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Category: Fuels

How Much Heating Oil Will I Need?

If you’ve never used home heating oil, or have moved into a different property that uses home heating oil, you might be wondering how much you’ll need. No two homes will have identical usage, but we can help you understand how much heating oil you will need to meet your usage.

 

What is the average home heating oil usage?

The average UK home will use around 2,000 litres of heating oil per year. This is equal to around 21,000 kWh of energy. If you have moved into a house that uses home heating oil, be sure to ask the previous owners for an estimate on how much heating oil they have used. It can also be helpful to ask your neighbours, as it’s likely that they will also be using heating oil for their homes.

Most domestic heating oil tanks will have a capacity of around 1,000-1,500 litres, but how quickly this is used up varies from household to household. Some factors to consider when working out how much heating oil to order are:

  • How big is the house?
  • How often will you use the heating in the house, and how many rooms need to be heated?
  • How well insulated is the house?
  • How efficient is the boiler?

 

What is the daily home heating oil usage?

The average daily heating oil usage is around 5.5 litres; this varies depending on your usage requirements and the time of year. You are more likely to use less heating oil in the summer months, however, to avoid running out in the peak winter period it can work out cheaper and easier to purchase the heating oil you’ll need to keep your home warm during the winter in advance.

 

Rural property that uses home heating oil

 

What is the average cost of using home heating oil?

The cost of home heating oil fluctuates daily, and so it is difficult to pinpoint an average price. Crude oil prices, change in demand, availability, and tax & duty rates will all have an impact on the cost of heating oil. You can check our online heating oil quote engine to see the most up to date prices.

You can spread the cost of your home heating oil with our Pay Monthly Plan to avoid large one-off payments, and you can arrange planned deliveries to make sure you don’t run out.

 

How do I make sure I don’t run out?

The best way to make sure you’re never left without heating oil is to regularly check your fuel tank levels. By joining our Priority Club, you will receive an OilFoxTM smart monitor which allows you to check how much heating oil you’ve got left from anywhere using the mobile app. You can also set up automatic alerts to let our depot know you’re running low so that we can get a delivery out to you before you run out.

 

Home Heating Oil Advice For Beginners

Adjusting to your new house after a move can be stressful, especially when the property uses a different heating system that you’re not used to. Here we will answer some questions you may have about home heating oil to help you settle into your new home.

 

What is it?

Home heating oil, also known as burning oil, is the flammable liquid oil (such as kerosene) that burns inside your boiler to heat your home’s radiators or hot water. As an alternative to mains-supplied gas, home heating oil is stored in a fuel tank, usually located in the garden of the property, which feeds into to your boiler. There are different grade heating oils on the market for you to purchase, including premium grade oils that are more efficient, produce less emissions and cost less to maintain.

 

How much do I need?

This depends on the size of your fuel tank. Standard domestic fuel tanks can hold anywhere between 1000-2500 litres of heating oil, and it can often be cheaper to buy in bulk. You can order a minimum of 500 litres from us at a time.

 

premium-heating-oil

 

 

How do I make sure I don’t run out?

Checking your heating oil usage is easy when you join our Priority Club and get a complimentary OilFoxTM smart monitor. With this useful device, you can check how much heating oil is left in your tank from anywhere using a handy mobile app.

 

How do I order?

Contact us for an instant quote for your home heating oil and arrange the delivery online. Alternatively, you can give us a ring and let a member of our expert team assist you.

 

How do I pay?

You can pay the total cost of your heating oil order by debit or credit card, either over the phone or online depending on how you order. You can also join our Planned Monthly Direct Debit plan to pay in instalments over 12 months.

 

What are bunded oil tanks?

A bunded heating oil tank is essentially a tank within a tank. The inner layer holds the heating oil and the second outer layer surrounds and protects the inner layer, acting as a fail-safe and reducing the risk of leaking or spillage.

Not all properties in the UK are connected to the national gas network and, many of those that aren’t, rely on oil to heat their homes and provide hot water.

If you’re thinking of installing an oil tank or replacing your current one, the first, and most important, decision you’ll need to make is whether you install a single-skin or bunded oil tank.

A single skin tank has one layer, while a bunded fuel tank is built with an extra layer, known as a bund layer, which protects the inner tank where the fuel is stored.

