| An oil boiler is used as a heating system. There | | | | passed that will require all oil fueled furnaces to be |
| are several different types of heating systems | | | | retrofitted or replaced to make them more fuel |
| that will produce heat for a home. An oil boiler | | | | efficient. May of the oil boiler systems have |
| creates steam heat that is used in conjunction | | | | already been retrofitted and there is a trend to |
| with radiators to heat a home. | | | | use oil mixes to conserve energy. Oil mixes can |
| History | | | | be three parts oil and one part bio fuel. Using oil |
| At the turn of the nineteenth century the most | | | | blends or oil mixes are a great way to reduce the |
| popular heating fuel was coal. The coal was | | | | impact on fuel consumption. |
| delivered and dumped down a chute into cellars | | | | How They Work? |
| throughout the Northeast. The coal was than hand | | | | An oil boiler, uses water and steam to heat a |
| shoveled into the furnace and through a series of | | | | home. The water is boiled under pressure and |
| duct work the heat would rise into the home. This | | | | rises up through a series of pipes that typically |
| was a bit of a cumbersome task; the coal would | | | | end in iron radiators. The iron radiators heat up |
| have to be replenished numerous times | | | | and the room is warmed by radiant heat. Typically |
| throughout the day and the night to keep the | | | | there are riser pipes that are exposed and go |
| home fires burning. There were some other | | | | from one level to the next carrying the steam. |
| issues with coal as well. Coal was not very clean | | | | Some folks find these heating systems a bit |
| burning; it left soot everywhere when it burned. | | | | unsightly because of the exposed pipes and the |
| The shoveling and storage of the coal was also an | | | | big metal radiators. The system itself works |
| issue. | | | | pretty good at heating a room up. |
| Oil replaced coal as the primary fuel source to | | | | Other Options |
| heat homes. Oil fueled furnaces are still the | | | | Unfortunately in some areas of the country at |
| primary heating source across most of the north | | | | this time there are not many options for |
| east because there is not large enough reserves | | | | producing heat in a home. Particularly the |
| of natural gas. | | | | northeast has limited means to heating a home |
| Energy Conservation | | | | efficiently. The winters can be harsh and electric |
| Energy conservation has become quite an | | | | driven heat is not only very expensive but it also |
| important topic, and oil heat has not escaped | | | | just does not burn as hot as oil fueled systems |
| scrutiny. Many of the older systems that are in | | | | do. Until someone comes along with a better plan, |
| place are not very energy efficient. There is | | | | oil boiler driven heat will remain in place. |
| some indication that there is legislation that will be | | | | |