HEATING OIL

Fuel oil storage tanks are the unsung heroes of the British and Irish heating industry. They provide a safe, secure, store of fuel at over 2 million oil heating installations across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Engineered to provide sterling service in even the most demanding conditions, when correctly installed and maintained, they can provide many years of dependable, reliable energy storage.

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Fuel for Thought

Beyond the mains gas network, oil is one of the most popular fuel choices for domestic space and water heating. Indeed, such is the popularity of oil, that in some parts of the UK today, more homeowners and householders choose oil than electricity, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), mains gas, renewables and solid fuel combined. Affordable, highly refined, clean burning and bursting with energy, heating oil is a popular and responsible fuel choice that suits our modern lifestyles. Cleaner than coal and with lower running costs than LPG, there is a wide range of oil-fired appliances on-sale today. 

And if you’re also considering the installation of a new or replacement, oil-fired boiler, the good news is that today’s appliances are more efficient than ever before too. Because heating oil is a safe, versatile and inherently flexible fuel, you can also choose from an extensive range of oil-fired cookers. Indeed, it’s difficult to picture a traditional country kitchen, without also imagining an oil-fired range cooker at the heart of it.

Operating across West Cork, Tria is an integral and important part of the local community it serves. Photo Credit: Tria

An Important Part of Your Community

You’re also never far from a fuel distributor. From Schull to Sullom Voe, from Strabane to St. Helier, and almost everywhere in-between… there are dozens of fuel distributors keen to compete for your business. Unlike large, faceless, multi-national gas and electricity utilities, many heating oil distributors are independently owned, family businesses. They are an integral and important part of the rural communities in which they live and trade.

A Great British and Irish Success Story

At a time when too many manufacturing jobs have moved offshore, it’s good to know that British and Irish businesses, continue to be world leaders in the design, manufacture and development of heating oil equipment. Equipment manufacturers just don’t help heat the nations’ homes, but directly support well-paid, manufacturing jobs, and sustain many more roles across industry supply chains.

Primary locations of major heating oil equipment manufacturers in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Image Credit: Author

Oil Equipment Manufacturer Locations

1 AGA Rangemaster Shropshire

2 Atkinson Equipment Wiltshire

3 Atlas Tanks Co. Armagh

4 Bosch Thermotechnology Worcester 

5 Carbery Plastics Co. Cork

6 DESO Engineering Somerset

7 EOGB Cambridgeshire

8 Firebird Co. Cork

9 Dunraven Systems Co. Louth

10 Grant Engineering Co. Offaly

11 J Seed & Co. Lancashire

12 James Blake & Co. Edinburgh

13 Kane International Hertfordshire

14 Kingspan Sensor Systems Co. Armagh

15 OTS Group Gloucestershire

16 Rochester Sensors Warwickshire

17 S Koronka Kinross-shire

18 Teddington Group Cornwall

19 Titan Tanks Co. Armagh

20 Warmflow Engineering Co. Antrim

Tomorrow's Fuel. Today.

At a time when climate change has never been higher on the agenda, isn't it good to know, that many modern oil tanks are also compatible with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil? A renewable fuel, made primarily from food waste, HVO can be used as a near drop-in replacement for heating oil, offering a staggering reduction in carbon emissions of up to 88%*. To find out if your distributor offers HVO, why not get in touch with them today?

The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC), operates an installer registration scheme for the installation of heating oil storage tanks across England and Wales. Photo Credit: APHC

The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) operates an installer registration scheme for the installation of heating oil storage tanks across the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. Photo Credit: OFTEC

Always Consult a Pro

As an oil heating consumer, it makes sense you’ll want input into what tank is installed at your home. After all, it’s your tank. You’re paying for it. It's up to you to fill it. And of course, you’re responsible for maintaining it. 

However, it’s important to recognise that heating oil tanks are not suitable for DIY installation. Instead, they should only be installed by a qualified, independently accredited and registered person. There are strict regulatory requirements too, determining which tank can be installed and where. Furthermore, failure to arrange for the installation of a tank by a suitably qualified person, may invalidate any warranty supplied with it.

The Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) operates an installer registration scheme for the installation of heating oil storage tanks in England and Wales, whilst The Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) operates a similar scheme throughout the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

There are hundreds of qualified APHC and OFTEC storage tank installers nationally. Technicians registered with APHC and OFTEC, can also self-certify their work as compliant with Building Regulations in England and Wales – an important consideration when choosing any installer. To find your nearest APHC Registered Technician, click here. Or click here, to find your local OFTEC Registered Technician.

*88% reduction in emissions dependent upon feedstock, conversion process, and consumption of 100% HVO grade fuel. For more information, click here to view  OFTEC / UKIFDA ‘HVO Handbook Guidance on industry conversion to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil‘

Header Photo Credit: Carbery Plastics