The Recent Evolution of Heating Oil
Did You Know the Oil in Your Tank Burns Cleaner Than Ever?
What do you picture when you think of heating oil? For a lot of people, an image of thick, black, toxic sludge comes to mind. FYI—That’s an outdated and inaccurate idea of today’s heating oil!
Over the last few decades, technological advances in the way heating oil is refined has resulted in fuel that burns nearly 95% cleaner than it did in the 1970s. As a result, the heating oil in your tank burns so cleanly, producing such negligible emissions that the Federal Clean Air Act doesn’t even regulate it anymore.
These improvements in refining processes have produced ultra-low sulfur heating oil that’s much better for the environment. In fact, ultra-low sulfur heating oil has been mandated in New Jersey since 2010 and in New York since 2012. But this clean-burning fuel offers plenty of benefits for customers, too. The quality of the oil in your tank has a big impact on how efficiently your system runs, how long your equipment lasts—and how much fuel you need to burn to keep your home comfortable.
Improved Efficiency Helps You Save
Heating oil is already more cost-efficient than natural gas in terms of Btu content. You need to burn about 40% more natural gas to receive the heating equivalent of heating oil. Cleaner oil burns even more efficiently—helping to keep heating costs down even more! Ultra-low sulfur heating oil also opens the door to super-efficient heating systems, which can increase the advantages of heating oil over natural gas even further. Research conducted by the Energy Research Council & Brookhaven National Laboratory found fuel savings as high as 48.3% when outdated equipment is replaced with a new, high-efficiency boiler.
With more unpredictable winter weather, it’s one more reason more people are sticking to oil.
Protecting Your Investment
Cleaner fuel also protects your investment in your heating equipment and helps it last longer. Less sulfur means less build-up in your equipment and your storage tank. That translates to fewer breakdowns and lower maintenance costs for you.
The average heating oil-fueled boiler or furnace should last around 30 years if it’s properly maintained—nearly double that of a typical gas furnace. Heating oil-based water heaters also boast faster recovery rates. For example, a unit powered by heating oil will recover up to twice as fast as a water heater powered by natural gas, and more than three times as fast as an electric-powered water heater.
If you’re looking for a full-service company for prompt heating oil delivery, plus expert installation, maintenance and repair services in Northern New Jersey and Lower New York State, look no further than Bolkema! Contact us for more information today. We’re standing by, and ready to help you.