Does anyone know if oil filled/fueled central heating is any good?

Question

I've booked a cottage and this is the kind of heat they have. What is it exactly and why do they have it?

Gosh, I don't know if this is the right section for this question to be asked.

I hope I've not booked the cottage too far out in the wilds!

Answer 1

I have oil fired heating, I have had it for the last 20 years. It gives the same results as gas. The tank for the oil is outside, and if you are renting the property the owners will have made sure that there is plenty of oil. Nothing to worry about. Enjoy your break

Answer 2

Most houses in N Ireland (outside the greater Belfast area) have oil fired central heating and it has proven to work reliably and efficiently. We have an Aga that runs on oil, as well as the heating system. As long as you have oil in the tank you will be all right. Check with whoever you booked the cottage to ensure that this is the situation, because it may take the oil supplier a day or so to get round to delivery - and most would want to fill the tank. Hot water flows around the system and it doesn't matter what type of fuel heats it. Oil, gas or candles - it doesn't matter.

Answer 3

Many rural areas and small towns are not connected to a gas network so the best option for central heating is oil. An oil storage tank will be located to the rear of the property and this is used to fuel the boiler which heats the water and radiators. It is better than electric heaters as the radiators do not dry the air so much. I recently replaced my storage heaters with oil heating and find it so much better. I have lots of hot water and can time the heat to come on/off when I like. Like many people with oil heating I also have an open fire.

Answer 4

I have lived in a house for four years that is oil heated. There is a tank outside beside the house and it has to be filled with heating oil. After you need to push the reset button inside on your furnace. If ypur tank is completely empty, the lines from the oil tank to the furnace have to be "bled" This is done by unscrewing the lead pipe then letting the oil\wastes to pour freely into a can or bucket this also gets air out of the line. put it back together and you have heat. A minimum fill in our home costs 300 dollars. when we dont have that much we go to our gas station with a red gas can and fill it with 30 dollars and pour the deisl oil in ourselves. Usually this much last two to three days if we don;t crank the heat and it's not below zero degrees. If you keep ypur tank and furnace maintained and serviced it will cost you less because the furnace will run more efficiently. Thats all I know hope it helps. Most bigger homes like the one I rent now have replaced these and updated them with more moderen furnaces,gas ones I think? In our previous house bothy the heat and hot water were oil powered so it was really expensive.

Answer 5

We have it, we are in scotland. There is an external oil tank in the garden, and the cost to fill one up is about £350, around 30p per litre. I am not sure WHY but it can be quite cost effective. I filled mine up last April and then put another 500 litres (£150) a few weeks ago. so it works out about £40 a month over the year. It is just that the oil heats up the water and each radiator has its own thermostat which is great. I had storage heaters before this and it was a NIGHTMARE!

Answer 6

oil heat is commonplace in many parts of the northeast u.s.
typically a forced hot water, steam or warm air burner is used to heat the home. depending on the time of year you booked, the expected seasonal climate and the indoor temp you prefer, a typical heater should keep you comfy. the heater may also supply the hot water needs of the cottage.

oil filled (anti-freeze) systems are usually used in areas that reach freezing temps or lower, so the system will not freeze and be destroyed. however this does not apply to the water piping, supplying the water needs to sinks, toilets, showers, faucets, etc. you should make sure the cottage has proper water supply and storage (well, pump and tank), municipal water or the like. i would ask to see pictures of the property, inside and out, including all heat and water supply systems.

you will not need heat in June to august, in most parts of the u.s., just air conditioning, if it gets hot and muggy.

when, where are you booking this cottage?

Answer 7

All modern tank fuels such as this are really good at heating water and for central heating. Remember, the "oil" is the fuel that fires the boiler! So, with this in mind, you really need to asking questions of the boiler it's serving. These too are much, much better these days. The biggest worry among those of us that have to use tank fuels is the consumption rate of the fuel. They are, by and large, more costly to run than those used in towns and cities.

Answer 8

Oil heating is perfectly alright so long as you keep your oil tank topped up. Unfortunately, due to high fuel prices this is now not as cheap an option as it was. Also, you may find you need a boost from some other source while your radiators are warming up or if they are of an insuffiencient size for your room. Try a calor gas heater for this.

Answer 9

Oil fueled central heating is just like Gas Central Heating but using a different fuel that is all. If you oil filled night storage heaters however that's not so good!

Answer 10

It works fine, so long as you keep the oil tank full, lol.... I heat with oil, and they probably do it for the same reason as I do: it was the cheapest form of heat when they built the house.