Today, homeowners have more options than ever before for staying warm in the Eastern Panhandle’s frigid winter months. Roach Energy’s team talks to folks every day who are considering whether they should stick with their current oil-powered home heating option or convert to a different energy source altogether.
Of course, every household is different, but switching to a new home heating source can require a large upfront investment. And the time it takes to defray those costs can be long. Besides, there are still fantastic benefits to keeping your home warm with heating oil. Here are a few of the top reasons to use oilheat.
Heating oil ranks highly in terms of heat energy production. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, one gallon of heating oil can generate an impressive 138,500 Btu (British thermal units) of heat. How does this compare to other common heating sources? To produce the same amount of heat, you would need to consume approximately 134 cubic feet of natural gas or 41 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
When you warm your home with heating oil, you have control over your on-site fuel supply, avoiding reliance on a natural gas utility prone to infrastructure-related system outages. With a reliable provider like Roach Energy, your heating oil tank remains adequately filled.
For safe home comfort, heating oil is an excellent option. It won’t explode in liquid form. Even if a lit match were dropped into a bucket of heating oil, it would extinguish. Combustion requires vaporization at temperatures above 140°.
Today’s heating oil equipment includes mechanisms to reduce carbon monoxide risk, with safety systems that shut down the equipment and alert you to combustion issues.
The immense heat energy from heating oil is only as good as the equipment’s efficiency. Fortunately, modern oil-fired boilers and furnaces boast exceptional fuel efficiencies, often in the 90% range. This ensures you receive optimal heating for your home with minimal fuel wastage. Compared to the 1970s, oil-heated homes today use about 500 fewer gallons of heating oil annually.
Furthermore, the efficiency of heating oil extends beyond home heating. By pairing an indirect-fired water heater with a high-efficiency oil-fired boiler, you can enjoy long-lasting and cost-effective hot water. Together, these advancements contribute significantly to energy savings.
Today’s eco-friendly heating oil means no more worrying about soot and black smoke. Modern heating oil has only 15 ppm of sulfur, improving air quality.
Many heating oil products also incorporate biofuels made from renewable resources such as used cooking grease, algae, and plant oils, including soybean, sunflower and corn. The incorporation of biofuel slashes greenhouse gas emissions while reducing wear on your burners, which can also cut maintenance costs.
In Berkeley, Morgan, Jefferson, and Washington counties, Roach Energy helps homeowners get the most out of today’s advanced heating oil. Contact us today if you want to discuss upgrading your oilheat equipment.
