Frequently Asked Questions about Home Oil

Posted: Aug 12, 2012
Author: Bumgarner Oil

Here at Bumgarner Oil, we get a lot of questions about home oil. For example: How efficient is it? How environmentally friendly is it? Where does the oil that I use to heat my home come from? To help you learn more about home oil, here are some of the questions consumers ask most frequently:

Who uses heating oil?

Heating oil is most often used in residential homes, especially in the Northeast. More than 8 million of the 107 million homes in the U.S. use heating oil as their primary heating fuel.

Where does home heating oil come from?

Some home heating oil in the U.S. comes from domestic refineries, and some is imported from other countries. The amount of home heating oil that is refined depends on the predicted demand for each year. After it is refined, the oil is shipped to storage terminals, from which it is redistributed through suppliers to residential customers.

How much does heating oil cost?

Home heating oil prices are determined by several factors, including demand, production costs, distribution costs, marketing costs, the current cost of crude oil, and the profits or losses of the refineries, dealers, and wholesalers involved. The average cost for a gallon of home heating oil during winter 2012 in North Carolina was about $3.82. While it is often more expensive off the shelf than some other heating options, you will get about 30% more for your dollar with home oil, as opposed to heating your home by electricity or gas.

Can oil really keep my home warm all winter?

Definitely. Home heating oil heats up quickly and burns at about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit!

Is home heating oil energy efficient?
Yes, it is very energy efficient. If your oil heater is functioning properly, it will consume much less fuel than a natural gas or electric heating system and will produce less carbon monoxide. It also burns cleanly and doesn’t create air pollution problems.

Is home heating oil safe?
Yes. It won’t catch on fire or explode, like gas potentially could. 

If you have any more questions about home oil, give us a call at Bumgarner Oil.