The Differences Between Home Heating Oil and Kerosene (2024)

FAQs

The Differences Between Home Heating Oil and Kerosene? ›

Efficient- While kerosene costs more than home heating oil, it burns more efficiently, so it will last longer than an equal amount of home heating oil. Lower flash point- Kerosene has a flash point of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. By comparison, home heating oil's flash point is generally around 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Like heating oil, kerosene is made from crude oil – but kerosene is a “light” fuel: it burns much hotter than heating oil, which means it can be only be used in furnaces and other equipment that is equipped to handle high temperatures (this is why kerosene is often used to power jets and other aircraft).

Kerosene (sometimes called “lamp oil”) is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid that is used to power everything from space heaters and heating systems to jet engines and rockets. Kerosene burns cleaner and more efficiently than heating oil due to its refining process, and it doesn't gel in the winter.

Kerosene burns cleaner due to its refining process. It is said by many to burn more efficiently, causing it to last longer and, making it worthy of its higher price. Kerosene also does not gel up during the winter.

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.

Cost per BTU of Energy

A gallon of kerosene has roughly 135,000 BTUs of potential energy, whereas a gallon of propane has roughly 91,333 BTUs of potential energy. When you calculate the cost per BTU, heating with kerosene is much cheaper than propane.

Combining kerosene and heating oil can be very dangerous because they have different ignition temperatures and different outputs during burning. These factors can lead to fires and excessive fumes. Because of this, carbon monoxide alarms often sound when the two are mixed together in a heating system.

In the summer months, expect 5 gallons of heating oil to last 5-10 days. On a cold winter day, however, 5 gallons of heating oil may not even last a full day. Order heating oil as soon as possible when you are low during the winter to prevent a runout.

Because of their increased risk of causing fires or carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, kerosene heaters should only be used indoors for limited periods of time with consistent breaks in between use. You should install CO detectors throughout your house, especially near bedrooms and rooms closest to the heater.

With its higher flash point, kerosene offers higher octane ratings to achieve greater power and efficiency when compared to its gasoline counterpart. In fact, this is the main reason kerosene fuel is used in airplanes.

How long does a gallon of kerosene burn? ›

On the lowest setting and a full tank I would say it will run for 8-10 hours before the gage is al most on empty and needs a refill.

HVO heating oil is a renewable liquid fuel made using hydrogen and has a chemical structure that is very similar to kerosene.

Kerosene has a higher viscosity and lower density than typical heating oil, which means that it has a lower flash point. Kerosene gives off flammable gases when it is heated to approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which does make it a slightly greater fire and explosion risk than heating oil.

Kerosene oil is long lasting

When kerosene is stored correctly, in a tank with no cracks or signs of leaking, it can last anywhere between two to five years. Premium kerosene, with its improved additives, can last indefinitely.

The size of your fuel tank, along with the Btu output, determines how long your heater will run without a refill. Most kerosene heaters will run for 8 to 14 hours.

The Solution: Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO)

Kerosene, which is primarily used in outside tanks, became very expensive over the summer. Reduction in domestic oil production, along with a sudden return of demand, then the Russian attack on Ukraine, caused oil reserves to drop.

#2 Diesel. Diesel #2 is less refined than diesel #1. It will work in a kerosene heater but not burn as cleanly or easily as diesel #1. However, it is cheaper and also has more energy capacity.

Kerosene is the most common heating oil type. It's also known as the 28-second and is lighter and cleaner than its counterpart. This makes it a preferred choice for many homeowners.

Can you use gas station kerosene in a kerosene heater? ›

Any kerosene advertised as 1-K kerosene can be used in your heater, but use red dye with caution. We recommend using clear 1-K kerosene, because it is easier to see potential contaminations and better for your kerosene heater wick.

Kerosene has been an important household fuel since the mid-19th century. In developed countries its use has greatly declined because of electrification. However, in developing countries, kerosene use for cooking and lighting remains widespread.

The World Health Organization considers kerosene to be a polluting fuel and recommends that “governments and practitioners immediately stop promoting its household use”.

Health Risks

Hazards of kerosene use include poisoning, fires, and explosions. As well, some kerosene lamps emit fine particulates, carbon monoxide, nitric oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide when burned. These by-products may reduce lung function and increase risks of asthma and cancer.

How long will 10 gallons of heating oil last? Following our previous calculations, 10 gallons of heating oil at a consumption rate of 1.7 gallons per hour should last 5.8 hours. (10-gallon tank / 1.7 gallons per hour = 5.8 hours).

Most sources put the shelf life of kerosene at 2-5 years, yet there are plenty of stories from people who found old kerosene, which had been sitting for 10 years or even 20 years, and the kerosene fired up without a problem. Old kerosene will usually burn and, in this sense, won't go completely bad.

If you have a 275-gallon tank, which typically holds about 230 gallons of fuel (the rest is needed for air), a full tank should about five weeks in a 2,000 square foot home. Overall, you should expect to use somewhere between 700 and 900 gallons during an average heating season in our area.

Adequate ventilation is necessary for safe operation of the kerosene heater. Burning kerosene consumes oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gases.

Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide can be emitted from kerosene heaters' improper use. These fumes become toxic in large quantities and put vulnerable individuals at risk, such as pregnant women, asthmatics, people with cardiovascular disease, the elderly, and young children.

