Winter is the most treacherous of seasons. While you may be able to forget about the blustery winds and freezing cold temperatures during the warm summer, you know that those winter months are just around the corner. That is why making sure your home is properly heated is vital. When deciding on the proper heat source, consider oil heat. Oil heating systems have remained one of the most popular heating sources in homes. With close to 5.7 million households using this source, it is largely effective. There are a number of quality oil companies in the Boston area to choose from. Before you choose your oil company, there are some important topics to understand.

The Oil Heating Process

Two basic systems use oil heat in your home: furnaces and boilers. For furnaces, you can choose between atmospheric or modern minimum-efficiency furnaces. Atmospheric furnaces are older and do not operate at the same efficiency as the newer models. The venting process can be tricky. The exhaust air must be exceptionally hot for the venting process to work. Because of this, atmospheric furnaces waste about 30% of fuel energy in the process.

The modern minimum-efficiency furnaces have a much more effective process. They use fans to pull the exhaust air through a heat exchanger. The fan creates a draft and all gasses pass up through a chimney in the process. If you choose one of these models, you would be wise to pick a newer condensing model. In these models, less heat travels to the outside, making it more efficient. These furnaces do not just vent hot exhaust right away. The gases cool first, then the water vapor condenses and the exhaust expels outside.

The alternative to a furnace is a boiler. The main difference between boilers and furnaces is that boilers heat water. Boilers use radiators and baseboards to heat a home. After the heating process, any cooled water reverses back for reheating. Then the process can begin again. Although not as common as oil heaters, steam boilers are also used. Instead of oil, steam travels through the system, bringing heat to the radiators. After it condenses, gases are expelled through a chimney or sidewall. While searching for the right oil companies, it is important you speak with a heating contractor for any questions regarding what works best for your home.

Advantages of Heating Oil

There are many distinct advantages of using heating oil for your home. One such advantage is its efficiency. Since burners regularly put out the hottest flames, they are able to heat houses much more quickly. Heating oil also produces more heat per unit, or BTU, than other fuel sources.

Oil heat is also one of the most affordable heat sources. Oil prices have been dropping and are expected to maintain their low price. The average household saved about $245 on a 275-gallon tank. You can also save money by upgrading to a high-efficiency system. This could help you cut your fuel bills in half. Investing in a newer system will be a good return on investment. Heating oil is also cleaner than other fuel sources. It is non-toxic and biodegradable. Energy-efficient furnaces can cut your pollution in half.

Another big advantage of heating oil is reliability. Your oil company can send out their best heating contractors to settle any issues that might arise. There are a number of quality oil companies in Boston that you can find. Before you make your decision, pertinent research is vital. Check reviews of the oil companies and solicit recommendations from friends and family. By doing your research on heating oil companies now, you'll be ready to efficiently heat your home this winter.