This is the time of year when you’ll want to test your heating system and make sure it’s working so you’ll be all set to go when your home really needs to get warm.
If you adjusted your thermostat a few degrees above room temperature but your heating system doesn’t turn on, follow the steps below. It’s better to find out if you have a problem now instead of on that first cold night of fall when you want heat right away.
If your heating system isn’t turning on, check to see if the power switches to your oil boiler or oil furnace have been accidentally turned off.
If you find that the power switches for your heating system have been turned off by mistake, simply turn the electrical switches back to the “on” position and your problem may be solved.
If your power switches are not the problem, check your circuit breaker box next to see if all circuit switches are still in the “on” position. Flipping the proper switch to “on” again may be all you need to get your system running again.
However, please keep this in mind: a circuit breaker rarely ever trips for no reason. If this happens once and never happens again, it may be just a fluke. But if this happens more than once, you should contact a heating service professional since this could indicate a serious problem.
Many instances of heating systems not working can be traced to the thermostat, which sends a signal to your boiler or furnace to call for heat. But this signal may be interrupted if the wiring of the thermostat has begun to deteriorate. A build-up of dust inside your thermostat is another common reason why your thermostat is not operating correctly. Another thing to look for are weak or dead batteries in the thermostat.
If you don’t have any fuel in your heating oil tank, you’ll need to contact your heating oil provider for a delivery. Moving forward, if you call to order fuel, make sure to check your heating oil tank regularly. You should call when your oil tank gauge reaches the ¼ level. To save time and worry, ask your heating oil company if they offer automatic heating oil delivery service. This will lower the chances of your tank running out of oil.
If you haven’t found the problem yet, press the reset button on the oil burner only once. Pushing it more than once could flood your system with oil, resulting in a costly repair. If the burner starts but stops again after a few minutes, you should call for service.
One more tip: you should always schedule preventive maintenance from your HVAC contractor so you don’t have to worry about your furnace or boiler breaking down during the winter. Regular maintenance service, also known as a heating tune-up, will also improve system efficiency, helping you to conserve heating oil during the winter.
It’s always better to get this service done now instead of waiting for the chilly weather to set in. Please check with your heating service company to find out if you’re due for tune-up service.
If you’re a long-time heating oil customer, you probably know a lot about the fuel that keeps you and your family warm. But here are some interesting facts about the “new” heating oil that you may not know.
Advancements in fuel quality is a key reason why heating oil is more clean-burning than ever before. That’s because heating oil continues to evolve into Bioheat® fuel. This is a mix of ultra-low sulfur heating oil blended with premium biofuel made from renewable resources. The use of Bioheat fuel lowers greenhouse gas emissions and puts home heating oil on track to becoming a carbon-neutral fuel.
Because Bioheat® fuel burns more cleanly and more efficiently than conventional heating oil, you’ll use less fuel to get the same amount of warmth, and your heating system will last longer. You will also likely need fewer repairs on your system. You may also be able to extend the time between system maintenance too. All of this amounts to savings!
Things can only get better. The endgame is to transition to B100 Bioheat fuel (100% biodiesel/biofuel) over the next few decades. Recently, the R.W. Beckett Corporation announced that it had begun production of fully warranted burners with B100-compliant components.
Additionally, the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA) has demonstrated that a home heated with 100% biodiesel and using solar panels to produce electricity can reach net-zero carbon emissions quickly — and at an economically viable cost.
Bioheat fuel is sourced and produced right here in the United States, supporting local farmers, local industries and local economies. The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel industries now support about 65,000 U.S. jobs and more than $17 billion in economic activity each year.
The production process puts excess plant oil and animal fats to good use, diverting waste products from landfills. Food production is never sacrificed for fuel in the creation of Bioheat fuel.
Bioheat fuel has a significant advantage over other green home heating products: it’s available right now and reduces greenhouse gas emissions every day.
Any real estate agent can tell you that the biggest obstacle in selling a home that uses heating oil often revolves around the oil storage tank. But that obstacle can easily become a nonissue if the home has a modern, aboveground oil tank.
There have been big improvements in heating oil tanks over the years. One of the most important is double-walled construction with an outside layer of corrosion-proof galvanized steel. This keeps the chance of a costly leak to a minimum. Other innovations include:
A heating-oil storage tank gives homeowners the ability to safely store an adequate supply of heating oil that’s ready for immediate use whenever the need for home heating arises.
