What is Home Heating Oil?

Heating oil for the home: A guide to oil central heating

If you’re considering an alternative approach to heating your home, this guide should help to answer all of your burning questions.

What is oil central heating? Heating oil for the home explained

Heating oil is a liquid fuel that powers oil fired central heating systems. The name commonly refers specifically to petroleum-based oil that is suitable for home heating use. Oil for heating works by burning in an oil burner to heat up water. That water then heats the pipes and radiators within a home.

Over one million households in the UK rely on heating oil instead of the national gas grid. People refer to using oil-fired central heating as“off-grid living”. The key difference between living on and off-grid is the delivery of heating oil. Off-grid homes receive manual deliveries and store the oil in a tank.

If you’re new to oil-fueled heating, it’s helpful to understand what home heating oil is. Knowing its uses can also help you save money in the long run.

What are the different types of heating oil?

You may be wondering, ‘Which heating oil do I need?’ There are only a handful of heating oil types available for domestic use. The two main examples of heating oil include:

• Standard Kerosene – also known as home heating oil or 28-second oil. Many homes in the UK use this lighter type of oil in a domestic setting.
• Premium Kerosene – this is a more efficient, cleaner burning home fuel compared with standard kerosene.

For more information, contact us on 0345 600 4040 or click here to email.

What is kerosene and how is it made?

Kerosene is an oil commonly used in domestic heating systems in the UK. Also known as heating oil or paraffin, it is a non-corrosive fuel that poses less danger than other fuel types. You can store kerosene safely for several years, making it ideal for domestic storage.

Petroleum, a natural oil found beneath the earth’s surface, creates kerosene. The process of making kerosene begins with drilling and distillation. High temperatures break down petroleum into different fuels, including butane, propane, petrol, diesel, and kerosene.

What is premium heating oil?

At Certas Energy, we also provide an exclusive premium heating oil: Glowmax.

Premium kerosene is a cleaner burning fuel and can help a boiler burn more efficiently than standard kerosene. Our premium heating oil offers a number of benefits:

• Potential to lower boiler maintenance costs
• Reduced sludge formation, which can prolong a boiler’s life
• More efficient fuel performance
• Lowered risk of a boiler breakdown

For more information about the benefits of premium oil for your home, read our comprehensive guide.

Why use heating oil for central heating?

There are a number of benefits that come with using heating oil to power your central heating, which is why so many people are using it. Some of the main reasons include that it is:

• Safe – home heating oil is non-explosive and will not burn in its liquid state, only when it is vaporised.
• Efficient – oil usually burns at 70C, which is hotter than electricity or natural gas – meaning your home can warm up quicker.
• Economical – heating oil is among the cheapest options including gas from the national grid and electric. If you use a regular supplier, they often offer different payment plans to help manage the cost of deliveries.
• Flexible – with heating oil, you own the tank so there’s no additional costs. You have the freedom to buy fuel ad and when you please, while the price of oil can fluctuate too – which can be used to your benefit.

How do I buy heating oil?

You can order heating oil from Certas Energy online. You simply need to choose which type of oil you require and the amount of oil you need. You can order between 500 and 5,000 litres of heating oil.

If you’re a new customer, you’ll need to set up an account with us to provide your personal details and delivery address. Within your account, we’ll agree on a domestic heating oil quote, and you can proceed to checkout.

We can deliver fuel oil to homes within England, Wales, and Scotland. Our local teams will have the oil with you by the delivery date in your instant quote. If there’s no set date, we guarantee oil delivery within 30 days.

Login or set up an account to buy fuel online. Alternatively, call us at 0345 600 4040 and our knowledgeable advisors will be happy to help place your order.

For more information about buying oil for your home, read through our domestic terms and conditions.

How much does heating oil cost in the UK?

The cost of heating oil in the UK fluctuates almost daily. Several factors affect heating oil prices. These factors range from political conflicts and foreign exchange rates to logistical issues like weather and delivery costs.

Heating oil can cost less during the summer months, and some customers choose to top up when prices are lower. However, at Certas Energy, we pride ourselves on offering competitive prices with no service charge all year round.

Have a look at our helpful guide to heating oil prices for more information.

How do I store heating oil?

You can store heating oil in various containers, including plastic and steel tanks, drums, intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), or mobile containers. If you use oil to heat your home, it’s important to follow the proper storage regulations set out by the government. The guidance applies to tanks that can store up to 5,000 litres of fuel. Any higher volumes would have to refer to business regulations.

If you don’t have a tank yet, make sure a registered technician installs it and that the tank meets OFTEC manufacturing standards. You should also consider the location and positioning of your new tank, as well as maintaining regular checks. A full list of rules and regulations can be found on gov.uk, as well as industry standards agency OFTEC.