The Benefits And Risks Using Heating Oil

A popular method for heating homes in the U.S., especially in northeast areas of the country such as New York, is using oil as a fuel for furnaces or boilers. Heating oil has a low viscosity and is extremely flammable, making it the perfect fuel for residential and commercial furnaces.

Heating oil is delivered to homes and businesses by tank truck and stored in above-ground oil tanks, typically located in garages, basements, or outside near the building. Heating oil can also be stored in underground storage tanks, but due to potential leaks and damage they might cause to soil, plant life and wild life, these are much less common. Another factor prompting most people to choose and above-ground oil tank in New York is the cost factor.

It is understandably more expensive to install an oil tank under ground than above-ground, and therefore most people tend to choose the less expensive, less risky option.
Heating oil is a remarkably efficient choice for heating ones home or commercial building; boiler and forced air furnace manufacturers have perfected the designs of oil fueled burners and boilers to increase oil burner efficiency in forced air furnace to up to 98%. Most forced air furnaces maintain an efficiency around 86%. This also makes Heating oil a popular choice.

To maintain this high level of efficiency, oil is pumped from the oil tank and highly pressurized and then forced through a filtered nozzle, into an atomized spray pattern where it is ignited by a step-up transformer. The energy created travels down brass conductors commonly called buzz bars to the electrodes and produces a spark. With the airflow provided by a grate in the oil-burner, the spark ignites residual oil droplets. Using a combustion chamber, the flame is contained, and flue gases are ventilated through the heat exchanger. The heat of the flue gases is transferred through the walls of the heat exchanger as they pass to the chimney, and a fan, or some type of blower unit circulates the heat throughout the house.

Oil tanks in New York have been known to occasionally get leaks, which is of course an environmental concern. Various federal and state regulations are in place regarding the proper transportation, storage and burning of heating oil, which is classified as a hazardous material by federal regulators. Fines and remediation costs resulting from oil leaks can be pretty steep, and may be a deterrent for some people from choosing heating oil. It is strongly suggested to anyone considering installing an oil tank in New York to choose a homeowners insurance policy that include coverage for oil leaks.