With cold weather pounding North America in the winter, there are many questions about heating resources in the public arena. One of the biggest debates at present regards the choice between oil heat and natural gas as a home’s fuel source. This article explores this debate.
Oil Heat vs. Natural Gas
The rising cost of oil in the last few years had many people questioning their reliance on home heating oil. However, the natural gas industry has also increased its prices. The question really comes down to issues of safety, efficiency and a few other crucial issues.
Efficiency
When people begin to compare the prices of home heating oil and natural gas, remember that you are comparing apples and oranges. These two substances are very distinct and you have to burn different quantities in different ways to achieve the same amount of warmth.
Oil heat is actually much more efficient than natural gas and this has a big impact on your pocketbook when it comes time to pay the bill. Oil is a very efficient fuel source, performing at efficiency ratings up to 95%.
Furthermore, the annual cost of relying on oil heat is much lower than that for natural gas. Over the course of a year, consumers pay an average of 16% less on their heating bills when they opt for oil. This is due to the high BTU level available in a gallon of home heating oil, which burns 300 degrees hotter than natural gas. This will heat your home quickly as well as economically.
Safety
You do not hear about oil explosions in the news. Home heating oil is a very safe source of energy for your furnace. It is non-explosive. If a leak in the supply line should occur, there is relatively little danger. Even applying a match to the leaking oil would not cause a fire because home heating oil must be vaporized before it will burn.
In contrast, leaking natural gas will definitely burst into flames in the presence of such a heat source. Preventing this requires a lot of equipment maintenance that you do not need to worry about when you use home heating oil.
Abundance
Scare tactics often refer to the impending end of the oil supply but this is misleading. There are over 30 oil-producing countries in the world today. In addition, a lot of oil suitable for home heating is produced right here in North America. The oil supply is in good shape for the foreseeable future.
Environmental Impact
Oil heat is also environmentally friendly. This resource is 95% cleaner today than it was 40 years ago. It is just as clean as natural gas. You will not have to worry about residue or powerful odors with home heating oil.
Access
Switching over to gas usually means changing suppliers and putting in new equipment. Oil heat is already available in nearly 29 million American homes. You never have to worry about having the ability to provide heat for your home.
Ignore the doomsayers who repeat quotes about rising prices. The fact is that prices rise for everything. However, home heating oil has actually risen in value slower than the consumer price index. You get more for your dollar when you pay for oil heat than you do paying for just about anything else. Clearly, oil heat for your home is the best, category by category.