Heating Oil vs. Kerosene: Understanding Differences in Cost, Efficiency & More

Heating oil and kerosene are among the most common fuels for home heating, but each offers its own set of unique advantages. Therefore, understanding factors such as cost, efficiency, and climate suitability is essential when determining the right fuel for your home. Here’s what you need to know about these two popular choices.

What Are Heating Oil and Kerosene?

Heating oil is a dense fuel derived from crude oil, designed to be safe and efficient for home heating. Its heavy composition makes it slower to ignite, which makes it an excellent choice for furnaces. Still, it does require ventilation to both ensure clean combustion and minimize the risk of carbon monoxide.

Kerosene, in contrast, is a much lighter and more refined fuel. It burns hotter and cleaner than heating oil and is widely used in outdoor fuel systems and high-temperature systems. You’ll also find it used in many mobile and seasonal homes.

Considerations for Outdoor Tanks

One of the most prominent deciding factors in choosing between heating oil and kerosene is whether you have an indoor or outdoor tank. Kerosene has a lower gel point than heating oil, which means it remains an easily flowable fluid and maintains its high performance even at frigid temperatures.

Heating oil thickens and gels in low temperatures, which is a serious risk, seeing as it can clog fuel lines and disrupt your heating. While there are additives to reduce gelling, going with a more appropriate fuel, like kerosene, is typically the better choice for outdoor tanks in cold climates.

Comparing Efficiency

Since kerosene is a clean-burning fuel with a high combustion temperature, it is highly efficient. There is less maintenance involved for heating systems using kerosene, as well, seeing as they stay cleaner and avoid soot buildup that impacts both longevity and efficiency.

That is not to say that heating oil is an ineffective option for home heating. Though there are impurities in the fuel that raise maintenance requirements, oil heating systems are still reliable and efficient when they receive the proper regular maintenance from an HVAC professional.

Cost Differences

The key difference between the price points of the two fuels lies in their refinement processes. Heating oil is less refined, but that translates to reduced costs. Kerosene, on the other hand, is more refined to deliver stronger heat, but that refining process raises costs.

Homeowners on a budget can confidently choose heating oil as a reliable and cost-effective way to keep their homes warm during the winter months. However, the clean burn and lower gel point of kerosene are factors that can offset its higher cost and ultimately make it the best value for homeowners, whether they rely on outdoor tanks or need fuel that performs in extreme cold without clogging fuel lines.

One important element to keep in mind, though, is that fuel costs fluctuate based on a wide range of factors. Crude oil prices, regional competition, and seasonal demand all impact heating oil and kerosene differently. The final price you’ll pay depends largely on the region you’re in and the variation in costs at that specific time. Consulting a local supplier is the best way to understand prices in real-time.

Heating Safety

Safety is another major consideration when making any home heating decision. Both heating oil and kerosene are widely used fuels that are perfectly safe when used properly.

Heating oil has a higher flash point than kerosene, which means it is less likely to ignite under unexpected conditions. However, kerosene is the safer fuel in terms of carbon monoxide risks due to its clean burning nature. In either case, having a well-maintained heating system and installing carbon monoxide detectors is the best way to stay safe.

Choosing the Right Fuel for Your Home

Choosing between heating oil and kerosene depends largely on your home’s specific needs. Both can offer reliable home heating, but your individual circumstances will determine which is best for you. Your budget, local climate, heating system, and tank setup will all contribute to the right decision.

Consulting a local HVAC service provider and fuel supplier can help shed some light on your situation so that you can make the best choice for your home’s heat source. You can find an option that delivers affordable, efficient, and reliable comfort for your home all winter long.