About 5.5 million Americans use oil to heat their homes, with 81% of them living in the Northeast. For those households that use oil, you already know the upkeep that comes with an oil tank.
You might be wondering how to make your oil tank last longer. Perhaps you already use heating oil additives or have heard of them and wonder what exactly they do.
You can find the answers to both those questions and more by reading below.
Types of Heating Oil Additives
Heating oil additives are chemicals that help to improve the efficiency of your tank’s ignition. Putting additives in your fuel alters some of your fuel’s specifications, such as your fuel’s thickness and the temperature it needs to reach to create a spark.
There are four main types of additives for home heating oil:
- Water controller
- Biocides
- Stabilizers
- Line and oil gun cleaners
Water controller is used to control any extra water condensation that is in your tank. Biocides are used to treat microbial growth in your tank.
Heating oil stabilizers stabilize the fuel from any outside environmental factors, which can include antioxidants.
Line and oil gun cleaners clean the fuel delivery line that carries the oil from the tank to the burners. They also clean any sludge that built up over time on the bottom of the tank.
What Additives Are Used For
So, what do home heating oil additives do? First, we must look at the need for additives. The fuel you use in your home is crude oil.
The refining process of crude oil has changed for the past decades to accommodate environmental factors and the demand for low-sulfur diesel.
This change has made your fuel less stable with a high carbon residue. The chemical makeup of additives has been upgraded to assist with this change and enhance your fuel’s characteristics.
If you have any of the below issues, you could benefit from using heating oil additives:
- Oil tank freezing
- Build up of sludge
- High consumption rates
- Fuel lines clogged
How Additives Work
When your oil goes through the refining process, its characteristics change, which causes impurities to occur.
These impurities could be droplets of water, dirt, soot, and other containments that could mess with your oil tank. The more impurities in your tank, the less efficient your system will be.
Additives help to remove impurities and return your system to its efficient state. They can emulsify water droplets, which can then prevent bacterial growth.
Their chemical makeup allows them to break down dirt or soot, which can then go through your tank’s filter without getting clogged. They can also shrink contaminants, which can then burn off to be removed from your system altogether.
Common Problems Additives Fix
Are heating oil additives worth it? Here are a few problems you may be dealing with and an explanation for how additives fix them.
If you have a build-up of carbon or other chemical components, your tank’s burner nozzle may become clogged. This will prevent your tank from burning fuel efficiently, as it needs the burner nozzle for the oil spray.
Most additives have cleaning components that can help dissolve any chemical build-ups, allowing the burner nozzle to return to being efficient.
If you have excess condensation on your tank, this can lead to your tank’s internal components becoming rusty and cause bacterial growth. Because additives can emulsify water droplets, this can stop that bacterial growth.
Other additives can eliminate large quantities of water from your system, helping prevent rust if you have a larger problem.
If you experience oil gelling, it is most likely because of low temperatures. When this occurs, the oil is not able to flow as smoothly through the tank, causing problems in the tank’s nozzle, filters, and delivery line.
Anti-gelling additives can lower the oil’s temperature as it flows, which can significantly benefit those who live in places that get colder winters.
If you have a build-up of sludge on the bottom of your tank, this is a sign that your line and filters are clogged. This can stop your tank from producing as much heat as possible or even stop your tank from working at all.
Using an additive made to dissolve sludge can help your heating oil dissolve or reabsorb the sludge so it can eventually be burnt off and return your tank to its optimal efficiency.
Cons of Heating Oil Additives
The pros of healing oil additives greatly outweigh the cons, though you should be aware of the potential downfalls.
Oil additives will not remove all the water that may be affecting your system. If you use an additive and it doesn’t remove all the water you need it to, it’s best to call the professionals to get the job done right.
Also, be wary of additives that include alcohol, as this can cause other problems.
If you have a lot of sludge on your tank and you are using a line and oil gun cleaner to remove it, be aware that it could become clogged. If this occurs, calling a professional for help could prevent you from causing any damage.
No one additive is going to fix all of your tank’s issues, so you might have to use a few different additives. Though this could become pricey, it will make your tank more efficient and save you money in the long run.
Call Sperr’s for All Your Oil Needs
Now that you know all about heating oil additives, it’s time to get your tank in tip-top shape. Research what additives you need to get your tank working at its best.
Did you know that if you live in Northern Delaware or Southeastern Pennsylvania, you could be getting high-quality oil delivered to your door?
What are you waiting for? Contact Sperr’s today by calling 610-947-5558. Or, fill out a form on our website to get started!