Oilheat: Safety Facts

When choosing a home heating fuel, one of the biggest considerations is safety. Though both heating oil and natural gas are used safely in millions of households every day, Oilheat has some significant safety advantages over natural gas:

• No Risk of Explosion — Natural gas is volatile and can explode if a leak occurs, and has been cited as the cause of numerous explosions. Oilheat is stable and non-flammable; it must be heated to 140 degrees and converted into a vapor before it will ever ignite. In fact, you can drop a match into a container of heating oil, and the match would go out, just as if it had been dropped in water.

• Extremely Low Carbon Monoxide Risk – When natural gas systems malfunction, they produce deadly, invisible and odorless carbon monoxide, giving no warning that a dangerous problem exists. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires. On the other hand, when an oil-heated system malfunctions, it will provide clear signs that something is wrong — such as smoke or odors — before releasing dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Most heating system issues can be repaired by a trained technician without putting anyone in danger.

Of course, safety is just one of many considerations when choosing a home fuel source. Before making this important decision, contact us today to learn the facts that will help you make the best decision for you and your family.