10 Things You Should Know About Using an Oil Boiler

At Oil 4 Wales we know how important it is to look after your home, and that includes your heating, too!

If you’re new to using an oil boiler, it might be a little intimidating. However, it’s nothing to be afraid of! Here are 10 things consumers should know about using an oil boiler as a heating solution.

If you live in Wales, you know that the cold is no joke. This past winter, a wave of chilly weather swept across Europe. Schools closed, traffic came to a halt, and some seminarians took to the streets to have snowball fights.

And temperatures hovered around freezing and got as low as 15 degrees Celsius.

Officials deemed this wave “the beast from the east.”

Why are we telling you this? You need to be prepared to brave that harsh weather when it returns to us in Wales next winter.

When deciding how to best weather the storm, considering an oil boiler is in your best interest. Before purchasing one, here are 10 things you should know about using oil boilers:

1. Water Can Accumulate in Your Tank

If you ever find water in an oil storage tank, don’t be alarmed!

Finding water in a tank isn’t uncommon. Water can accumulate in oil tanks over time. The primary culprits are condensation and rainwater.

Sometimes damage to your tank allows this water to seep inside. Other times, however, the explanation is as simple as someone forgetting to close the tank’s openings.

In any case, eliminating the water isn’t difficult. Grab a small hand pump and pump the water out. Be sure to responsibly dispose of the water at your local refuse centre since it will be contaminated.

2. You Have to Know the Capacity of Your Tank…

Some types of boilers allow homeowners to pay little attention to them. Gas boilers, for instance, require little maintenance.

You have to pay attention to your oil boilers because you must refill the tank as needed.

Don’t, however, stress out about checking it every day. Many tanks hold hundreds of gallons of oil, and people burn an average of 3 gallons per day during the peak winter months.

Checking your tank’s oil level once a week should be more than adequate.

3. And Keep Your Tank Filled

Let’s say that you know your tank’s capacity. And let’s also say that you choose not to keep it filled for whatever reason.

Depending on the time of the year, you’re setting yourself up to have a bad time. You’re increasing the chances of running out oil in the dead of winter.

If you think going a day or two without heat is no big deal, reconsider your stance. People have passed away after spending a single night without heat in freezing weather.

Fortunately, there’s an easy solution to this problem. You can pay for an auto-fill system like Apollo Infinity Automatic heating oil top-up service that will alert your heating oil provider when your oil level falls below a certain point.

At Oil 4 Wales we can install the Apollo Infinity for you!

4. Oil Boilers Are One of the Safest Ways to Heat Your Home

When some people think of oil boilers, they think of danger. The thought of dealing with a tank of oil scares them.

This fear, however, is misplaced.

Owning an oil boiler is no more dangerous than owning a gas boiler. Yes, oil is flammable, but oil leaks are only an issue if you have a poorly maintained oil tank.

So here’s a tip for anyone who’s considering an oil boiler.

Keep your tank in a suitable space that’s far away from heat sources such as stoves or candles. If you do so, potential oil leaks will be much less dangerous.

5. Effective Ways to Keep Your House Warm

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Many people rely on gas boilers and other types of heaters to keep their homes warm during the winter. Some of these people have never even considered an oil boiler because their former system works.

Here, however, is what they don’t know:

Oil boilers are one of the most effective ways to keep your house warm.

Oil’s energy potential is great. Further still, a lot of the newer oil heat systems are extremely effective.

6. They Require Some Maintenance on Your Part

If you haven’t caught on by now, we’ll just come out and say it. Oil boilers require some serious maintenance on your part.

And you don’t want to skimp on this maintenance because a poorly maintained oil boiler can cause harm to you and your family.

Having said this, here’s a short list of maintenance musts:

• Getting your tank inspected annually
• Arranging for your tank to be cleaned as needed
• Upgrading and replacing parts of your boiler

Though these tasks might sound time-consuming, routine maintenance checks are cost-effective. A well-maintained oil tank can last for up to 20 years.

7. Your Oil Boiler Can Develop Leaks

We briefly touched on oil leaks earlier. Even so, we’d like to hone in on this point a bit more.

Regardless of whether an oil leak is indoors or outdoors, it’s a major problem. An indoor oil leak can cause a fire if the oil reaches a flame. If the leak is outdoors, on the other hand, it can contaminate your water source or a neighbour’s source of water.

If you discover a leak in your oil tank, call the fire department immediately and stay away from the tank. You should also contact a professional to clean up the oil. Do not attempt to do so on your own.

8. Heating Oil Isn’t Expensive

Some people probably think heating oil is expensive. You do, after all, have to purchase new oil a couple of times per year to refill your tank.

The prices of heating oil are competitive. Heating oil dealers are competing with each other, and this competition keeps prices as low as possible. At Oil 4 Wales we are always transparent about our prices and aim to keep them as low as we can for you!

9. Your Oil Boiler Will Make You Feel More Secure

Have you ever been behind on your gas or light bill during the winter? If so, we imagine that the thought of having your gas or lights turned off terrified you.

For several owners of oil boilers, though, that fear is nonexistent. They feel as if they have more control over their home’s temperature during the winter.

They can just buy as much oil as they need when they need it.

10. They’re One of the Cleanest Heating Options

Home heating oil is more environmentally friendly than gas-powered boilers.

Home heating oil contributes 0.03 percent of all CO2 emissions. Gas-powered boilers, on the other hand, contribute 60 percent.

Consider Going with an Oil Boiler

All in all, purchasing an oil boiler is a strong investment. Oil boilers might require more maintenance, but they’re cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and keep you warm during the colder months.

For those reasons alone, homeowners should at least consider switching over to an oil boiler at some point in the future.

Have any questions or concerns about making the switch? Contact us at Oil 4 Wales today to find out more about your home heating options.

P.S. Our boiler care team is so friendly they might fix your gate at the same time as servicing your boiler, too!

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