In the UK, the majority of houses are connected to the National Grid to receive gas for heating them. Whilst this is convenient for most people, there are some downfalls – the cost of gas can fluctuate greatly, and we are seeing an increasing uncertainty in the future of gas supply and our energy companies in general, for example.

For people who are not connected to the National Grid for whatever reason – usually, because they are in more remote locations, a common way to heat their homes is through the use of heating oil. In this case, the property would have a heating oil tank in their garden which is regularly filled to store and supply oil to their home. There are several different types of heating oil tanks – including the plastic bunded oil tank, steel bunded oil tank, plastic single skin oil tank, and the steel single skin oil tank.

There are many benefits to using heating oil to heat your home. These include:

Price

Using oil to heat your home can have a big impact on the price that you will be paying for your heating. When you use oil, you will buy it in advance and independently, giving you the chance to shop around for the best price. If, for example, you find oil at a good price, you can buy more, lasting you longer – and vice versa. This also means that you are not at the mercy of gas and energy companies – many of whom are hiking their prices up drastically at the moment.

You also have the opportunity to buy in bulk which can be cheaper in the long run, and many oil companies also give discounts for loyal customers, which you can also take advantage of.

Tank Ownership

For people who use LPG gas, the tanks that are used are normally rented from the supplier. This means that you do not have any control over the tank and will have to pay a rental fee. With heating oil tanks, you will normally buy your own tank, giving you complete control over it, its upkeep, and maintenance, and, of course, there will be no rental fee. Heating oil tanks are also normally sold with a warranty, meaning that should something go wrong you will be covered.

Comfort, Temperature, and Environment

When it comes to the environment that is created by your oil heating, this is also preferable to many other home heating methods. Compared to other home heating methods, it keeps the air cleaner and heats up to a higher temperature than natural gas. This means that your home can also be warmer, quickly – as well as not create dirt, soot, or odours.

Control

One of the main benefits of having your home heating generated by oil is that you are independent of the mainline gas. This means that any damage to gas lines or energy companies will not affect you, keeping the control of your gas supply in your hands.

Energy Efficiency

Compared to other home heating methods, oil heating is incredibly energy efficient. This is excellent news not only for your pocket but also for the environment. With good insulation to prevent the heat from escaping, this can be even more efficient.

Heating Oil Tanks

Heating oil tanks will normally be stored separately from your house, usually in the garden. There are several different kinds of heating oil tanks. Some are made from plastic and others from steel. You can also get single skin heating oil tanks which consist of one ‘layer’ of protection between the oil and the surrounding area.

There are also ‘bunded’ heating oil tanks. These have two layers – they are, essentially, a tank within another tank. This means that the oil is better protected and there is less of a chance of any oil leaks into the local environment.

Specialised fire-resistant heating oil tanks can be used to give an extra level of protection when the tank is needed to be placed closer to fire hazards than is recommended. They have 30-minute fire resistance and are made with a fire retardant material incorporated into their design.

For people who have a small outside area or a garden that would be better off with a hidden heating oil tank, an underground heating oil tank could be the solution. These can be placed under the ground, meaning that the tank cannot be seen.

In the ever-increasingly uncertain world of gas supply, there are many reasons why using oil to heat your property could be a good idea. They can help you get more control over your home heating supply, its price, as well as being more efficient and better for your environment.