Oilheat is a great fuel for heating. It is safe to use and store. The supply chain is well established, and the supply itself is plentiful. Oilheat is delivered by independent companies like Alger Oil & Propane that compete aggressively for business.
Safety in the Home
Nothing beats the safety record of Oilheat. The fuel's composition is very different from that of either gasoline or natural gas. For example, Oilheat cannot even burn in a liquid state, and it is not explosive. In order to burn heating oil, you must heat it above 140 degrees - the temperature at which it begins to vaporize. That's why you can store a substantial supply of Oilheat on your property without risk or regulation. In contrast, when natural gas leaks, even at room temperatures, an explosive mixture of air and fuel forms rapidly, which can be dangerous.
Better Carbon Monoxide Safety
Oil is also safer than natural gas when it comes to carbon monoxide emissions. When an oil burner malfunctions, it usually creates a great deal of smoke, which serves as a warning signal. On the other hand, natural gas creates carbon monoxide first, then smoke second, and sometimes there is no warning at all. 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.
Environmental Benefits
The environmental impact from using home heating oil is minimal - much lower than the alternatives, especially electric heat and wood. Oilheat burns cleanly now, and it will be even cleaner in the years ahead. The Oilheat industry is working with environmental regulators to replace today's Oilheat with newer formulations known as Ultra-Low Sulfur Heating Oil. With virtually no sulfur content (15 parts per million maximum), these new fuels generate cleaner emissions and reduce maintenance requirements for Oilheat systems. Ultra-Low Sulfur Heating Oil is expected to replace traditional Oilheat within a few years, and its use is currently mandated in several states. A blend of Ultra-Low Sulfur Heating Oil that contains 12 percent biodiesel (or more) has lower combustion emissions than natural gas. The combination of Oilheat with renewable biodiesel is referred to as Bioheat® fuel.
Renewability
Heating Oil can be blended with biofuel to incorporate a renewable component and reduce demand for petroleum. Heating manufacturers officially recognize B5 (5 percent biodiesel, 95 percent heating oil) as Bioheat® fuel, and research indicates that higher biofuel blends are also compatible with current Oilheat equipment. Biofuel usage supports U.S. agriculture as well as the nation's growing alternative fuel industry. As Bioheat® fuel blends enter the mainstream, homeowners will gradually transition to renewable, alternative fuels without having to change their heating equipment.
Independent Storage
Oil-heated homes have their own fuel supply safely stored on the premises. As long as there is oil in the tank, the heating system can warm the home. This is very different from homes heated by natural gas, which depend on the constant availability of an underground pipeline to keep the heat on. In the event of a pipeline problem, gas heat is lost until the service is restored, which can lead to serious damage from cold weather, including burst pipes.
Full Service
Oilheat customers can consolidate all their home comfort services with Alger Oil & Propane. This is a tremendous convenience because you can rely on our company for all of your home comfort needs. Gas heat customers generally have to buy their fuel from a utility and then hire a separate company for service.
Customer Choice
Oilheat is sold and delivered by independent companies such as Alger Oil & Propane. Most customers have numerous companies to choose from, and the companies compete aggressively for their business. Companies compete on price and service, and customers reap the benefits. Most gas utilities are sheltered from competition, and customer service suffers as a result.
Dependability
Oilheat is derived from crude oil that is drawn from wells in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and many other countries. In fact, the majority of heating oil sold in America is refined right here in the U.S. Plus, the fossil fuel component of heating oil is now supplemented by domestically grown, plant-based biofuels that are renewable. Researchers are developing technologies to extract biofuel from non-food plants such as algae to ensure a plentiful, cost-effective supply.
Efficiency
Oilheat has always been the efficiency leader. Heating efficiency is the amount of usable heat extracted from the potential energy of the fuel. If a heating system is 85 percent efficient, 85 cents of every dollar you spend goes to heat your home and hot water. Efficiencies of new oil equipment range from 85 percent to 95 percent. Electric resistance heat and electric water heaters are between 27 percent and 31 percent efficient.