Sealed combustion heaters are much safer to operate than other types of space heaters, and operate more efficiently because they do not draw in the heated air from the room and exhaust it to the outdoors. They are also less likely to backdraft and adversely affect indoor air quality.

Why is kerosene so cheap? ›

Kerosene is a clear, thin oil that is a byproduct of the fractional distillation process. Because the process for extracting kerosene from crude oil is very straightforward, the cost associated with kerosene production is low.

Customers have been left high and dry because of the kerosene shortage. The war in Ukraine, a cut in foreign oil production, inflation, and supply chain issues have created a perfect storm that's pushed the price of home heating fuels through the roof.

Kerosene is a light refined product (C6-C16) that has a lower boiling point range than diesel/No. 2 fuel oils. Jet-A (freeze point of -40°C) and Jet-A1 (freeze point of -47°C) are highly refined kerosene-type fuels used in commercial and general aviation turbine engines.

A: I have a Sears 25,000 BTU kerosene heater that holds 2 gallons of fuel. It will run for approximately 9 hours on one tank.

For your heater to burn to its maximum efficiency, you should regularly dry burn the wick as it accumulates deposits. Many people dry burn the wick as much as once a week. The first dry burn should take place within a week of using the heater or after burning 3.5 tanks of kerosene.

Stored kerosene does go bad. Condensation, which adds water to the kerosene, is one culprit. Kerosene can also develop sludge from bacteria and mold that live in the kerosene and break it down.

Klean-Strip Klean Heat is the perfect choice to use in kerosene-burning appliances such as heaters, lamps and stoves. This premium fuel is safer and more convenient to store than kerosene. It contains less sulfur and aromatics, so it has NO kerosene odor – before, during and after burning.

#2 Diesel. #2 diesel is less refined, and is not as similar to kerosene as #1 diesel. It does not burn as easily or as cleanly as the other option, but it will still work in a kerosene heater, and is often cheaper. It also has a greater energy capacity.

Yes, dyed diesel and off-road diesel are acceptably used as heating oil. Dyed diesel and off-road diesel these days are typically ultra-low sulfur diesel. Heating oil can be low sulfur or high sulfur in content under EPA and most state laws.

Kerosene's colour tends to be light, clear and free from solid matter. It's typically pale, yellow or colourless but often has a dye added to distinguish it from other fuels such as red diesel. Kero has a thin viscosity and a density between 0.78-0.81 g/cm³ (gram per cubic centimetre).

Does kerosene last longer than heating oil? ›

Kerosene burns cleaner due to its refining process. It is said by many to burn more efficiently, causing it to last longer and, making it worthy of its higher price.

How About 1/4 Tank? With a standard residential, 275-gallon oil tank, filled to 245 gallons (leaving air space for the oil to expand), a quarter-tank may last 4-6 days.

The only fuel approved for indoor kerosene heaters is K-1 kerosene. K-1 kerosene is most commonly found at local convenience stores and service stations. Only buy kerosene that is rated K-1. Lesser quality fuels will produce odor and may cause other problems.

Refined oils recommended for high-heat cooking and deep-frying are “high oleic” safflower, sunflower, and peanut oil. These oils are from varieties high in monounsaturated fats, which are well-suited for high heat.

Basic Info. US Residential Heating Oil Price is at a current level of 4.073, down from 4.133 last week and down from 4.886 one year ago.

How much heating oil or natural gas would be replaced by one cord of firewood? The heating value of a cord of well-seasoned dense hardwood is equal to the heating value of about 225 therms of natural gas or about 155 gallons of heating oil.

You can find #2 fuel oil mixed with #1 fuel oil for lower viscosity and greater furnace efficiency. Some companies refer to this as the kerosene mix or the home heating oil winter blend. Given the similarities between these two types of fuel, it is possible to use them interchangeably in theory.

Although kerosene heaters are very efficient while burning fuel to produce heat, low levels of certain pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, are produced. Exposure to low levels of these pollutants may be harmful, especially to individuals with chronic respiratory or circulatory health problems.

1 fuel oil is like a heavier version of kerosene. This means it has a higher boiling point, is more viscous and is less refined than kerosene.

The Solution: Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO)

Which fuel oil is similar to kerosene? ›

Over the years, the names kerosene and paraffin, with the two fuels names becoming interchangeable by many people. This most likely happened due them both being very similar kinds of oil.

Kerosene is one of two types of heating oil. The other, sometimes referred to as heating oil, is gas oil. One of the main differences between the two fuels is their flash points. Gas oil has a flash point of 56 degrees Celsius, while kerosene has a flash point of between 38-45 degrees Celsius.

Proper Use of a Kerosene Heater

Heaters should never be left burning overnight or while sleeping. There is a potential for adverse health effects caused by pollutants produced by unvented space heaters.

Hazards of kerosene use include poisoning, fires, and explosions. As well, some kerosene lamps emit fine particulates, carbon monoxide, nitric oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide when burned. These by-products may reduce lung function and increase risks of asthma and cancer.

1-K kerosene intended for road use is the same clear kerosene intended for kerosene heaters and our recommendation for purchase.

Clear kerosene should have no separation – anything cloudy or yellowed is contaminated and should not be used. Red-dyed kerosene should be translucent, not cloudy or opaque. If you have any doubt about the quality of your kerosene, dispose of It properly and order more.