Oil heat Is Clean Heat
When properly adjusted and maintained, Oil heat systems create no observable soot, dirt or odors in the home. They release almost no smoke or combustion residue up the chimney.
Emissions from residential gas, propane and oil burners are all at about the same low level.
While electric heat at the point of use in the home has no emissions, the power plant creating the electricity may give off 10 times more particulate matter (smoke and soot), depending on the fuel used to power the generator.
Heating Oil Supply Is Reliable and Secure
Oil companies shop for crude oil, the raw material used to make heating oil, all over the world. There are over 36 oil-producing countries. We are not dependent upon any one country or region for our supply. We enjoy an overabundance of crude oil, and world oil reserves will last for a long time.
Despite wars, embargoes, political unrest and natural disasters, Oil heat suppliers have always kept their customers warm.
The future looks bright as well. Technological advances are slashing the cost of finding, producing and refining oil. The average cost per barrel for finding and producing oil has dropped about 60% in real terms over the past ten years, while proven reserves are about 60% higher than they were in 1985.
Oil heat Has Little Impact on the Environment
The environmental impact from using home heating oil is minimal – much lower than the alternatives, especially electric heat and wood. The air pollution emissions from oil burners are insignificant, and oil storage tanks do not present a threat to the environment because heating oil is not toxic, contains no carcinogens and is biodegradable.
Oil heat Manufacturers Association has calculated the costs to society of using the various fuels. They include such things as the impact of air pollution, crop failures and the impact on fishing grounds. When all factors are considered, low-sulfur Oil heat comes out as the least damaging heating source available. It is 1% better than natural gas or propane. Oil heat is 136% better for the environment than geothermal heat pumps, and 208% better than air-to-air heat pumps. It is 516% better than electric resistance heat and electric water heaters, and Oil heat is an amazing 2,437% better for the environment than wood heat! By converting from electricity to Oil heat, you can reduce emissions by 12 tons, per home, per year! By converting an electric water heater to oil, you will save 2 tons per year!
Oil heat Is Safe
Heating oil is nonexplosive. In fact, it will not burn in a liquid state. In order to light oil on fire, you must heat it above 140°F, the temperature at which it begins to vaporize. In contrast, when natural gas or propane leaks, even at room temperatures, an explosive mixture of air and fuel forms rapidly, which can be dangerous.
Oil is also safer when it comes to carbon monoxide emissions. When an oil burner malfunctions, it usually creates a great deal of smoke before it creates carbon monoxide. The smoke serves as a warning signal. On the other hand, natural gas and propane create carbon monoxide first, smoke second. There is no warning.
Regardless of the type of fuel you use, a carbon monoxide detector should be installed in every home, and every heating system should be inspected regularly by a qualified heating technician.
Heating Oil Tanks Provide Security
With Oil heat, customers have a supply of fuel oil safely stored in a tank on their property. They have control of their heat. There is no need to worry about the weather, pressure drops in the gas pipeline, broken gas mains or malfunctioning gas pressure reducing valves.
Because heating oil is safe, the oil tank can be located anyplace that's convenient – garage, basement, underground or next to the home. (Propane tanks need to be located 50 feet from the home.)
In the U.S., all underground residential heating oil storage tanks, regardless of size, are exempt from federal and most state regulations because the government found that these tanks do not present a threat to human health or the environment.
Oil heated Homes Are Cozy
Comfort is the benefit Oil heat users enjoy the most. They find Oil heated homes to be cozier than gas- or electric-heated homes. Oil heat produces higher air temperature in the home than heat pumps. This keeps people warmer. It is hard to determine all of the factors that make Oil heated homes more comfortable. They just seem to have a nice cozy feeling.
Oil heat Is the Choice That Offers a Choice
Oil heat companies are independent, and they compete aggressively for their customers' loyalty.
Gas and electric utilities have always been state-regulated monopolies. They have had no competition from other gas and electric companies. The government guaranteed them a profit. They are much larger that the Oil heat companies. Oil heat Industry surveys indicate that the utilities tend to be bureaucratic and unresponsive toward their customers. A utility industry executive admitted that utilities count meters, and oil dealers count customers.
