Heating oil is used to heat your boiler, as an alternative fuel source to electricity and gas. Approximately 10% of British households are not connected to the national gas network and rely on an alternative fuel to heat their homes.

Heating oil is the most popular alternative as it is a convenient and low-cost option. It is delivered by specially designed fuel tankers and pumped into a heating oil tank, located outside the house.

Over 1.5 million households in the UK use oil to heat their homes and it is just as easy to use as mains gas. As most modern clean burning appliances have low CO2 emissions and high efficiency ratings, heating oil can be an efficient fuel choice.

Heating oil, also known as kerosene or 28-second burning oil, is produced by refining crude oil during the distillation process. Gas oil and diesel are made in a slightly different way. Diesel is used to power road vehicles and gas oil is used in agriculture and industry machinery and is also known as 35-second oil or red diesel.

Most of our domestic customers run their oil-fired central heating on heating oil (kerosene) as it is cleaner and more cost efficient. But it is always important to consult the labels on your oil boiler or tank. Kerosene is preferable for domestic use.

The average UK customer consumes approximately 14,000 kWh per year, or around 1,400 litres of heating oil. Most domestic tanks have a capacity of 1,000 to 2,500 litres but you should always check your tank before making a purchase.

Filling your tank to capacity helps prevent the build-up of harmful condensation in the summer. It can also be cheaper to buy in bulk and involves less hassle.

Heating oil is often cheaper in the summer when the demand is lower. Prices may rise in the winter and we tend to be busier then too.

Heating oil does not normally degrade if the storage tank is in good condition. Ordering once a year for all your heating needs should not cause any problems in terms of storage time.

No, as long as our driver and tanker can access your property and your oil tank safely. If we will need to unlock a gate for access, let us know and we will get in touch before we deliver so you can ensure we have the correct access.

If your tank is leaking, then try and use a bucket to collect any leaking oil. Apply leak-sealing putty to seal the hole if you have any. If your tank is made of plastic, rubbing a bar of soap across the puncture can also provide a short-term solution. Then call us for further guidance.

Try to absorb any spilled oil with sand.

Do not attempt to clean the spill with detergent, as this can make it worse, and don’t wash oil into grids, as this pollutes the watercourse.

If there’s a strong smell of oil in or outside your home there may be a leak. Keep your home well-ventilated by opening windows and doors and call us for further guidance. If oil has soaked into the ground or entered the watercourse you will need to call the Environment Agency incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.