connected to the mains gas grid, there are around four million that are not. These households instead rely on different heating systems and methods, with one of the most common being domestic heating oil (kerosene).

Natural gas is the most widely-used heating fuel in the UK, however, there are lots of different types of fuels available for heating homes, including oil, electricity, LPG, coal-based solid fuels and biomass (wood). Different fuels vary in different ways and each one offers its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Natural gas is most commonly used to heat homes across the UK because it is piped directly to homes – however, those that are not on the national grid need to find alternative heating fuels.

With domestic fuel bills rising, many people across the UK are looking for more energy-efficient ways to heat their properties. In this article, we’re going to take a look at alternative heating fuels, with a strong focus on one of the most popular alternative heating fuels of all, kerosene.

Kerosene heating oil

Heating oil is one of the most common fuels used to heat homes that aren’t connected to the national grid. If you use heating oil to heat your property, you’ll need to place a physical order each time you need to top your tank up, unlike gas or electricity which appears in your home through the mains network. Or you can join our Never Run Out Programme where we take the stress out of remembering to order your heating oil.

Here are the advantages of using heating oil:

Safe

Kerosene is safe to use indoors; as it is not readily combustible in its natural liquid state, an explosion is extremely unlikely. It’s a clean oil to burn and doesn’t contain any recognised cancer causing agents, making it safe to use and a clean option for family homes. Heating oil is also one of the more environmentally friendly heating fuel options.

Efficient

If you’re looking for an efficient way to heat your home, heating oil is a great option. As it burns at a higher temperature than gas, kerosene is far more powerful at heating water supplies, and you can expect your home to warm up quickly and efficiently for shorter amounts of time. Not only is this great for cutting back on how much oil you use, but it can also do your heating bills wonders too.

Inexpensive

Kerosene isn’t expensive to produce and therefore it’s affordable to purchase. There are lots of ways you can reduce the costs of your heating oil too, such as buying it at the right time of year and purchasing in bulk to save some pennies down the line.

Flexible

When you choose to heat your home with heating oil, you can rest assured that there are a variety of payment options to choose from, including direct debits, regular installments and lump sum payments. As the costs of heating oil regularly fluctuate, you can choose a payment plan that suits your needs and financial requirements.

Wide range of heating oil suppliers

When you use electricity or gas to heat your home, it’s difficult to build a good relationship with your supplier as they’re typically distant and you’re more likely to get through to a call centre than a person. When you buy oil, you can rest assured that there are plenty of independent fuel distributors you can work with. Opting for a local company with smaller customer numbers ensures you can build rapport with the company and they can tailor their services to meet your needs.

LPG

LPG stands for liquid petroleum gas. Lots of people aren’t sure what LPG is, but it’s one of the choices available when it comes to heating your home or business. LPG is similar to natural gas, but it’s made of a different chemical compound. Unlike natural gas, LPG is made of propane or butane; it’s a gaseous material, but often stored under pressure to turn it into a liquid.

Here are some of the advantages of using LPG:

Environmentally friendly

LPG produces less carbon emissions when burned than other types of heating options, making it a more environmentally friendly fuel. LPG is a cleaner energy source than other solid fuels such as coal. Although LPG isn’t completely “green”, it does produce less carbon emissions than other home heating systems.

Easy to maintain

LPG is a clean fuel to burn. This type of heating fuel doesn’t produce any byproducts such as soot, and therefore it requires less maintenance and is easy to use to heat your home. In the event of a spill, LPG won’t cause contamination to water or the environment. Tanks can also be stored underground to keep them hidden and out of sight, improving the aesthetic of your home or business.

Versatile

LPG is a versatile fuel, making it suitable for busy households. While other types of heating fuels can only be used by your boiler, LPG can also be used to fuel an oven or a hob, making it a versatile option for homeowners.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy is becoming an increasingly popular choice for home heating. With numerous health and environmental benefits, renewable energy is a good option for those wanting to do their bit for the environment. Here are a few of the advantages of using renewable energy over fossil fuels.

Won’t run out

As renewable energy technologies use resources straight from the environment to generate power, you can rest assured that it won’t ever run out – something that can’t be guaranteed when using other types of heating fuels which use fossil fuels. Energy sources for renewable energy include sunshine, wind, biomass and tides.

Health and environmental benefits

Renewable energy sources emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air, meaning they have a smaller carbon footprint than other types of heating methods. When you choose to use renewable energy, you’re effectively helping to decrease the prevalence of pollutants and contributing to an overall healthier planet.

Save money

Using renewable energy can also help you save some money in the long run too. Renewable energy technologies require less overall maintenance, meaning you’ll save on maintenance costs over time – but they also offer low operating costs too. As you’re using a technology that generates power from the sun, wind and other natural processes, you don’t have to worry about paying to refuel. This can save you lots of money over time.

Moorland Fuels: Heating Fuel Delivery Service in Devon

At Moorland Fuels, we’re a fully independent fuel distributor sourcing quality products at the most competitive prices. We supply domestic, farming and industrial customers with high-quality fuels. If you’re looking for reliable kerosene delivery for your home, you needn’t look further than us. We believe that managing your heating oil delivery should be a simple and stress-free process, which is why we offer automatic top-up and planned fuel delivery services.

To learn more about us and how we can help heat your home with heating oil today, visit our website.