Read more about heating oil tanks.
Modernizing your home’s heating equipment is more affordable than ever, thanks to the popular rebate program from the South Carolina Convenience & Petroleum Marketers Association (SCCPMA) and the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA).
You can save up to $1,000 when you install a new qualifying heating oil system and heating oil tank. What’s more, you’ll receive your funds upfront when you purchase your new equipment and submit your rebate coupon to the equipment installer.
There are long-term savings too. A new heating oil system should help you save 20% or more on your annual heating costs.
These rebates are subject to availability and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Read more about rebates for heating oil equipment.
When trying to find ways to save money and conserve energy, you should think of your entire house as a system, and that system has three main parts:
Each of these three component contributes to your home’s energy efficiency and you can make a positive impact on energy usage (and your energy costs) in a number of ways.
Let’s start with the building envelope. Many homes are colder than necessary in the winter due to poor insulation levels. In the average home, about one-third of heat loss occurs through the ceilings, which should have a minimum of six inches of quality thermal insulation to keep heat inside the home, where it belongs. Otherwise, some of your heat will rise through the ceilings into the attic and then seep outside. What a waste of heating energy!
During the summer months, you could do little things like installing insulated curtains, drapes or blinds to block the heat of the warm sun coming through your windows. Or raise your thermostat setting by just one degree. These changes could save you more than you might think! In the winter, take advantage of the sun’s free solar heat by leaving drapes, curtains and blinds open during the day.
In terms of your own energy decisions, investing in a smart programmable thermostat is a wise move. When used correctly, it will pay for itself in just a short time. If you choose a Wi-Fi thermostat, you can control your home’s temperature from your smartphone.
In the spring and summer, the U.S. Energy Department recommends setting your central air conditioning system to 78°F when you’re at home. Program your A/C system to shut off 20-30 minutes before you leave home each day; return the temperature setting to normal comfort levels 20 to 30 minutes before you come home.
In the winter, the optimal setting is 68°F when you’re at home. Dial it down toward the 60°F range when you’re asleep or out of the house. The temperatures you ultimately choose will depend on factors like the outdoor temperature and your family’s comfort preferences. Remember, these are just guidelines. But don’t set your thermostat too low or else you risk frozen pipes.
Last but not least, if you’re interested in learning about how you can make a positive impact on your home’s energy efficiency through upgrades to mechanical systems, visit our website and read about replacing your heating equipment.
When you replace your old heating oil boiler or furnace with a new energy-efficient model, you may be eligible for rebates on qualifying high-efficiency home heating oil systems. Not only will you be adding value to your South Carolina home when you upgrade your system, you could also be cutting your annual heating costs by 20% or more.
Read more about heating oil rebates in South Carolina.
If you’re among the South Carolina families who depend on heating oil to keep their homes warm, please remember you can do this with confidence. Heating oil has always been a remarkably safe fuel!
Home heating oil has an excellent safety record, especially considering that it has been widely used for nearly 100 years.
Let’s begin by looking at flammability. Heating oil is not only biodegradable and nontoxic, it is nonflammable too. That means it cannot burn in its liquid state. Before combustion can occur, heating oil must first be vaporized by an oil burner at temperatures above 140°.
That’s why the oil in your tank is as likely to explode as the water in your backyard swimming pool. It’s that safe!
With an oil tank on your property, you can always count on having a secure, on-site supply at your home. Heating oil is easily transported and handled by highly trained professionals using equipment and techniques that keep safety at the forefront.
Modern heating oil storage tanks have been designed to be virtually leak-proof. Whether your oil storage tank is located in your basement or outside your home, modern heating oil tanks have been designed with corrosion-resistant materials.
With your own onsite storage heating oil tank and a trustworthy heating oil company to rely on, you can be confident that your South Carolina home will stay warm and your family will be safe when temperatures drop in the Palmetto State.
A heating oil system poses a very low risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. If an oil burner malfunctions (most often due to a lack of maintenance), the safety devices in the unit will typically shut the furnace or boiler off.
But you shouldn’t hesitate to call your heating oil service company if you ever see black smoke or soot coming out of your furnace or boiler. This is sign that something is seriously wrong with your equipment. There could even be a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning as well.
