Whether you are managing an oil tank replacement or installing a new boiler, it can seem rather complicated until you understand what is happening. Ideally, you’ll have professionals installing the tank and boiler, as it can be difficult to do this on your own with good results.
An oil heating system is something that many households across the UK are now using to heat their home and to reduce their bills. You will be joining the ranks of those intelligent souls who have made a leap to the better option in home heating.
What is a Boiler, and How Does It Work?
Most people have a boiler or know of them but aren’t really sure how they work. It’s a good idea to understand the boiler replacement process before you make a purchase, so you can select the best option for your needs.
A boiler is essentially a tank that heats water. This water is then moved through the radiators and heating system of the home and used to keep everything at a comfortable temperature. There are several types of boilers and the options depend on the purpose of the boiler.
Combi boilers: These offer both hot water to your home and heating. They are divided with two heat exchangers. One heats the water for your taps and to ensure you have plenty of water to shower or bathe with, while the other is designed to heat the home and connects to the radiators to warm up the space. These boilers turn on to heat water or heat the home as needed.
Conventional boilers: This type of boiler is meant to heat the home and water. It includes a feed and expansion tank for extra water and for expansion. As the water level lowers, cold water is added, but if the water expands too much when hot, the expansion takes place into the tank. With this boiler, the hot water goes into a separate tank, keeping the hot water ready at all times. When you turn on the tap, the water will already be hot, instead of having to turn it on and wait.
System boilers: These use an extra hot water cylinder to help you maintain hot water ready to go. The system requires only a hot water cylinder and doesn’t need additional components like the traditional system. From the cylinder, hot water is directed to the taps or to the radiators as needed.
No matter which boiler you choose, you’ll have hot water and a warm home. They all work in a very similar manner but the parts are different.
The Benefits of Using an Oil Tank Boiler
Why would you want to use an oil boiler over another type? That depends on what you’re looking for, but there are some significant benefits to using oil for your heating.
It’s safe. Heating oil is extremely stable and non-explosive. It can burn, but it is one of the most stable choices for fuel available.
It’s efficient. Fuel oil is surprisingly efficient. This is thanks to the high BTU in oil, as opposed to the BTU found in an equal amount of any other type of fuel. Oil creates 140,000 BTUs of heat per gallon. If you were to use petrol for this same purpose, it would only produce 100,000.
It’s economical. Did you know that you will pay considerably less for oil heat than you would for natural gas or electric heat? This has to do with the amazing efficiency of heating oil. If you want to reduce your bills and save money, then heating with an oil boiler is the best option.
It lasts a long time. Oil boilers will last up to three decades, double the life of a gas furnace. While you certainly need to provide maintenance during that time, it is relatively easy to do and you will reap the benefits for years to come.
It’s not bad for the environment. Unlike many other fuels, heating oil doesn’t cause issues with the environment. It is not toxic and is non-carcinogenic. In addition, heating oil is biodegradable. This means it’s the best choice for your heating problem.
It burns hotter. Oil flames measure a whopping 300º hotter than natural gas flames. The end result is a rapid heating of your water. There is very little wait time once you turn up the heat or try to use hot water. The faster heat is very beneficial and makes this an even more efficient method of heating your home.
As you can see, oil heat is popular for a good reason. However, you should be aware of the other options before you choose an oil boiler. In the future, oil tank replacement is fairly simple, which makes it even more desirable. The whole process is one that every homeowner dreams of and all you need is a quality installer to handle the installation of your new boiler and oil tank.
Other Types of Fuel Boilers
What other choices do you have in a boiler? Heating comes in all forms. You can heat your home and water with electricity, but when it comes to boilers, you have a few other choices.
Natural gas is relatively inexpensive and it’s easy to find. However, it tends to be up to 90% methane gas, which can cause some serious ozone damage. It may be cheap, but natural gas will have a major impact on the environment, and this is the biggest reason to avoid it. It is, however, very easy to transport and burns clean.
Electric boilers are super efficient as they do not require a flue. No heat is lost this way and electric boilers tend to be small. That being said, electricity is expensive and it is not practical for anywhere that requires a significant amount of heat. For this reason, electric heat tends to be limited to private homes.
Coal is still used in solid fuel boilers, but it is not very energy dense unless you use anthracite coal. However, it does leave behind a huge amount of waste and does not burn clearly. Most coal will put off quite a bit of CO2, so it’s not good for the environment.
Another type of solid fuel is wood. While wood may be environmentally neutral, it has a pretty low BTU and leaves behind a lot of waste.
It’s fairly obvious that you will want to choose an oil boiler if you intend to be as efficient and low cost as possible.
The Installation Process and What to Expect
When you install an oil tank, it will need to meet regulations in order to be safe. This means it must be 8 metres from:
· Non-fire related building eaves
· Non-fire buildings and structures such as sheds
· Any openings in a fire rated building
· Liquid fuel terminals
It will also need to be a minimum of 760 mm from a boundary that is non-fire rated and 6 metres from any type of non-boundary screening, such as a trellis.
When choosing the location for your oil tank, be sure to make it easy for the driver of the tanker to drive up close to the tank. They’ll need to refill it annually or perhaps more often, so you will want the tank to be accessible without being an annoyance.
The base for the tank should be at least 300 mm from all sides of the tank and made from a solid material such as concrete, stones, or paving stones. It cannot be flammable. The tank will be placed on the base and then connected to the boiler before being filled. You can expect 1,000 litres to heat your home and water for around a year, depending on usage.
Once the company brings in your oil tank, they will situate it on the base and remove your old tank. It’s important to remove old pipes, as well, but this may not be possible. In some cases, the older pipes are encased in concrete or otherwise difficult to deal with. If this is the case and you cannot remove the pipes, just be sure to seal them off permanently so no one can use them in the future.
An oil tank and boiler will make it easier to keep your home warm and have so many benefits. You’ll come to appreciate them all.
Are you ready to install an oil tank boiler? Contact Gastech today and you won’t have to search for central heating engineers near me again!