Heating oil additives are fuel oil additives (chemicals) that help improve the efficiency of your tank’s combustion. When you add an additive to your fuel, you are changing some of your fuel’s alterable specifications like viscosity (the measurement of the thickness of your fuel) or flash point (the temperature needed to create a spark).
What are the benefits of heating oil treatments?
Heating oil additives are fuel oil additives (chemicals) that help improve the efficiency of your tank’s combustion. When you add an additive to your fuel, you are changing some of your fuel’s alterable specifications like viscosity (the measurement of the thickness of your fuel) or flash point (the temperature needed to create a spark).
What are heating oil additives and do they work?
Mar 18, 2022 · Heating oil is used for space and water heating. Heating oil and diesel fuel are closely related petroleum products called distillates. Heating oil is sold mainly for use in boilers and furnaces (for space heating) and in water heaters. Heating oil delivery.
Why ultraguard heating oil treatment?
Nov 12, 2015 · Heating oil stabilizers Fuel stabilizers and antioxidants have been around for a long time, because it was recognized long ago that petroleum fuels needed help resisting attack from environmental influences. The most effective home heating additives will have some kind of stabilizer in them. Biocides
What are heating oil stabilizers?
From time to time you should treat your oil tank with a heating oil additive. There are many on the market but the one we like is called “Hot 4 in 1” heating oil additive. It’s a very popular product because it eliminates water and sludge build up which causes clogged nozzles, filters and strainers, and makes furnace burn fuel more efficiently. One 16 ounce bottle treats up to a 275 …
Should I put an additive in my heating oil?
Keeping your oil treated and clean will prevent heavy maintenance bills and the possibility of boiler break down. Additives also prevent carbon build up that can block injectors and ultimately create insufficient combustion. Making your appliance as efficient as possible is the key to keeping Heating Oil bills down.Nov 11, 2019
Is oil tank treatment necessary?
When Is It Time for a Home Oil Tank Cleaning? To avoid problems associated with sludge, plan on scheduling home oil tank cleaning every three to five years, depending on how much oil you use annually. Other issues that prompt more frequent tank cleaning are loose vent caps that let in air, moisture and insects.Mar 15, 2015
Are kerosene additives worth it?
This will increase the shelf-life of fuel and improve system efficiency. Overall, additives will not save you a huge amount of money initially, but they will save you on maintenance costs, increase shelf-life, and prevent your oil from degrading, keeping it fresh.
What is fuel oil additive?
Heating oil additives are fuel oil additives (chemicals) that help improve the efficiency of your tank's combustion.Sep 15, 2017
Do oil tank additives work?
The more impurities in your tank, the less efficient your system will be. Additives help to remove impurities and return your system to its efficient state. They can emulsify water droplets, which can then prevent bacterial growth.Mar 18, 2021
What should an oil tank sit on?
Base requirements: The tank must be sited on a fireproof base (such as concrete or stone slabs) The base must be at least 50mm thick - if using paving slabs - on a compact and blinded hardcore base OR 100mm or concrete. It must extend 300mm around the perimeter of the oil storage tank.Sep 23, 2019
Whats the difference between heating oil and premium kerosene?
Most domestic fuel suppliers offer the choice between Standard Kerosene and Premium Kerosene heating oil to warm up your home. Premium heating oil is quite simply, standard kerosene, with an additive, which is usually added at the point of delivery and works to improve the efficiency of your heating fuel.Mar 11, 2019
What is the difference between kerosene and premium kerosene?
Premium kerosene is a cleaner and greener fuel With its high quality fuel additives, premium kerosene home heating oil will help your boiler produce less CO2 than standard kerosene making it cleaner, greener and more efficient.Dec 20, 2017
What is the best kerosene additive?
HYDRA VULCAN Heating Oil Additive, Best Additive for Heating Oil For Home, use to Make Premium Kerosene. Contains heavy duty detergents, which will clean injectors and burners. Dissolves sludge in fuel tanks and removes accumulated soot deposits from system. Because combustion is improved, fuel consumption is reduced.
How do I get rid of sludge in my oil tank?
Drain the Oil Tank. First, you must drain all the oil and loosen the sludge from the tank. ... Scrub the Excess Sludge. Once all the water has drained out, use your cleaning rags to wipe off any stubborn grime and sludge around the drain. ... Add Cleaner. ... Dry the Tank and Refill the Oil. ... Dispose of the Sludge Safely.Dec 22, 2020
How do you keep fuel oil from gelling?
Using blended heating oils — A mix of diesel and kerosene will lower the gel point of the heating oil. Cover your heating oil tank — Build a shed around your heating oil tank to insulate it against the elements. Bury your fuel line — If you have an aboveground heating oil line, consider burying it.
How do you get water out of a fuel oil tank?
