Clean!
Modern Oilheat systems are among the cleanest of combustion devices. New oil burners release near zero levels of smoke and combustion discharge. Residential oil burners produce less than one-third of one per cent (.003) of total particulate emissions in the U.S. each year. Emissions from residential gas burners are about the same as from equivalent size oil burners, according to government research agency studies. Neither fuel releases particulate matter of any consequence. While electric heat at the point of use has no emissions at all, the power plant creating the electricity may be giving off significant emissions depending on how power is generated.

Environmentally Sound!
Heating oil is environmentally benign. It is non-toxic, contains no carcinogens, and is biodegradable. Competitor innuendos and exaggerated media reports that depict heating oil as an environmental hazard are unjustified. Residential oil tanks do not present a threat to human health or the environment. A properly installed and maintained oil tank can last for decades. Oilheat has the least environmental impact of any type of space heating and hot water fuel, attributable to its high efficiency and clean burning. Natural gas and propane are similarly benign, while electric, coal, and wood heat are far more detrimental to air quality.

Security!
Oilheat enables you to have a supply of fuel oil stored safely on your property. Do not worry about the weather, because the oil in your tank is yours to use for heat and hot water whenever you want. By comparison, in extremely cold weather, natural gas customers can be subject to pres suredrops in the pipelines. A severe pressure drop can result in total loss of heat.

Economically Smart!
The price of energy in the region where you live is the most dominant influence on total heating costs. For example: The installed cost of an electric heat system may look attractive, but when you calculate the annual operating costs for electric power in particular, any first time savings vanish. For the past four years the cost for Oilheat has been consistently lower than comparable natural gas costs. In climate regions of the country where Oilheat is dominant, the cost to a homeowner for utility supplied natural gas in 1995 can be as much as 40% more than Oilheat! Energy analysts do not foresee that the price advantage for Oilheat will diminish any time soon.

A Sensible Selection!
Heating oil prices are 2.5 to 5.5 times lower than electricity. Converting from electric to Oilheat can substantially reduce energy costs. Electric water heaters are very inefficient (about 29% AFUE). The potential savings for converting an electric water heater to an oil-fired unit range from $101 to $467 or more a year depending on your electric utility's rates. There are many old gas heaters operating at less than 70% efficiency. In the majority of cases, converting to efficient Oilheat would provide a very good payback.

Safe!
Oil, gas, and electric heat all have commendable safety records when the equipment is installed properly and maintained regularly. However, when heating units malfunction safety hazards can occur. Should that situation arise, Oilheat offers important safety advantages: Heating oil is non-explosive. If a heating oil leak should occur, it is not an explosive hazard. When natural gas or propane leaks, an explosive mixture of air and fuel forms rapidly. Heating oil will not burn in a liquid state. If you were to place a lit match into a vial of heating oil, the match would be extinguished because heating oil in liquid form is well below its flash point of 140°F, the temperature at which it begins to vaporize in order to fire inside a burner. By contrast, natural gas and propane will burst into flames when mixed with air if a match is struck in their presence.

A Special Home Safety Message
The risk of exposure to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) is substantially less with Oilheat than natural gas, propane, or wood heat. Carbon monoxide cannot be detected by one's senses, but prolonged exposure to it can cause injury and even death.

Properly set and maintained oil and gas burners produce very low, safe levels of CO as a normal part of the combustion process. But should there be a malfunction, oil is the safer fuel.