Please be aware that besides a malfunctioning boiler or furnace, there are many other sources for carbon monoxide leaks, including:
For safety’s sake, it’s vital that you place carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home and near each bedroom. Test them and change their batteries regularly. In general, replace them after five years. (Check manufacturer guidelines for more specifics about when to replace). Also, please ensure that you and your family know the symptoms of CO poisoning, which include headaches, nausea, dizziness and fatigue. Note: CO poisoning can often be mistaken for the flu since the symptoms are similar.
Bottom line: continue to feel good about heating oil. It’s the best and safest way to heat your South Carolina home! If you have any safety concerns or questions, please reach out to your local South Carolina heating oil company.
While heating oil tanks can be replaced any time of year, the spring and summer seasons are the ideal time to upgrade since it will cause as little as disruption as possible. And since this is the off-season for heating service contractors, it will be much easier to get an appointment that is most convenient for you.
Heating oil tanks can last for decades, but like anything else, they eventually need to be replaced. Life spans vary depending on the humidity in the environment, the thickness of the tank’s wall and other factors. When tanks do fail, it’s hard to see it coming, because they generally erode from the inside out.
That’s why it’s a good idea to have them inspected periodically. Cleaning up a tank leak can be incredibly expensive. If your oil tank is more than 30 years old, it’s a good idea to look into your replacement options during the warm weather before you need to start using your heat again.
Besides getting periodic professional tank inspections, you should also do your own visual inspections because some trouble signs can actually be seen, including:
Besides just wearing out due to age, a heating oil tank can fail because of condensation on the inside.
Condensation can be a common problem for heating oil tanks during the summer. Hot, humid days and cooler nights create the perfect atmosphere for condensation buildup to form inside your tank. And if your storage tank is aboveground, outdoors and in an unshaded area, it’s especially vulnerable to condensation.
To avoid condensation build-up inside your storage tank, it’s best to keep your tank full during the warm months. Don’t worry, your heating oil won’t spoil or go bad if it sits in your tank unused for a couple of months.
After water forms on the bare walls on the empty area of the tank, it drips down and sinks to the bottom of the tank because water is denser than heating oil. There, it becomes an ideal environment for bacteria and other microorganisms.
Over time, these organisms turn into sediment. One problem is that sediment, also known as sludge, can get into your fuel lines and clog them. This will cause your heating system to shut down.
Today’s fuel storage tanks are light-years ahead of old models, because they are virtually leakproof and have features that include:
Bottom line: today’s aboveground oil storage tanks provide peace of mind and convenience—in addition to all the other benefits of heating your home with oil! Read more about the safety features of a modern heating oil tank.
Heating oil continues to keep many homes and businesses in South Carolina warm and safe no matter the weather. And the cornerstone of the heating oil industry – outstanding customer service – cannot be topped.
You may already know that about positive changes taking place—a transformation that is significantly improving heating oil’s efficiency and cleanliness. This is due to vast reductions of sulfur levels in heating oil and the emergence and advancement of Bioheat® fuel.
This is only the beginning. With continued research and development by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), the quality of heating oil and heating oil equipment will get even better in the years ahead.
Did you know that heating oil cannot explode? The fuel that sits in your tank is as likely to explode as the water in your backyard swimming pool. It’s that safe.
Plus, with an oil tank on your property, you can always count on having a secure, on-site supply on your property. Heating oil is easily transported and handled by highly trained professionals, who use equipment and techniques that keep safety at the forefront.
Additionally, a heating oil system poses a very low risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. If an oil burner malfunctions (most often due to a lack of maintenance), the safety devices in the unit will typically shut the oil furnace or oil boiler off.
The latest heating oil systems are small, smart and super-efficient and can save you about 20% or more on your annual heating costs.
Plus, the heating oil industry remains firmly committed to green energy solutions that not only protect the environment but also enhance comfort, convenience and savings for all heating oil consumers.
That’s why the industry has dedicated itself to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for heating oil by 2050. This means that your oil-heated home will have a carbon footprint of zero.
How is this possible? One of the biggest transitions in heating oil in recent years has been the movement toward ultra-low sulfur heating oil. This refined fuel lowers maintenance, improves efficiency and reduces emissions from heating systems. Additionally, cleaner burning fuel has also paved the way for the next generation of compact, super-efficient furnaces and boilers.
