Relax, Oil Is The Best Way To Heat Your Home.
For years, you have been hearing competing claims about which fuel is best to heat your home. These "fuel war" claims can be confusing, to say the least. However, when you look at the facts, it's clear that oil is the least expensive, that it burns as cleanly as natural gas and that it's safe.In order to compare annual operating costs, you need to think in terms of heating units, called BTUs. The BTU content of the various fuels is as follows:
- Fuel Oil - 140,000 BTUs per gallon
- Propane - 91,300 BTUs per gallon
- Natural Gas - 100,000 BTUs per therm
- Electricity - 3,412 BTUs per kilowatt
Because of heavy advertising by gas companies, many people believe that gas burns cleaner than heating oil. That claim is not true. According to emission ratings developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, modern oil burners burn equally as clean as natural gas.
When it comes to safety, oil heating equipment has an unparalleled record. Oil is not explosive and is not even flammable until it is heated to 140°F. In addition, when it comes to carbon monoxide emissions, oil is safer than gas. So relax, oil is the best way to beat your home.
