{"id":2339,"date":"2019-12-13T09:43:02","date_gmt":"2019-12-13T14:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dandelionenergy.com\/?p=2339"},"modified":"2023-07-27T17:08:18","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T21:08:18","slug":"confessions-of-an-oil-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dandelionenergy.com\/confessions-of-an-oil-man","title":{"rendered":"Confessions of an Oil Man"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s Note: This post was written by a former oil technician who prefers to remain anonymous. Everything herein is true. <\/em><\/p>\n

Each year, millions of households across the U.S. burn home heating oil to stay warm during the winter season. I\u2019m writing this blog post to tell you why you should stop. <\/span><\/p>\n

Who am I?<\/b> I worked for nearly 10 years as an oil technician at a \u201cdownstate\u201d NY HVAC company. That\u2019s about a decade\u2019s worth of time spent servicing thousands of furnaces and boilers. I got my hands dirty — literally and figuratively. <\/span><\/p>\n

The heating oil industry is known for being \u201cdirty\u201d and old fashioned. The last actual innovation in combustion technology (ie burning fuel to create heat) was the development of a flame retention burner in the 1960s. Over the last 50+ years, technology seems to have transformed every industry <\/span>except<\/span><\/i> oil. Consider 2-day shipping, smart phones, the <\/span>internet<\/span><\/i>. And it isn\u2019t like homeowners haven\u2019t noticed exactly how antiquated their heating systems<\/a> are. The vast majority of customers I interacted with lamented their oil furnace. They just didn\u2019t feel they had a choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, you might be thinking: what\u2019s wrong with oil? Besides the cost (expensive) and the environmental impact (bad), it\u2019s just not that great of a way to heat your home. Below, check out some of the main fuel oil disadvantages I\u2019ve seen firsthand.<\/span><\/p>\n

3 Fuel Oil Disadvantages<\/h2>\n

Frequent System Maintenance<\/b><\/h3>\n

Oil-fired boilers require frequent maintenance because heating oil is inherently unstable.<\/span>
\n<\/span>Heating oil sits idly in its storage tank when it\u2019s in-between oil deliveries. Over time, it becomes contaminated by water and bacteria until it breaks down into thick sludge.<\/span><\/p>\n

This sludge makes its way from the oil tank into the fuel lines, the filter, and eventually the burner itself – causing the heat to go out (and necessitating a service visit). Continuous maintenance is unfortunately the only way to prevent sludge from clogging up these critical components. This usually means an annual visit or two for the sole purpose of replacing all filter elements, pump strainers, and burner nozzles to ensure your system works during heating season. <\/span><\/p>\n

Oil Leaks<\/b><\/h3>\n

Underground and external oil tanks tend to rust and rot because they\u2019re constantly exposed to the harsh elements. I received near-constant customer complaints and service calls about oil leaks. <\/span><\/p>\n

You know the signs – an empty 550 gallon tank, a large patch of dead grass on the lawn, the overwhelming smell of oil. Sadly, these indicators were usually the only way to know if an underground tank had sprung a leak, and by then it was too late. <\/span><\/p>\n

An oil leak is every homeowner\u2019s worst nightmare because the yard needs to be dug up, the oil tank removed and replaced, and the soil remediated — all at an exorbitant cost. What else are you going to do <\/span>except<\/span><\/i> pay the bill?<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Other sources of oil discharge inside the home include ruptured oil lines and filter gaskets. These can result in anything ranging from a small puddle of oil to gallons pooling around your basement. The potential property damage is unimaginable. Even after extensive clean up efforts, your house will <\/span>still<\/span><\/i> reek of oil fumes. <\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Oil Deliveries<\/b><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s say your furnace or boiler is working exactly the way it\u2019s intended. Your oil tank still needs to be filled for it to function. Unfortunately, I know automatic fuel deliveries often arrive too late, causing the heat to go out when it\u2019s needed the most — in the dead of winter. To make matters worse, once an oil tank is empty, a service call is always needed to prime the system. A diligent technician will be sure to also replace the aforementioned filter elements. Otherwise, they\u2019ll likely become clogged with freshly stirred up sediment and sludge from the bottom of the oil tank. And if your technician forgets to replace these components? You can count on another service visit (and <\/span>another<\/span><\/i> service bill). <\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s The Alternative To Oil?<\/b><\/h2>\n

No one likes fuel oil. It\u2019s dirty, it\u2019s inefficient, and it can wreak havoc on your home. Thankfully, heating alternatives <\/span>do<\/b> exist, and they\u2019re gaining popularity. Check out options like natural gas, air-source heat pumps, and geothermal systems. I\u2019m bullish on geothermal systems because they\u2019re just about the exact opposite of oil-based systems.<\/span><\/p>\n