Did you know that home heating oil is similar to diesel, and the main difference between them is their varying viscosity? Widely used in central heating systems for homes around the globe, it is known for its affordability and clean-burning. Home heating oil is also known as domestic heating oil and is a primary necessity in cold countries or locations that experience particularly harsh winters. However, the latest technologies and advancements have brought us much cleaner variants of home heating oils that do not harm the environment with their emissions or byproducts.

If you’re wondering when to buy your heating oil and how much does your home need to keep the warmth running, here is our take on it.

When Do You Buy Home Heating Oil?

Taking into account all heating oils, the sunny summer season would be the best time to get your supply. This is due to the simple concept of demand and supply. The price of heating oil would shoot up in winters and colder times of the year because everyone needs it to stay warm. Look for a reputable heating oil distributor that will give you the best pricing, because they themselves buy heating oil in bulk and so they in turn are better able to pass on the lower prices. You can also check out more educational questions from an energy industry blog, which will be able to explain the technical aspects behind heating oil elaborately.

How Much Heating Oil Should You Buy?

A lot of homes seen off the grid today have a fuel tank of about 1000 liters which is enough to serve them well for a few cold months till they need a refill. However, if you live in a house that has an oil-fired boiler to keep the heat going, it is best to take stock of roughly how much home heating oil you will need. It can be hard to tell what an accurate volume of your requirement is. So, you can use the parameters below to come up with an estimate and add a buffer for your fuel so you never run dry throughout the year.

1)    How large or small is your home?

2)    How effective is your home insulation?

3)    How old is your home?

4)    Do you need heating only in the peak of winters, or every day throughout the year where you live?

5)    How many rooms would you want to keep heated?

6)    What is the duration that you want the house to keep warm in a day?

7)    What is the capacity and performance of your boiler? 

You can draft an accurate figure of the fuel required by your home annually by dividing the kilowatt-hours worth of use obtained from the heater annually by the energy each liter of heating oil gives (kerosene gives you about 10.35 KW-h).

Conclusion:

If you want to save unnecessary price hikes on your home heating fuel, make sure to place your orders well before the chill sets in.  Pay attention to the prices of crude oil. The reason why companies do not offer fixed rates on heating oil is the same; crude prices keep fluctuating in the domestic and international markets.We hope our advice helps you keep your house warm!