It is true that some states are starting to decontrol electric and gas, but it will take a long time for that to happen, and even longer for the former monopolies to learn how to compete as Oil heat companies do with their famous "I'll be right over" service.
With all the important benefits provided by Oil heat, it is easy to understand why over 14 million homes and businesses across North America rely on oil powered heat and hot water.
Oil heat Is the Choice for Energy Conservation
The Oil heat Industry has an impressive record of helping our customers conserve energy. We provided a positive response to the oil embargoes of the 70s. Local Oil heat companies worked closely with their customers to help them conserve energy. Oil heat equipment manufacturers improved the efficiency of oil burners and heating equipment. The results are impressive. In 1973, it took 1,294 gallons of oil to heat the average home. Today, the average Oil heat homeowner uses 833 gallons.
Thanks to conservation measures and the increased efficiency of new Oil heat equipment, Oil heat customers today use 6 billion fewer gallons of oil a year than they did in the 1970s. The Oil heat Industry continues to search for ways to conserve even more energy in the future.
Oil heat Is an Excellent Investment
If you are buying a new home, you can assure yourself of a reliable, economical heat supply by choosing a home with a modern Oil heat system. You can also reduce your heating bills by converting your present home from electric, natural gas, propane or wood heat to Oil heat. Since heating oil prices are typically 2.5 to 5.5 times lower than electricity prices, converting electric resistance heat, heat pumps and electric water heaters to oil is an especially good way to reduce your home heating costs.
If you own an older Oil heat system, you can upgrade it with a new oil burner, furnace or boiler. You can enjoy considerable savings and the luxury of unlimited hot water by replacing your electric or gas water heater with an oil-powered water heater system.
These conversions and upgrades can often return your investment costs in one or two years, and continue to provide you handsome tax-free returns on your investment year after year.
Oil heat Is Economical
Oil heat is significantly less expensive than electric heat and propane. From 1987 to 1995, the average prices of oil and natural gas in the United States were comparable. The average price for oil has been lower than gas since 1995. Oil is now also cheaper than gas in most of Canada.
The best way to compare energy prices in your market is to look at the price per unit of heat value. Scientists measure heat value in British Thermal Units or BTUs for short. A BTU is the amount of energy required to raise one pound of water one degree F. It is about the heat of a birthday candle flame.
- Heat Oil has 138,690 BTUs per gallon.
- Natural Gas has 1,030 BTUs per cubic foot.
135 cubic feet equals the heat content of one gallon of oil.
- Kerosene has 131,890 BTUs per gallon.
1.05 gallons equals the heat content of one gallon of oil.
- Propane has 91,500 BTUs per gallon.
1.52 gallons equals the heat of one gallon of oil.
- Electricity has 3,413 BTUs per kilowatt-hour (kwh).
40.6 kwh equals the heat content of one gallon of oil.
- Wood: One full cord of wood has the heat value of 95 gallons of oil.
- Anthracite coal has 12,000 BTUs per pound.
About 12 pounds equals the heat content of one gallon of oil.
When comparing the unit costs for the various fuels, remember to include any taxes and meter or service charges the gas or electric companies add to the bill.
Energy prices can vary widely. Your full-service Oil heat dealer can help you compare energy prices in your area and calculate your potential savings with Oil heat.
The Oil heat Future
Recent innovations in oil heating equipment including burners, controls and heat distribution systems design offer important opportunities for cost savings, lower air emissions and other performance improvements.
New Oil heat employs very sophisticated technology to achieve its incredible reliability, efficiency and safety. The Oil heat equipment being developed in our research facilities will ensure Oil heat's advantages over other fuels well into the future.
Oil heat is Safe, Efficient, Economical, Clean, Environmentally Friendly, Convenient, Dependable, Comfortable, Reliable and Secure. It improves your family's quality of life. Oil heat is the fuel of the future!
This consumer information is from a pamphlet prepared by the Oil heat Manufacturers Association (OMA). Technical reference to information herein is located in the OMA publications: Oil Heat Advantages Project, issued May 1995, and The Benefits of Oil Heat booklet issued in the summer of 1999.
Look us up at www.oma-oilheat.org.
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