Many gallons of heating oil now delivered in South Carolina also feature Bioheat fuel, a blend of traditional heating oil and renewable materials like vegetable oils, animal fats and recycled cooking oils. For anyone who wants to use Bioheat fuel, no changes to your existing heating oil system are necessary!
Read more about Bioheat fuel so you can feel good about your next heating oil delivery.
Heating oil generates nearly 140,000 Btu of heat for every gallon burned and warms a home evenly and efficiently.
This is because the flame in a heating oil system burns much hotter than many other energy systems. This produces more heat and hotter air or water. So, when the outdoor temperatures are below freezing, that powerful heat output can help keep your home as cozy as ever.
Technology has also brought great improvements in heating oil equipment efficiency that has reduced annual fuel consumption by 20% or more. This has saved heating oil consumers a lot of money on fuel.
Today’s heating equipment regularly achieves efficiency levels of 85% or better. With the introduction of higher blends of Bioheat fuel, we will start to see more super high-efficiency systems available in the U.S. These systems will achieve efficiency levels of 90% or more!
See how much you can save right now with heating oil system rebates.
Have you ever referred to the fuel in your heating system as furnace oil? How about home heating oil or fuel oil? At first glance, these descriptive terms may seem interchangeable, but there are some subtle differences.
First, furnace oil or home heating oil applies only to the heating fuel your furnace uses to heat your home.
You can also call the heating oil that powers your furnace fuel oil, but be aware that this term is not limited to home heating oil. Fuel oil is a broader term because it refers to any petroleum product that can power a home heating system or an engine. For instance, diesel fuel is a good example of a fuel oil.
What these terms have in common is that all of these fuels are derived from crude oil during the refining process, which separates crude oil into different “fractions” while removing impurities.
The lighter fractions of crude oil eventually become propane, butane, and petrochemicals while heavier fractions are used to produce gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel fuel, and No. 2 home heating oil. Heavier fractions become No. 4 or No. 6 heating oils. This is used for commercial and industrial buildings, schools, and hospitals.
You either have an oil furnace or oil boiler in your home. A furnace uses air to heat your home, while boilers use water. Furnaces and boilers both use oil to generate heat, and it starts in the combustion chamber, where the oil is tuned into a flame by the oil burner.
The burner can be considered the engine of your heating oil system. When your house gets chilly, the thermostat will send a signal to tell the oil burner in the furnace or boiler to turn on. A fuel pump then starts to draw the oil from the tank and through fuel lines to reach the oil burner.
There is a device on the burner called the nozzle, which turns the oil into a very fine spray. This oil mist mixes with air and ignites in the combustion chamber, which gets very hot. This heat then gets moved around your home and comes out either through radiators or baseboards (if you have a boiler) or vents (if you have a furnace).
Read more about heating oil boilers and furnaces.
Heating oil tanks can last for decades, but like anything else, they eventually need to be replaced. Life spans vary depending on the humidity in the environment, the thickness of the tank’s wall and other factors. When tanks do fail, it’s hard to see it coming, because they generally erode from the inside out.
If your oil tank is more than 30 years old, it’s a good idea to look into your heating oil tank replacement options.
Here are more common questions people have about heating oil tanks.
Besides getting periodic professional tank inspections, you should also do your own visual inspections because some trouble signs can actually be seen, including:
Besides just wearing out due to age, a heating oil tank can fail because of condensation on the inside. When there is a lot of empty space in an oil tank during the spring and summer, condensation can form along the inside walls. This eventually turns into sediment later, and, if ignored, can result in corrosion.
To avoid condensation from forming, you should keep your oil tank full during the warm-weather months.
The most common size for a residential heating oil tank is a 275-gallon aboveground tank. A general industry rule-of-thumb is that one or two-bedroom homes typically require a 275-gallon heating oil tank; three- or four- bedroom homes typically would need to go larger.
Because heating oil is biodegradable and safe to store inside the home, you can put your new leak-proof tank in a basement, closet or garage. You can also put it outside, near your house, garage, or outdoor space.
On top of the heating oil tank is a clear glass or plastic cube that is marked with numbers that resemble the gas gauge of your car: F, ¾, ½, ¼. A red marker or float commonly indicates the amount of fuel left in your tank. If the float is at the bottom of the gauge or not visible at all, your tank is empty or nearly empty.