Functioning as a tank within a tank, bunded designs are far safer than single-skin tanks. The inner layer holds the oil and is enclosed in the second layer. This reduces the risk of spillages if there are any issues with the inner tank.

Do I need a bunded oil tank?

Bunded oil tanks are not only safer, but they are also a legal requirement in some scenarios, including domestic settings. For example, you will be required to store your oil in a bunded tank if:

• The tank holds over 2,500 litres of oil
• The tank vent pipes aren’t visible when the tank is being filled
• It is located within 10 meters of coastal waters or inland fresh waters, such as rivers, ponds, lakes, or streams
• It is located within 50 meters of a drinking water source
• An oil spill could run into an open drain or loose manhole cover
• An oil spill could run over hard ground and reach coastal waters, inland fresh waters, or a drinking water source
• The tank is supplying heating oil to a building other than a single-family home
• The tank is located within an Environment Agency groundwater protection zone 1
• The tank is located in close proximity to an environmental hazard.

If you use oil for heating as well as cooking, then you may need a bunded tank. Range cookers such as AGAs use around 7 litres of fuel per day, meaning you’ll need at least 2,500 litres per year on top of fuel for heating and hot water.

How do I install a bunded oil tank?

It’s important that your bunded oil tank is installed by a certified, experienced engineer, who is familiar with the latest regulations surrounding the installation of oil and fuel tanks.

If your bunded oil tank is connected to a boiler, the installation must comply with OFTEC fire regulations, including:

• The tank must be located on a non-combustible base extending at least 300mm around the exterior of the tank
• It must be a specified distance away from non-fire-rated areas of the property
• Must not be installed within 1.8m of doors, windows, or other openings
• Must be located at least 1.8m away from the flue terminals of oil-fired appliances
• Must be at least 600mm away from any trellis work or screening.

What sizes do bunded tanks come in?

Bunded oil tanks are available in a wide range of sizes. Domestic bunded tanks typically range from 650 litres to 10,000 litres. The size of the tank you need will depend on several factors, including your oil usage, the size of the property, and the space available.

What are the prices of bunded oil tanks?

The price of bunded oil tanks depends on a number of factors, including the size and manufacturer. Prices typically range from around £1,250 to £5,000 depending on your requirements.

More reasons why you need a bunded oil tank

Aside from being a legal requirement in certain scenarios, a bunded oil tank also offers many other benefits, including:

Longer warranty

Bunded tanks typically offer significantly longer warranties than single-skin tanks, generally having 10-year warranty.

Increased safety

The oil stored inside domestic heating oil tanks is valuable and, as a result, it’s not uncommon for tanks to be targeted by thieves. In fact, in 2018, there were over 25,000 fuel thefts in the UK – and the threat continues to rise as fuel costs increase.

In order to mitigate this risk, bunded oil tanks are equipped with a number of safety features, including a lockable fill point, a tank gauge, a fuel inspection hatch, and an overfill protection device.

Oil recovery

If the inner oil tank fails, the oil can be recovered from the bund layer and reused, saving money on lost fuel as well as clean-up.

Lower risk of environmental damage

Oil spills are hugely problematic for the environment, so it is crucial to minimise the risk of a spill occurring. Bunded takes offer significantly more protection against oil spills than single-skin tanks.

Cost savings

Having a bunded oil tank can allow you to enjoy significant savings on the cost of oil. The price of oil varies significantly throughout the year, so it is advisable to buy as much as possible when the price is low. Bunded tanks allow you to bulk buy and store more oil than single-skin tanks, which must be under 2,500 litres.

Rainwater protection

If water enters your oil tank, it can cause damage. And it can be difficult to detect until it causes a costly problem with your boiler or AGA.

Bunded oil tanks have been designed to keep rainwater out, as well as leaves and insects, which can block the pipes feeding your boiler.

With over 40 years of experience delivering oil for household and commercial use, we are one of the country’s leading distributors. Explore our range of bunded oil tanks here and get in touch to find out more and discuss your needs.

