Deciding Between Oil Heat And Propane
Posted on: 14 September 2015
Before the winter hits, it is important to decide how you are going to heat your home. What has worked in the past may not always be economical or feasible now. Two of the most common ways to heat a home include heating oil and propane. Both of these are designed to help heat your home effectively during the colder months. There are several variables that go into deciding what type of heating fuel you should stick with. In order to get started, you need to understand what the difference is in versatility, cost, and safety. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Costs of a Heating Fuel
One of the biggest factors in choosing which type of heating fuel you should go with is cost. Propane is cheaper than heating oil which can make it a top choice when it comes to price alone. Unfortunately, it can take quite a bit more propane to heat your home than it would by using heating oil. On average, propane will put out 91,500 BTUs per gallon, while heating oil will put out 138,500 BTUs per gallon. If you have a large house, you want to decide if the cheaper price is worth the amount of propane you are going to need. You also have to consider the cost of the heating system. Oil systems can be more expensive to purchase than gas heating systems. Overall, the cost of propane is typically much cheaper to use.
Safety of a Heating Fuel
Safety should always be important when considering what type of heating fuel you need. Heating oil is allowed to be stored in your home, while propane is required to be stored outside. Propane is considered highly flammable and explosive even at room temperature making it not as safe as heating oil. Preventative maintenance checks on both your propane and heating oil systems is ideal to ensure it remains safe. Overall, oil heat can prove to be much safer than propane.
Versatility of a Heating Fuel
Understanding how your heating fuel will be used is important when choosing between heating oil and propane. Overall, propane is considered more versatile because it can be used for swimming pools, generators, barbecues, and much more. Oil heat cannot be used for quite as much, but remains a very efficient heating source for many things like heaters, water, and cooking. If you have a large variety of things requiring a heating fuel, you will be better off going with propane.
For more information, consult with companies like Bay State Fuel Oil Inc.
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