With the current cost of living crisis and high energy prices, we’re all becoming more and more aware of how much we’re spending. As we head into the colder winter months, fuel costs will be at the forefront of most of our minds as we all turn on our oil central heating, and whilst we’re all doing what we can to save energy this autumn, it’s useful to know how quickly you’re likely to burn your heating oil so you can estimate how much you’re going to need throughout the year and can plan ahead and budget for when you will need to top up your heating oil tank.
If you’re new to your property and have moved into a home that has an existing oil central heating boiler, you can always ask the old occupiers how much fuel they used, although this can only really give a rough guide as we all have different requirements when it comes to heating our homes. For instance, some of us like it warmer than others, and some are out at work all day, whilst others are at home so may want the heating on much more. Discover why you're using so much heating oil.
So how much heating oil will I use over a year?
It all depends on a number of factors, and so there is no exact figure and only rough estimates, as the amount of domestic heating oil we all use will vary according to our own individual circumstances. Discover our top tips for increasing the efficiency of your heating oil system.
Energy is measured in Watts, although the common measurement is in kilowatts (KW), with one kilowatt equivalent to 1,000 Watts. To work out your energy usage, you need to know how long your heating is on for in hours so the total energy in use can be measured in kilowatt hours (kWh).
The average UK home heating oil household will use approximately 27 kWh of energy a year. Kerosene contains approximately 10.35kWh of energy per litre, so this translates to usage of around 2,500 litres of heating oil a year for an average-sized property.
It goes without saying, of course, that the majority of heating oil consumed will be throughout the colder winter months, with little being used in the summertime, although it’s often a good idea to buy in the summer when historically prices have tended to be lower due to reduced demand. Want to know if it's a good time to buy your heating oil? Check out our blog where we discuss the recent factors affecting your fuel prices.
What other things affect my heating oil usage?
The size of your house:
Generally speaking the bigger the house, the more it will take to heat, and as such the more heating oil will be used. Additional heat sources such as wood burning stoves or open fires, however, can reduce a property’s reliance on heating oil, and hence reduce consumption.
The age of your property:
Older properties can often be more likely to have inadequate insulation, be more drafty and have less efficient heating systems than newer homes. However, this may not always be the case as energy efficiency home improvements such as upgrading insulation, replacing single-pane windows with double-glazed ones and installing an efficient modern heating system will reduce fuel usage and heating bills.
Heating full on?
It might sound obvious, but how warm you like your home, and how much you have your heating on each day affects the amount of heating oil you use - the warmer you like it, the more fuel you will use, and the more it will cost you to heat your home.
A simple way to cut down your usage is to turn down your thermostat. The Energy Savings Trust estimates your annual heating bill will increase by about 10% for every degree you turn the thermostat up. And by keeping temperatures down in rooms that aren’t used, or even turning the radiators off and keeping doors closed can reduce usage.
How well insulated your home is:
Factors like whether you’ve got loft and/or cavity wall insulation, and the number and size of your windows will affect how much heat is lost. The Energy Savings Trust estimates that a quarter of heat is lost through the roof on an uninsulated home although different types of properties will lose different proportions of heat. Our blog on reducing heat lost at home provides some useful information and tips which can help you keep your heating oil bills down.
The condition and efficiency of your heating oil boiler:
The condition of your boiler can significantly affect the amount of heating oil you use. A badly maintained oil central heating boiler will be less efficient in converting fuel into heat, whilst keeping your system well maintained will ensure it operates efficiently. Whilst heating oil boilers have an excellent service record and typically can last for 15 to 20 years, they do need looking after to keep them running in tip-top condition, and to their maximum efficiency. Discover more tips on how to extend the lifespan of your Heating Oil Boiler.
An annual boiler service will do just that! It makes sense to have your boiler serviced in the summertime if possible and you should always use an OFTEC registered oil heating engineer. And to get the very best out of your boiler, upgrading to Premium Heating Oil, which optimizes performance, makes your boiler up to 15% more efficient, and is cleaner burning, will reduce your running costs as well as reduce potential costly boiler breakdowns and servicing problems.
External temperatures
Now this is something that’s not within your control, but it’s a fact that the outside temperature does have a direct impact on the amount of heating oil you’ll use. The warmer it is, the less you’ll rely on your oil central heating, whilst the opposite is true – the colder it is outside, the harder your heating system will work and the more heating oil will be required to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Which does mean that your oil usage can fluctuate from year to year, even if all other factors are the same.
Don’t leave it till the last minute to order!
So whilst there is no set answer to the question ‘How much oil do I need to heat my home?’ there are steps you can take to make sure you use your home heating oil efficiently, such as regular maintenance, insulation, and general energy efficiency measures. In addition, avoiding ordering at times of peak demand such as the run up to Christmas or in extreme weather conditions is always advisable as prices tend to rise, and we always recommend you order your oil in plenty of time ahead of the busy winter period. Don’t leave it until the last minute!
A tank gauge such as our Oil Fox Monitor will help you keep an eye on your heating oil levels. It's an easy and reliable way to monitor your oil level. And if you order your fuel from us, our new My Account helps you monitor your usage, request a top up and much more.
If you’d like to discuss your individual usage, or even place an order, our friendly and experienced customer service team is here to help. Give us a call on 01423 770 666, email us at helpoil@northernenergy.co.uk, or to place an order online, click here.