What Type of Oil Should I Use With an Oil Fired Boiler?

What Type of Oil Should I Use With an Oil Fired Boiler?

The type of oil that is used with an oil fired boiler ultimately depends upon the type of oil boiler that you have. There are oil burners today that allow for the use of waste oil, kerosene and gas. Every boiler manufacturer will have their own guidelines with regards to the oil to be used and the maintenance required for their boilers.

Kerosene is the least expensive method of heating and there are two types of kerosene oil, Regular and Premium, which is also often referred to as blue Paraffin. Regular kerosene is the least expensive and currently very effective in cost as well. All pressure jet boilers for domestic use can utilise regular kerosene as can most vaporised burners. This versatility makes them a good choice for the home.

Blue Paraffin burns cleaner than regular kerosene and is used when there is no outside venting for the emissions from the exhaust. It is, however, more expensive to buy but saying that it also has positive effects on older boilers. These older boilers will run much more efficiently with the correct oil in them.

Gas oil is another form that is still utilised by those that have older boilers. These burn hotter and are more efficient as a source of heat. This is the same type of gas oil used in tractors and generators. It should be remembered though that it is against the law to use the fuel designated for these operations on the road.

In addition to the types of oil mentioned above, oil can also come from sources such as used motor oil, transmission fluid and vegetable oil if you own a waste oil fired boiler. These can be bought cheaply from restaurants and numerous other sources that use large amounts of oil on a daily basis. It is easy to get waste oil from these sources if you ask due to the difficulty of recycling large amounts of oil in some areas.

Nearly every boiler in the UK uses 28sec oil or kerosene. This burns cleaner than gas oil or 35sec heating oil meaning the exhaust gas is cleaner. The sulphur content of oil has decreased of late and there are now lubricants added which make them easier to pump.

Oil fired boilers are often integrated with an adjustable thermostat that allows you to control the heat in the house. The TRVs (thermostatic radiator valve) then allow you to control the temperature in each individual room. There is normally a programmable timer for water and heat as well so that fuel is not wasted. A cylinder thermostat located on the hot water tank is used to control the temperature of water within the tank.

You can get just as much efficiency from an oil boiler as you can from a gas boiler and in some cases it may save a lot of money with regards to fuel bills. When using an oil fired boiler it is important to follow both the installation guidelines and the manufacturer's guidelines so that you know you are using the right oil for the job.