When most people think about oil, they think about dirty, smelly, not so great for the environment liquid that’s used in their car engines and furnaces. But heating oil gets a bad rap. For starters, it’s not the thick, black substance that it’s portrayed as – it has a consistency like water and a yellowish tint like vegetable oil.
Myth #1 – Heating with oil is harmful to the environment.
The truth: When heating oil first came into use, it may not have been the most efficient and environmentally friendly product on the planet, but today’s heating oil is Ultra Low Sulfur Heating Oil (ULSHO) and it’s 95% cleaner than it was in 1970. Bioheat (a blend of biodiesel and ULSHO) is a renewable source of energy in the same category as wind and solar. Most oil companies today use a blend of Bioheat which is cleaner burning than natural gas and reduces emissions that cause acid rain, soot, greenhouse gasses, smog, and global warming.
Myth #2 – Heating with oil is inefficient.
The truth: The efficiency of your fuel is directly related to the efficiency of your heating system aka your furnace or boiler. Furnaces are a big expense so it’s not something that you replace every few years when technology gets better. In fact, many homes have furnaces that are over 20, 30, or even 40 years old. When a new furnace is installed, they will find that they are using less fuel to heat their home because the system is far more efficient at using the fuel to heat the home. Additionally, older homes may have old windows, doors, less insulation, etc. Those drafting components can also contribute to inefficiency. Today’s systems are 95% efficient – a huge upgrade from 50 years ago.
Myth #3 – Heating oil is a danger due to flammability.
The truth: It’s a common misconception that heating oil is highly flammable. One open flame near your oil tank and Boom – big explosion. However, heating oil is non-explosive. A lit match put into a container of heating oil would have the same effect as if you put that match into a container of water. It would extinguish. The boiling point of heating oil is much higher than that of natural gas, which will explode if exposed to open flame.
Myth #4 – Heating oil is more expensive than other heating fuels.
The truth: It’s no secret that just like the price of gasoline, the price of heating oil has fluctuated over time, but so do other heating fuels as well. But other factors come into play when choosing a heating system – for example, heating oil equipment is less expensive than natural gas equipment. Additionally, if you properly maintain your oil heat furnace, it will last 30 to 50 years, whereas natural gas furnaces have a much shorter life span of 12 – 15 years.
Myth #5 – Foreign trade has a huge effect on oil and its pricing.
The truth: Not only are large quantities of oil produced right here in the US, but Bioheat is 99% domestic. Crude oil is produced in 32 U.S. states and in U.S. coastal waters.
The bottom line is, today’s heating oil is better than ever. It is efficient, safe, locally sourced and renewable! Contact us for pricing today!