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Gas Oil Duty Changes

Update: 15th March 2023

Following an entitlement amendment dated from 15th March 2023, we are now able to supply rebated red diesel for the following uses:

  • Premises where the primary purpose is heating non-commercial properties but, to some extent, are used for commercial purposes. This includes accommodation used part-time for bed and breakfast and district heating networks that primarily supply non-commercial premesis
  • Arboriculture for all forms of tree work that were applicable for rebated diesel before April 2022 including machines and appliances (excluding vehicles) with a use relating to horticulture such as tending parks and gardens
  • Lifeboats and for generating heat and electricity in lifeboat stations, but not in tractors and gear used to launch and haul lifeboats from the water

What is changing with the gas oil duty changes?

In March 2021, the UK Government announced gas oil duty changes, which mean that as of the 1st April 2022 the rules on the tax relief of red diesel are changing.

The revision to the current taxation means that many sectors that use red diesel will no longer receive tax relief and will be required to switch to an alternative fuel such as white diesel (DERV), or a greener product in HVO30. Organisations previously using red diesel for commercial heating will also have the option of Prem35.

As of the 1st April 2022, many sectors will now need to use an alternative to red diesel, as they are now being forced to use a different fuel that is taxed at the standard rate for white diesel.

The laws are changing as part of the UK Governments push to achieve a net zero emissions target by 2050. The changes are to encourage the development and usage of cleaner, more sustainable fuels and while this is a positive environmental step it does present a challenge to a wide range of sectors and businesses.

Many businesses may have assessed their usage and planned their transition to an alternative following the gas oil duty changes, but we are aware that there are others that are unsure of whether they remain exempt or not and what the financial implications are to their business in having to switch from red to white diesel.

 

Who will be affected by the changes?

We are here to help shed light on some of the grey areas surrounding the upcoming changes. If you currently use red diesel in machinery, generators or for heating purposes in the following sectors you will be affected by the changes.

  • Construction, mining, and quarrying
  • Manufacturing
  • Plant hire, transportation/ logistics, waste management
  • Highway maintenance
  • Airport activities
  • Ports and harbour activities

From the 1st April 2022 we will only be able to supply red diesel to your business if that application is for the sole purpose of the following

  • Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fishing and arboriculture*
  • Flood and snow clearance including gritters
  • Propulsion of passenger, freight, and maintenance vehicles on rails
  • Propulsion of commercial boats including passenger ferries, water freight and lifeboat charities*
  • The powering of machinery (including caravans) of travelling fairs and circuses
  • Heating and electricity generation for non-commercial premises including homes, places of worship, NHS hospitals, townhalls and permanently moored houseboats*
  • Amateur sports clubs and community sports centres, golf courses (including activities such as ground maintenance, and the heating and lighting of clubhouses, changing rooms etc.)

*Following an entitlement amendment dated from 15th March 2023, we are now able to supply rebated red diesel for these uses.

For a full list of sectors and exemptions of use for red diesel you can check on the Gov.uk website or check with HMRC to confirm your exemption status.

 

Changing to an alternative – what does that mean?

Red diesel is currently used by a number of industries in machinery and equipment, and it makes up for around 15% of the diesel that is used in the UK. However, users currently only have to pay 11.14p per litre as a duty rate in contrast to the 57.95 ppl for white diesel. This means that these sectors are going to miss out on making a saving of 81% when they make the switch. For those sectors that are going to need to make the switch to white diesel then they are clearly going to miss out on savings.

 

Failing to comply with the regulatory changes can result in heavy fines. It is therefore recommended that your business starts to plan for the transition if you are going to be affected. Here a just a few things to consider:

  • If you stock red diesel for an application that will be affected by the changes you will need to run the stock down before the 1st April deadline. There is no grace period after this date.
  • Retain proof of purchase for red diesel to prove that you have not stockpiled red diesel for the intended use after the 1st April
  • You may require an additional tank to store white diesel and avoid cross contamination of red and white diesel products
  • If you intend to use the same tank for storing white diesel that once held red diesel, you may be required to flush the tank and supply lines before the 1st April
  • Check the condition and security of your tanks. Many businesses are targeted for their fuel and fuel theft is expected to increase as more switch from red to white products.
  • Fuel usage and efficiency can be monitored by using a telemetry device. We can provide the latest radar unit technology to monitor tank levels and set up alerts when running low. This can also help alert you of leaks or theft too

We do offer and can assist in the clearing of tanks and lines if this is something you feel you may need assistance with.

