If you’re planning on buying a new home in a rural location, you’re sure to find properties with oil central heating systems. Oil is one of the most popular forms of heating in the UK. But if you have never lived off-grid, you might be nervous about committing to an oil fueled home.
Before buying a property that relies on heating oil, you need to fully understand the impact of this fuel source. Then, you can decide if heating oil is right for you.
In this comprehensive house buyer’s guide to oil for central heating, we take a look at:
- The benefits of buying a house with an oil tank
- The drawbacks of domestic heating oil
- Questions you need to ask about oil fueled homes
The benefits of home heating oil
Heating oil is a safe way to heat your home
Heating oil (Kerosene) is not readily combustible in its natural liquid state. This means heating oil is unlikely to cause an explosion.
Carbon dioxide poisoning is also unlikely if your oil boiler is well-maintained. If carbon monoxide poisoning does happen, there will be smoke and a strong smell making you aware of it. With that in mind, we recommend installing a carbon dioxide sensor in your home for peace of mind.
Heating oil is energy efficient
Heating oil burns at a higher temperature than natural gas, so it’s far more powerful at heating water supplies. Your heat stores will recover faster, and therefore, warm your home much quicker than fuel alternatives.
You can take advantage of heating oil price drops
With most gas contracts, you commit to a fixed term payment plan at a unit price that does not fluctuate throughout the year. This is great as it means you always know what you’re paying. But, it also means that you don’t get to take advantage of any drops in energy prices until your contract is up.
Because you order heating oil as and when you need it, you can take advantage of price drops. You can choose to fill up your oil tank to coincide with when the price is the lowest.
At Certas Energy, we provide top-quality heating oil and services at competitive prices you can trust. Simply fill out our online form for a quick quote – it only takes a few minutes.
Flexible payment options are available
There are a variety of different payment options for heating oil, from paying in monthly instalments to direct debit. You can pick a payment plan that best suits your financial needs while also maximising savings where possible.
Discover our flexible payment options for heating oil.
You’ll receive a more personal service
WIth electricity and gas, your relationship with your supplier can be very distant. With oil suppliers, their customer numbers are far smaller and more local to their operations. This means heating oil suppliers have the opportunity to build rapport and get to know your needs.
At Certas Energy, we supply heating oil to homes up and down the country. We pride ourselves in our personalised approach. We have 94 depots and 900 tankers in tow, so our friendly team is always on-hand whenever you need us.
If you or someone you live with is vulnerable, or over 75 years old, you’re eligible to join our Cold Weather Priority Scheme. Sign up for free online.
The drawbacks of heating oil
Heating oil prices fluctuate quickly
This can be both a positive and a negative. Prices can be more expensive when demand for oil is high and the supply available is low. This means that at times, oil is more expensive than alternatives such as natural gas. However, when prices are low, customers can take advantage and capitalise on the savings.
Rather than being tied into a contract with a set price, you purchase heating oil from a fuel distributor. The price may change depending on when you order it.
You need to regularly maintain your heating oil system
You should arrange a service for your heating oil tanks once a year. An OFTEC registered engineer will ensure everything is working as it should. It’s also important that you carry out your own oil boiler checks throughout the year. Checks will help you to spot small issues, and prevent them from becoming future breakdowns.
Read our Boiler Service Guide to find out what to expect during a boiler service and how to stay on top of boiler care.
You need an onsite tank
Natural gas and electricity supplies come to your home directly from cabling and pipes off the main network. With heating oil, you need to order in bulk and store it in an onsite oil tank, which links to your home heating system.
The location of heating oil tanks need to be:
- accessible for deliveries
- a safe distance from buildings
- and sheltered from the impacts of weather
This can be unaesthetic to the eye, but nothing a little strategic gardening can’t help with! You may also need to install extra security measures to keep your tank safe from vandalism. Refer to our guide on avoiding heating oil theft for more information.
If you need help finding the right tank, installing it and topping it up with heating oil, give us a call on 0345 600 3423. We’ll be happy to help.
Is it worth buying a house with oil heat?
If you’re living off grid in a rural or remote location, buying a house with oil heat is your best option. Natural gas and electricity suppliers don’t reach remote areas. However, heating oil delivery trucks can go anywhere you need them to. You can store your oil supply in a tank, so you won’t have to worry about running out of fuel.
Questions you need to ask when buying oil fueled homes:
How much heating oil does a house use?
A typical household uses around 27,000 kWh of energy per year. This equates to around 1,800 litres of oil, or between two and three tanks. Your heating oil usage will depend on your house size, how long you use your heating, and your boiler’s general condition.
To stay in control of your heating oil levels, you should regularly check your oil gauge. You can also ask us about getting a handy Smart Monitor fitted. This lets you check your heating oil levels directly from your phone, tablet or computer, wherever you are. It makes it simple to take control of how much you’re using and when you need to top up.
Is the government phasing out home heating oil?
No. Although the government is making plans to change the way we heat our homes, it is not phasing out domestic heating oil. UK homeowners can install an oil boiler in their home, and won’t have to replace it with a low-carbon system until it breaks down (this typically happens when a boiler is 10-15 years old).
At Certas Energy, our carbon offset initiative enables customers to compensate for their heating oil emissions by investing in carbon reducing projects. Find out more.
What type of oil is home heating oil?
Kerosene is the most common home heating oil used in a domestic setting. It’s also known as the 28-second, and is lighter and cleaner-burning in comparison to gas.
Learn more about home heating oil.
How do I order home heating oil?
Ordering home heating oil couldn’t be easier with Certas Energy. Find out how to order with these simple steps.
