Oil heating systems are clean and safe for the environment and last twice as long as other fuel systems.
Oil heating systems are a good investment for your home because they are cost-effective and very efficient, especially the newer systems. Keep reading, and we will guide you through the oil heating system and how it works.
Let’s start by dispelling some misconceptions about oil heating systems.
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Common Myths Regarding Oil Heating:
- The Environment: Most people think that oil heating is worse for the environment than other heating systems, but this is not true. Fuel oil burns a lot cleaner thanks to new technology, and it’s one of the best heating systems for the environment.
- Price: Heating oil systems are cheaper and last twice as long as other heating systems, so it’s worth the investment. You will save 5% of your fuel cost using an oil heater.
- Lifetime: Heating oil systems last about 30 years longer than propane and natural gas, which last about 11 – 14 years.
- Safety: There is a common misconception that heating oil isn’t safe, and this is entirely not true. It is very safe in its natural state, just like diesel fuel. When it is stored correctly, heating oil has no threat to an explosion, or there shouldn’t be any cause for concern.
How Oil Heat Works
There are three ways heating oil systems warm up your home; these include vents, baseboards, or radiators. The way it works is if your thermostat drops below a specific temperature, your heater gets a signal to starting warming up your home.
When the oil heats, it moves from the tank to the burner through a pump, and it becomes a warm mist mixed with the air. The fuel and air mix go into the burner, where it creates flames in the combustion chamber.
The oil heats the air or water that heats your home, depending on the type of heating system you have.
There are two types of heating oil systems you can choose from:
You can choose between a furnace and a boiler. There are differences between the two, but what they have in common is the newer model, the more efficiently it runs.
Furnace:
Modern minimum-efficiency furnaces work better and more efficiently compared to older atmospheric models. A fan takes the exhaust air through a heat exchanger.
When you heat a furnace with oil, the best ones are the newer condensing furnaces. These furnaces let less heat escape to the outside, and instead of venting the hot exhaust right away, it cools gases first. So, water vapor condenses, and exhaust travels outside through a plastic pipe on the side.
Boiler:
Hydronic boilers warm-up water, and the water travels through the house, heating everything through radiators or baseboards—cooled liquids cycles back to the boiler to reheat.
Another type of heating oil system is a steam boiler. These are less common, but after water boils, steam moves through its system and heats through radiators.
The main difference between furnaces and boilers is that furnaces use air to heat your home, and boilers use water; it’s a similar process of the heated oil keeping the system warm so that the cold air or cold water can cycle through to reheat.
Furnaces and boilers both use oil to heat, and it starts in the combustion chamber, where the oil becomes flames. Then the heat exchanger warms the gases or water that’s flowing through the system.
Oil Heating System Maintenance
The oil heater system requires maintenance, like other heaters, to ensure everything is working correctly and efficiently. First, you should clean your thermostat before the heating season starts because it helps to regulate the temperature in your home.
If you upkeep the blower and the stack parts of your oil heating system, they monitor the burner, and the upkeep with help remove particles and other debris that can slow down the function of your heater.
There are some tasks you can do, but it’s great to call in a professional and make sure everything is up and running before the winter starts. See our HVAC services today and furnace service that provides the yearly cleaning you need for your heating system.
Environmental Benefits
Oil heating systems produce clean heat, and new systems have almost zero levels of smoke and combustion debris in your home or released into the air. The EPA states that oil burners are one of the cleanest combustion sources.
Storage of the oil tanks isn’t a threat to your health or the environment and tanks that are taken care of correctly can last for many decades. Heating oil isn’t toxic; it doesn’t contain carcinogens and is biodegradable.
The environmental benefits are a great reason to invest in an oil heater system. Not only are they more cost-effective and last a long time, but you are helping the environment as well because it releases almost no smoke or debris into the air.
Call Us to Get Started
If you’re thinking about getting a new heating system, now you know all of the benefits and how an oil heating system works. The modern systems are better for the environment and will save you money in the long run.
It’s essential to get your heating system checked by a professional to make sure it works properly before the cold winter months. We are here to help you feel comfortable knowing your heating system works and won’t break down when you need it most.
Go check out your heating system or schedule a cleaning for your heating system today!