To make sure the gauge is working, carefully remove the outer case and gently press the float down. If it bobs back up to the original position, the gauge is working. If the gauge is not working, contact your heating oil supplier and let them know. The last thing you want to do is to start guessing how much oil is left in your tank.
To make winter deliveries easier and stress-free for you, ask your heating oil company if they offer automatic delivery. This allows them to be accurate about your fuel needs so they can make a heating oil delivery and you can continue to feel warm and safe using heating oil at home.
But if you still prefer to call for heating oil, you need to give your supplier extra time when conditions are harsh in order to avoid running out of fuel. It’s best to call for more fuel when your oil tank falls to the one-quarter mark.
Knowing more about how your heating oil furnace works will help you to make smart choices if you’re considering replacing your old heating system with a new, high-efficiency model. And if you’re having a heating problem, understanding how your furnace works will be helpful when you discuss the issue with your heating service contractor.
Furnaces can be powered by either fuel oil, propane gas, natural gas or electricity. Also known as warm-air or forced-air systems, furnaces produce heated air in the combustion chamber.
Besides heat, the ductwork that connects with your furnace can provide other kinds of conditioned air, including through:
Advanced technology has also brought us the ultra-efficient condensing furnace, which recovers and uses some of the lost heat from waste gases, thanks to a secondary heat exchanger.
As noted, today’s high-efficiency furnaces provide extra heat more efficiently than units made a generation ago. Higher efficiency means more energy savings, which of course translates into lower energy costs. This is why it pays to learn as much as you can about today’s high-tech heating solutions—and your heating oil service contractor is here to help you, with all of the latest information on new, high-efficiency heating oil furnaces.
When discussing your heating oil furnace replacement options with your heating expert, you’ll most likely learn about the importance of proper sizing.
Read more about a new furnace installation.
If you’re living in your first oil-heated home, you may be wondering about heating oil usage and the process of measuring your tank level, avoiding run-outs, and more. Here are answers to the most common questions we hear.
On top of the tank is a clear glass or plastic cube that is marked with numbers that resemble the gas gauge of your car: F, ¾, ½, ¼. A red marker or float commonly indicates the amount of fuel left in your tank – if the float is at the bottom of the gauge or not visible at all, your tank is empty or nearly empty.
To make sure the gauge is working, carefully remove the outer case and gently press the float down. If it bobs back up to the original position, the gauge is working. If the gauge is not working, contact your heating oil supplier and let them know. The last thing you want to do is to start guessing how much oil is left in your tank during a cold snap.
The most common size of a heating oil tank is 275 gallons, but the size of the tank doesn’t indicate how much fuel it actually holds.
When full, a 275-gallon tank holds approximately 235-255 gallons depending on how deep the vent pipe goes in to the top of the tank; the rest of the space is left to allow for air or debris at the bottom of your tank.
So, if your gauge reads “½” in a 275-gallon tank, you have about 117 gallons left, not 135 or so as you might first expect. Other typical tank sizes may include 230 and 240 gallons (the size is often indicated on the side of your tank; older models may not include that information).
Read more about heating oil tanks.
To make winter deliveries easier and stress-free for you, ask your heating oil company if they offer automatic delivery. This allows them to be accurate about your fuel needs so they can make a heating oil delivery and you can continue to feel warm and safe using home heating oil.
But if you still prefer to call for heating oil, you need to give your supplier extra time when conditions are harsh in order to avoid running out of fuel. It’s best to call for more fuel when your oil tank falls to the one-quarter mark.
Absolutely. First, heating oil cannot burn in its liquid state. Before combustion can even occur, heating oil must first be vaporized into a finer mist by your oil burner at temperatures above 140°.
Second, the fuel you have stored in your heating oil tank right now is very safe because it can’t explode. In fact, if you were to drop a lit match into a bucket of heating oil, the flame would go out, just as if you dropped the match into water.
Third, a heating oil system poses a very low risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. If an oil burner ever malfunctions, you’ll most likely see smoke and the safety devices will shut the furnace or boiler off.
Fourth, the advent of Bioheat® fuel has made home heating oil even safer. That’s because Bioheat fuel has a higher flash point, also known as ignition temperature. It’s just one more thing that homeowners who use Bioheat fuel can feel good about.