 

What are the alternatives following the gas oil duty change?

Once you have assessed whether your business will be affected now is the time to start planning the switch to an alternative. We have a wide range of products that are suitable replacements:

  • Standard White Diesel (Derv)
  • HVO30 – A blended drop-in replacement consisting of 30% Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) and white diesel offering a cleaner alternative
  • Prem35 – an efficient replacement fuel for commercial heating applications in boilers or burners. Prem35 is a cost-effective alternative

Please call your local depot and speak to one of our experts for more information on any of the alternative products. We are here to help you and your business manage the transition if required.

 

More information

Gov UK – Reform of red diesel and other rebated fuels entitlement
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reform-of-red-diesel-entitlements/reform-of-red-diesel-and-other-rebated-fuels-entitlement

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Premium fuels

Are Premium fuels worth it?

Most home heating fuels are refined from crude oil and their characteristics vary during the refining process which create impurities. Premium fuels help eliminate such impurities but do not alter your home heating oil’s chemical properties.

By removing the impurities, premium fuels can improve the efficiency of a system and can be very cost effective over the long term. Premium fuels often contain a range of active ingredients that help to maintain healthy performance and prevent negative processes such as sludge build up or corrosion. Using premium fuels, as with regular servicing, can increase the lifespan of boilers, engines and combustion systems, so the key to understanding the value of the premium fuels is to look at both long term efficiency performance and the increase in longevity of the mechanism.

 

Introducing Premier Pure Premium Fuel

This is domestic kerosene that is used for heating purposes. Usually, it is fragranced for those that live in environments that are sensitive to fuel scents. Premier Pure has been made to make sure that homes get the top quality premium kerosene that serves them well.

 

About Premier Pure

  • Premier Pure premium fuel is known to lower to amount of carbon emissions
  • It is effective oil in preventing the formation of sludge in the heating boilers
  • While using Premier Pure premium fuel, your boiler will be protected against problems that require frequent repairs
  • Most fuels lead to the build-up of deposits, especially around the heat exchanger surfaces and around the nozzles. However, with Premier Pure premium fuel, the deposits will not build up in the same way
  • This type of oil is known to improve the efficiency of the operating systems
  • Premier Pure premium oil can improve the lifespan of your heating system. It is made in a way that boosts thermal efficiency and cuts down on soot and carbon in your tanks
  • Premier Pure used alongside a blend of fuel stabilisers, chemicals, and lubricants will reduce wear and tear and ensure your system will last longer

 

What are the key Premier Pure premium fuel components?

The following are the main components of Premier Pure premium fuels:

  • Detergents
  • Dispersants
  • Metal deactivators
  • Anti-oxidants
  • Corrosion inhibitors

The fuel stabilisers and dispersants are very crucial components in the oil. The fuel stabiliser helps in inhibiting the formation of deposits when the fuel is heating up. The dispersants make sure that the tiny deposits are formed to exit through the nozzle and are completely burnt. Thus, these two powerful additives combined ensure that deposits won’t build up on the heat exchanger surfaces or even the nozzles.

The metal deactivator is used to cut down on fuel degradation, which is usually caused by metal interaction in the fuel system. The lining of the heating systems is often lined with copper, making the oil darken and degrade when both come into contact.

Corrosion inhibitor is purposely created to prevent wear and tear that may form in the heating systems. Thus, with Premier Pure, your heating system will have fewer rust deposits, and the metals will last longer.

The detergents used give the fuel a fresh smell when burnt.

 

Benefits of Premier Pure

  • Premier Pure is domestic kerosene available with added fragrances that give a fresh smell in environments sensitive to foul odours from fuels.
  • Lower carbon emissions. Premier Pure burns at 95 percent or more efficiently thus limiting the amount of carbon that is released to the environment.
  • Premier Pure increases the shelf life since the fuel does not degrade.
  • Since the system does not rust, you do not have to replace its parts regularly. Thus, by using Premier Pure service problems are reduced and the heating system serves you better and for a longer time.


Everything you need to know about boilers

A boiler system is purposely designed to heat the water inside a tank that supplies it hot through pipes. The boiler can also supply steam from the boiled water via pipes and radiators to release warmth. Most boiler systems in a residential setting are hot water heating systems. During the cold months of winter, both the hot water and steam producing boilers are excellent hearing systems to supply you with warmth.

