When the weather is cold outside, it’s important to make sure your home is warm inside. Living in a cold and draughty property can impact your health and make living uncomfortable, which is why it’s essential you ensure your heating system is in top working order before the cold weather sets in.

The majority of households in the UK are connected to the mains gas grid. However, there are around four million that are not, and these properties instead rely on heating oil to warm up their homes. Whether you’re moving into a new property that requires heating oil or you’re simply wondering what heating oil is and the different benefits, we’ve put everything you need to know into this guide.

If you have a household that is not connected to the main gas grid, you could benefit from using domestic heating oil, saving money and ensuring you stay warm and cosy all year round.

What is kerosene?

Kerosene is the UK’s most common heating fuel for homes not connected to the main gas network. It’s a non-corrosive fuel (meaning it’s far less dangerous than other types of fuel) and can be stored for years. Kerosene is a robust, flammable liquid used worldwide to generate heat, light and power in both the domestic and commercial settings. Kerosene heating is also referred to as 28 second oil, fuel oil and lamp oil, and is a thin and clear liquid.

Benefits of domestic heating oil

There’s many reasons why people choose to heat their homes with kerosene. Below, we take a look at just a few advantages of using heating oil over gas for heating your home.

You own the tank

When you use other types of heating fuels (such as LPG gas), the tank is usually rented from the LPG supplier. While the cost of renting an LPG tank varies from supplier to supplier, it does mean you have to pay ongoing rental fees which can be an inconvenience and set you back.

When you use heating oil to heat up your home, the tank is usually bought when the heating system is installed. Paying for your tank upfront eliminates ongoing rental fees and is more convenient. It’s a good idea to double check the warranty conditions with your supplier; most oil tanks are covered by a 10 year manufacturer’s warranty.

However, it’s very rare to experience any issues with your tank. Today, almost all heating oil tanks are bunded; this makes them more secure and significantly reduces the risk of an oil spillage.

Using heating oil is highly efficient

Using an oil-based system to heat your property is highly efficient. Heating oil is more efficient and effective than natural gas and electricity; when you use heating oil for your home, you are guaranteed to get a good return for each unit of fuel you use. Heating oil burns much hotter than its counterparts and is an extremely efficient source of heat, producing more heat than a natural gas furnace in the same amount of time. Oil burns at over 70 degrees Celsius, which is hotter than electricity or natural gas. When you use oil to heat your property, your home will warm up more quickly, providing greater efficiency.

Benefit from a regular heating oil supplier in Devon

While some people do prefer to purchase their oil from different suppliers, you can benefit from buying heating oil regularly from one supplier. Most suppliers offer various different heating oil payment plans to regular customers which helps them manage the cost of their deliveries. This can help you save money and ensure you get the best possible deal.

Many reputable companies also offer an automatic refill service; this means you don’t have to worry about calling up and reordering your fuel if you have a busy schedule or demanding job. Remembering to order your heating oil can be difficult; many companies can schedule your deliveries for you once they have established your pattern.

Heating oil is safe to use

Heating oil is non-explosive; it won’t burn in liquid state, only when it evaporates. Knowing that any leaking oil won’t explode will give you peace of mind that you and your family are safe. Although gas leaks don’t happen very often, gas can be dangerous when it comes to your health and safety. An exposed flame from a gas system can put your health at risk or even cause significant damage. Gas can also produce invisible fumes which can be impossible to detect, putting you at further risk.

Using heating oil is much safer and does not have the same level of risk attached. In contrast with gas systems, issues with oil-based systems can be detected easily and quickly, ensuring any problems can be rectified immediately. This will give you additional peace of mind that your system is safe and you’re not at risk.

Previously, fuel oil systems produced a lot of smoke and soot. Because of this, oil heating was given a bad name and many people believed it was an unsuitable heating source. However, today heating oil burns 95% more efficiently than it did years ago and is now a clean burning fuel source.

Take advantage of the varying prices

The price of heating oil fluctuates on a daily basis – however, you can use this to your advantage. You can buy heating oil when you think the price is right and you can stock up when you know you’re getting a good deal or a low price. There are many different factors that can affect the cost of heating oil, however, recent years have seen a drop in the price of oil for home heating.

The drop in cost coupled with the effective efficiency of the system makes heating oil a fantastic option for those looking to save some money. If you’re looking for value for money, we recommend using heating oil to heat up your property.

Heating oil systems have a long lifespan

Heating oil systems last a long time; when you invest in an oil-based system you can rest assured it will last for years to come. In fact, a heating oil system can last up to 30 years if you maintain it correctly. Homeowners who use a gas or propane system may find themselves having to replace the system every 15 years or so; not only is this costly, but it can be highly inconvenient too. With correct maintenance, there are no risks of storing oil in your home.

Moorland Fuels: fully independent fuel distributor in Devon

At Moorland Fuels, we pride ourselves on our fuel delivery service. We supply industrial, farming and domestic customers with the fuel they need at competitive prices, as well as install, clean and replace oil tanks throughout Devon and East Cornwall. As a local, independent and family-run business, we pride ourselves on our excellent reputation and customer service. We have a full range of fuels, lubricants and oil tanks for your needs. If you’re looking for kerosene in Devon, you needn’t look further than us.

During the cold winter months, we consider ourselves the fifth emergency service, providing customers with an efficient heating oil delivery when they need it. Our range of payment plans makes dealing with us as simple and straightforward as possible. Our Direct Debit program helps our customers spread the cost of fuel payments, ensuring there are no unexpected bills and you can manage your payments.

For more information about our services, visit our website today.