Homeowners have a wide variety of heating options. Furnaces can run on electricity, wood, natural gas, propane, or fuel oil. All of these options have their pros and cons, but many homeowners choose to use fuel oil due to its balance of convenience and practicality. If you are buying a new furnace to prepare for winter, you have a choice in the fuel it will take. Many furnaces run on dual fuel sources, and if you choose one that has fuel oil as at least one of its options, you can benefit from the following features of this common heat source.
Consistent Fuel Source
Many homeowners in rural areas heat their homes with wood. Wood is a relatively inconvenient fuel source. In fact, it is so problematic that many home insurance companies require homeowners who heat with wood to have alternative heating sources on standby. If your wood-fired furnace goes out in the night and you don't notice until you struggle to get out of bed in the morning, your pipes could freeze. With fuel oil as either the primary or alternate source of fuel for your furnace, you never have to worry about your furnace going out. In the event that the wood box runs out of fuel, the furnace will immediately light its oil burner, saving your plumbing and preserving your comfort.
No Electricity Required
Wood isn't the only heat source that is prone to failure. Electricity can sometimes be problematic, especially for homeowners in rural areas. If you experience regular power outages, you need a furnace that doesn't rely on electricity at all. Most oil-fueled furnaces use pilot lights instead of electric lighters, and many aren't connected to the electrical system at all. In the event of a power outage, you may lose most of your modern conveniences, but if you have an oil-fueled furnace, you won't lose your heat. Since power outages are often more common in the winter due to severe weather, having a reliable, oil-fueled furnace could be more than a convenience: it could be a real necessity.
Convenient Fuel Delivery
Most homeowners with oil-fueled furnaces have large stores of fuel oil on their properties. Unlike propane, fuel oil doesn't need to be pressurized, and it isn't explosive, either. This makes fuel oil deliveries convenient, simple, and practical. Homeowners can purchase large, 1000-gallon tanks for a relatively inexpensive price, compared to propane tanks. Delivery is easy because fuel oil can simply be pumped from a truck without concerns about gas leaks. Overall, fuel oil is safe and convenient compared to propane or many other forms of heating fuel.
To learn more about heating oil, contact a heating oil delivery service in your area.
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