Typically, a boiler sits on a burner and the burner burns fuel to release heat. Many boilers use natural gas, which is usually piped to the homes directly. However, often in rural area, natural gas lines do not serve most of the residences and so oil boilers are common.

 

Evaluating different types of boiler systems

There are three main types of boilers, system, heat only and combi. System boilers produce hot water for a storage cylinder which is used to for central heating. System boilers, unlike conventional boilers, take water in via a direct supply from the mains. A heat only boiler, also known as a regular or conventional boiler, usually has two tanks, a hot water cylinder and the actual boiler, situated in an elevated space such as a loft.

The third type of boiler, a combination or combi boiler, is supplied directly from the water mains. This means that you won’t need a hot water storage cylinder or a water storage tank as with other systems. When you use the hot water tap with a combi boiler, the gas burner is ignited and a heat exchanger transfers the energy to the water, which allows hot water to be generated almost instantly.

One of the key considerations when purchasing a boiler system is the system’s operating efficiency. The level of efficiency of your heating system will depend on the percentage of fuel that is used to create heat. Thus, a more efficient heating system translates to more savings on heating costs.

While evaluating a heating system’s efficiency, there are two common types, standard systems and high efficiency systems. Standard boiler systems are less energy efficient, usually operating at around 84 percent of maximum in efficiency levels. Standard boilers are also less costly in terms of upfront costs compared to high efficiency systems. High efficiency boiler systems are classed as having an efficiency that is more than 90 percent.

Still want more? For more information about the different types of boilers we recommend the Which? article “What are the different types of boiler?”


What makes a boiler high efficient?

A boiler works by heating water, conducting the hot water through pipework, radiators, radiant floors systems, or a coil. However, what makes some boilers high efficiency is that they trap any heat that tries to escape back into the system. In contrast a standard efficiency boiler allows the heat to be lost in the process of conducting.

 

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FAQs – Kerosene

 

What is Kerosene?

Kerosene is an extremely well known and popular fuel. It is a flammable hydrocarbon, an element consisting of Carbon (C) and Hydrogen (H), that has been used for centuries around the world. Kerosene and other hydrocarbons are obtained from crude oil by a process known as fractional distillation.

Fractional distillation is used to produce the fuel on an industrial scale by distilling crude oil in a process similar to that used to produce diesel or petrol.

 

What is it used for?

Kerosene is extremely popular in aviation, both as jet fuel and rocket fuel, as the fuel meets specifications for the temperature it remains a liquid at before freezing, the speed and efficiency with which it burns and it’s relatively high flash point, the temperature at which it ignites.

 

When was Kerosene discovered?

Inventor Abraham Gesner trademarked the term Kerosene in 1854 but the history of heating oil goes back much further. There is plenty of evidence that as far back as 1500 BC the Chinese were using heating oil for lamps.

 

What are the other common names for Kerosene?

As you might expect from a fuel that’s been around since at least the 9th century, home heating oil has plenty of other names. It is commonly referred to as:

  • Boiler Juice
  • Burning Oil
  • 28 Second Heating Oil
  • Industrial Paraffin
  • C2 Kero
  • Standard Kero

 

How widely is burning oil used in the UK?

There are approximately 1.1 million properties in the UK that use heating oil as the primary fuel for heating, it is also used in a purer form for cooking.

 

What is the lifespan of heating oil?

The lifespan of heating oil is dependent upon the conditions in which it is kept. If it is stored in a purpose made, weather proof container, it should last around two years and up to a maximum of around five years.

 

Are there different grades of kerosene?

In the UK there are two standard grades of heating oil. BS 2869 Class C1 is used for lanterns, camping stoves, wick heaters. BS 2869 Class C2 is used as domestic heating oil.

 

What temperature does Kerosene burn at?

Kerosene’s flash point is in excess of 35 degrees Celsius.

 

Is kerosene dangerous?

The health risks associated with handling and using heating oil are minimal, provided that the fuel is used in accordance with safety practices.

 

What more?

Check out Kerosene: health effects, incident management and toxicology for information about heating oil (also known as paraffin and jet fuel), for use in responding to chemical incidents.

 

Have a question that you can’t see the answer for? Contact us and let us know.