With the current cost of living crisis, many of us are feeling the pinch and looking to save money where we can. As we get ready for spring and the warmer weather to come, heating our homes is still a major expense for householders and can account for a significant portion of the household budget. The cost is dependent on many factors other than just the price, such as the efficiency of the heating system, how well a property is insulated, weather conditions, and even personal preferences as to how warm you like to keep your home.
Whilst there are different ways we can manage expenses and reduce our heating costs through energy-efficient practices and smart usage habits, in this blog we’re going to take a look at domestic heating oil additives. Often claimed by heating oil suppliers to maximise performance and efficiency of heating systems, and prevent some of the most common problems, we’ll look at whether they’re a good idea, how they work, and whether they are truly better for your pocket and worth the additional cost.
What are heating oil additives?
Heating oil creates a high carbon residue which can lead to the build-up of sludge as well as reduced boiler efficiency. Heating oil additives are chemical compounds that are added to fuels such as heating oil to improve performance in terms of quality and burning efficiency. There are a number of different additives on offer, but the most common ones, some of which are scented, are designed specifically for domestic heating oil boilers and range cookers. They are designed to remove impurities and keep your central heating and/or range cooker healthy and running efficiently.
Do heating oil additives work?
In short – yes! They are effective in keeping your system in good working order so you can benefit from a more efficient, cleaner and healthier oil fired central heating system. Plus, as they work in your existing system with no upgrade requirements, you can start using additives at any time. They provide many tangible benefits which include:
-
Increased boiler/cooker efficiency – additives help your oil heating system work more efficiently. They’re designed to improve combustion within the boiler, resulting in a more complete burn, reduce emissions keeping nozzles cleaner, and produce less carbon build-up. The result - you will use less oil over time, saving you money.
-
The prevention of sludge build-up – using additives will help to avoid deposit and sludge build-up. Such build-up can clog pipes and heat exchangers, and block burners which can in turn damage your heating oil boiler and possibly resulting in expensive repairs.
-
Protect your heating oil tank - additives contain corrosion inhibitors that can extend the lifespan of your tank by reducing corrosion. They help stop rust, and in addition, by switching from regular kerosene to heating oil with an additive, it can help break down sludge that is already in your tank. Furthermore, the presence of water in your tank, which can happen due to condensation as the outside temperature differs to the interior tank temperature, can result in bacterial growth. Additives inhibit microbe growth and remove impurities, helping to keep your system clean.
-
Less soot deposits – additives will also help reduce problems such as the build-up of soot in your oil-fired heating system. Over time, soot will build up on the nozzle and heat exchanger surfaces when using untreated fuel in your boiler, reducing the thermal efficiency and meaning your boiler will need to work harder to fire up and cut out more frequently. Additives work to reduce the build-up of deposits and therefore ensure your boiler continues to run more efficiently.
-
Reduces risk of breakdowns – because fuel mixed with additives is cleaner burning and reduces the accumulation of deposits in the boiler and fuel system, the likelihood of problems such as fuel line blockages is reduced meaning reduced wear and tear and fewer unexpected boiler breakdowns, lock-outs and servicing problems. All leading to long-term savings.
-
Extended shelf life – fuel degrades over time, but additives will keep your home heating oil fresher for longer. Many additives contain antioxidants and stabilisers which prevent heating oil from deteriorating and help it to burn more efficiently at higher temperatures. This also means that you can buy in bigger quantities, and as many heating oil suppliers charge more for small-volume deliveries, this can lead to cost-savings too.
-
Environmentally friendlier – as your fuel remains fresher when mixed with an additive, your heating oil boiler will burn more efficiently and cleaner, lowering the emissions of pollutants such as carbon monoxide, SO2, NOx, and particulate matter (PM). In fact, you’ll benefit from up to 15% improved boiler efficiency.
Upgrade to our Premium Heating oil
As we have seen, additives have many benefits. As they work in a preventative way to improve the quality and burning efficiency of your fuel, regular use can contribute to the long-term improved cleanliness and efficiency of your central heating system, protecting your heating oil boiler, and prolonging the life of your tank. So, if you've not already done so, it could be time to upgrade.
Our Premium Heating Oil is specially formulated to make your boiler run at its best and deliver long-term savings. It’s standard kerosene with boiler additive added. It has a mixture of anti-oxidants, dispersants, detergents, corrosion inhibitor, metal deactivator, and other fuel stabilisers to keep your fuel fresh. So when it comes down to it, our Premium Heating Oil will reduce your running costs and improve fuel efficiency, saving you money in the long run.
You can purchase our Premium Heating Oil online or by calling us. It’s also included at no additional cost as one of the valuable benefits of our Premium Package, or if you’re a monthly saver on our Flexi Saver Plan, you’ll also receive it at no extra cost. If you would like to know more, call us on 01423 770 666.
Then there's our cooker additive for use in range-style cookers such as AGAs, Rayburns or other appliances where vaporising burners are being utilised. It's a specialist fuel additive that can be added to your tank by your delivery driver when you receive your order of heating oil.
Or if you’re interested in knowing more about heating oil prices and whether it’s a good time to buy, check out our blog which gives you all the latest information.
No substitute for regular maintenance
One final important point – upgrading to our Premium Heating Oil which contains an additive should never be a replacement for your boiler service which should always be done annually or in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
We would always recommend your service is carried out by a qualified OFTEC-registered oil heating engineer. And as we head further into spring and look forward to lighter evenings and warmer days, it’s the perfect time to get your boiler serviced when you’re not reliant on your central heating to keep you warm in the daytime. That's because your boiler will need to be turned off an hour or so before your engineer can service it so it can cool down.