Nearly 6 million U.S. households heat their homes using oil. Regular heating oil delivery is required to keep these households supplied with necessary fuel. It’s a convenient and cost-effective method for people who don’t have access to a municipal gas utility. If you’re curious as to how your heating system works, below is an overview of the process.

Understanding How Heating Oil Systems Work

Forced Air Systems

In forced air systems, heating oil is burned inside a furnace to warm the air in a heating chamber. Fans then blow the heated air from the furnace into a series of ducts, which carry the air throughout the house and into various rooms through vents. Once the warm air has raised the temperature sufficiently throughout the house, a thermostat detects the temperature and shuts off the furnace until the home cools off enough to reignite the system.

Boiler Systems

Boiler systems heat water instead of air and distribute warmth throughout the house in one of two ways: via steam or hot water. In the first method, water is heated using home heating oil and then circulated throughout the house. Warmth is distributed into each room via baseboards.

Steam systems, on the other hand, operate in a similar fashion except heat travels through pipes as steam and is distributed into each room via radiators. Boiler systems take longer to heat a house, but the system runs more quietly and does not distribute dust throughout the home.

For reliable home heating oil delivery to power your oil-based heater, contact State Fuel Company in Rochester, NY. They will restart your burner flame on delivery to take the worry and hassle out of your hands. They’re a family-owned business that has been serving Monroe County and Upstate New York residents since 1939. In addition to heating oil, they also carry kerosene and diesel fuel. Visit their website to browse their residential services or call (585) 247-2380 to schedule a consultation.