How to Remove the Water From Your Oil TankDrain It: If you have a metal oil tank, check for a sludge valve on the bottom of the tank. You can drain water out by opening this valve. ... Pump It: If you have a plastic tank that is not equipped with a sludge valve, you can siphon out the water with a hand pump.Sep 13, 2018
What is the color of heating oil?
Heating oil is dyed red. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires heating oil and other distillate fuels that are not for highway use to be colored with a red dye. The red color identifies the fuel as exempt from the federal, state, and local taxes applied to fuels sold for use on public roadways and as illegal for use in vehicles ...
What is heating oil used for?
Heating oil is made used for space and water heating. Heating oil and diesel fuel are closely related petroleum products called distillates. Heating oil is sold mainly for use in boilers and furnaces (for space heating) and in water heaters. Heating oil delivery.
Which states have ultra low sulfur heating oil?
In 2012, New York became the first state to require ultra-low sulfur heating oil (ULSHO)—heating oil to have a sulfur content of 15 parts per million or less. Delaware and New Jersey transitioned to OLSHO in 2016, and all six New England states transitioned to ULSHO on July 1, 2018.
Is heating oil a biofuel?
This blended heating oil is generally 5% biodiesel by volume.
Why are fuel stabilizers important?
Fuel stabilizers and antioxidants have been around for a long time, because it was recognized long ago that petroleum fuels needed help resisting attack from environmental influences. The most effective home heating additives will have some kind of stabilizer in them.
Is alcohol a good water control?
A lot of home heating additives have some element of water control. This is to clean up condensation that develops, over time, in the storage tank. Some water controllers are better than others in that some additives will use alcohol to try and make the heating oil absorb water. But it’s well known that alcohols are poor choices for controlling water. They do just that, but bring other problems into the picture. Home heating additives with non-alcohol water controllers are the better bet. Plus, if you choose those, you’re likely getting a better technology. Alcohol is the cheap and easy way out here, not the best way.
Does biocide kill microbial growth?
Anyone who stores fuel, including home heating oil, will likely have some kind of microbial growth in their storage tank. A biocide is the only thing that will kill that growth and keep the problem from spreading and becoming a bigger problem elsewhere. The thing to remember with biocides is that they typically aren’t packaged with other ingredients, they’re usually stand-alone. That’s not to say they *can’t* be combined, but the regulations are pretty tight on biocides, so any product changes require reams of new paperwork for whoever’s putting that product together for sale. The bottom line for biocides is they definitely work, especially in home heating oil.
How does a heating oil furnace work?
Heating oil furnaces typically work by taking a liquid combustible fuel and turning it into fire. That fire heats either air or water for your home’s comfort. The parts of an oil furnace system are simple.
How do I check the volume of fuel in my heating oil tank?
If you have an above or below ground heating oil tank you can confirm your fuel volume by the inches of fuel in the tank. If you have an above ground tank there is probably a tank gauge that can tell you an approximate volume in the tank.
What is kerosene heating oil?
Kerosene is a heating oil product that is capable of being picked up and fed consistently by a wick heater. Kerosene is a diesel product that is very similar to the fuel used for over the road trucks. The big difference is that kerosene is a “lighter end” distillate fuel, which means it has a lighter specific gravity.
Can heating oil be used in a kerosene heater?
It depends on what type of system the kerosene heater is operating with. If you have a wick heater it will not work with heating oil. You will likely have to replace the wick to get it to work again as diesel will not readily drawn into the wick. Even if it does, it will burn far dirtier.
Will heating oil run a diesel engine?
Yes, heating oil will run in a diesel engine. Heating oil is diesel. Be aware though that on-road vehicles must only run clear diesel fuels. If caught using heating oil in an on-road vehicle in Oregon and Washington, the fines can run in the tens of thousands of dollars.
What heating oil do I need?
Consult your furnace, stove, boiler or water heater’s factory recommended specification. Typically it’s Number 2 Diesel unless it is a stove pot or wick heated system. If you have a furnace or a boiler in your basement, you can assume it’s heating oil.
What does heating oil smell like?
Heating oil smells like diesel. It is a diesel product and often, depending on location, it is the same as on-road diesel. It may be dyed to denote that it is an off-road fuel with a untaxed use. Heating oil is dyed red in the Pacific NW to show it is off-road diesel.
Why does my truck shut down?
For both trucks and heating systems, they don’t shut down just because the fuel oil gets cold. They shut down because the filters get plugged up with wax, restricting the amount of fuel available for combustion. If the system filter is located outdoors, it becomes plugged with wax much more easily. The simple solution, then, is to install a new filter housing in an indoor location, and move the filter there.
Why wrap outdoor pipes?
Wrapping your outdoor pipes with insulation will reduce the surface area of piping that’s exposed to the cold weather. If they are wrapped well (i.e. all seams and opening are sealed), it can go a long way to preventing the absorption of moisture that contributes to system gelling and freezing.
What happens if you clog an oil burner?
Watch out: anything that significantly disturbs accumulated sludge in a heating oil storage tank risks sending that sludge-crud through the oil piping to the oil filter and oil burner assembly where clogging can lead to loss of heat and even recurrent loss of heat difficulties.
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InspectAPedia is an independent publisher of building, environmental, and forensic inspection, diagnosis, and repair information provided free to the public - we have no business nor financial connection with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website.
Can you add Ultraguard to an oil tank?
These heating oil additive products are always added manually to an oil tank whereas a "maintenance dose" of UltraGuard™ (and there may be other products like it) is included in heating oil deliveries by some oil companies (not all of them). Sludge treatments can also lead to an immediate problem.
Is Ultra Guard a maintenance dose?
The "maintenance dose" of Ultra guard � included by a heating oil company in an oil delivery will probably be insufficient, at least in just one or two oil deliveries, as a "cure" for a serious slu dge problem if yo are already seeing sludge clogging.
Is it bad to run an oil fired furnace?
Watch out: trying to run your oil fired heating equipment until the oil tank is empty just to add an oil treatment to an "empty tank" is a very bad idea. It means that you're likely to face an extra service call to get your oil fired heating equipment running again, as the tech will have to bleed air from the system and possibly perform other steps too.
Can you use pour point depressants on diesel fuel?
Pour point depressants for heating oil tanks are about the same as similar products used by owners of diesel fuel powered automobiles and trucks in cold climates, but except in dire emergency I would not recommend substituting one for the other as there are some differences in these fuels and chemicals.
Can oil freeze in piping?
In addition to causing short term heating equipment damage and loss of heat (with the building damage risks associated with heat loss) water in oil tanks or piping can freeze leading to a direct loss of oil supply to the heating equipment.
Why use heating oil additives?
The premise of heating oil additives is that they will help to reduce the cost of heating your home one way or another. Whether that be by maximising oil consumption or by increasing the lifetime of your system’s components. Note: Additives should not be used as an alternative to regular boiler maintenance.
Why is oil consumption reduced?
Then, reduced oil consumption results but, only because of an additive’s primary function. Therefore, reduced oil consumption is a consequence of the use of additives.
What is a lubicity additive?
Lubricity additives. These aim to extend the lifetime of your oil-fired system through effectively lubricating moving components, whilst also cleaning injectors and burning nozzles . Therefore, your system runs efficiently for longer leading.
What is the effect of carbon in a boiler?
Cleanliness. Carbon and other contaminants present in your tank are dragged through into your system, clogging the burner nozzle and injectors, thereby, reducing the efficiency of your boiler.
Do biocides kill sludge?
For example, in the summer months when fuel consumption is at its lowest. Biocides kill sludge forming microbes a problem can prevent itself, and therefore, extending the shelf life of your kerosene.
Product Overview
Hercules Sludge Treat storage tank additive cleans and conditions heating system fuel oil to prevent fuel-related failures, improve combustion efficiency, reduce soot formation and conserve energy. It is important to help extend the life of a fuel tank.
Info & Guides
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How does sludge affect heating oil?
That sludge can affect your system in several different areas: Heating Oil Tank — When heating oil gels in the tank, the heavier sludge settles to the bottom. This reduces the volume of the tank for the usable oil. As more oil settles to the bottom, less viable oil remains.
Why is the atomizer nozzle small?
Atomizing Nozzle — The opening at the end of the nozzle is very small, but it’s designed to allow heating oil to pass through it and mist. As the heavier gel oil is forced through it, the buildup can block the aperture. If it becomes clogged, oil can’t get to the igniter, and the unit can’t convert oil to heat.
What happens if oil is too heavy?
If it becomes too heavy or thick, the oil will settle on the floor of your tank, coat the inner walls of your oil line or clog the atomizing nozzle. When referring to heating oil in low temperatures, the terms “waxing,” “gelling” and “freezing” all mean the same thing.
Why use heating oil additives?
Heating oil additives not only allow your oil burn more efficiently, they also help to protect your entire oil-burning home heating system from several of the threats that can cause it to perform poorly or break down during the winter. These include oil freezing and bacterial contamination.
How is diesel made?
To summarize the process used to create diesel/heating oil: 1 Crude oil is drilled from the earth or a seabed 2 The oil is heated and evaporates, which separates it into different grades 3 Oil categorized as No. 2 Distillate is further refined into No. 2 Fuel Oil (Diesel or Heating Oil)
Why is it important to use heating oil?
That’s why it’s essential to maintain both the system and the heating oil it burns. Using a home heating oil treatment as a preventative measure can help ensure that your heating system produces ample heat and maintains its efficiency throughout the winter.
What happens when oil settles to the bottom of the oil tank?
As more oil settles to the bottom, less viable oil remains. Heating Oil Lines — As the waxier oil is pumped through the lines, the oil builds on the walls, narrowing the passage way. That means less of the required fuel reaches the igniter, resulting in reduced efficiency.
