What Is the Difference Between a Boiler That Runs on Oil Vs. Kerosene?

Oil Burning Boilers

• Oil-fired boilers are often used for home heating in areas of the country where the use of other fuels is not cost effective. While generally cheaper than heating oil, natural gas is not readily available in all parts of the country, and oil-fired boilers generally provide cheaper heat than electric heating systems. Fuel oil is produced in a number of different grades, and the higher grades of oil are more expensive than lower grades. Although designed to burn the higher grades of fuel oil, many boilers are capable of burning lower grades of oil with minor modifications or no modifications at all.

Fuel Oil Grades

• Fuel oil is produced by distilling petroleum, and the highest grades of oil are those consisting of the purest form of distillate. These high grades of fuel oil, often called kerosene or paraffin, are the cleanest burning types of oil and are the grades most commonly burned in oil-fired boilers. Lower grades of fuel oil are typically used in engines. These fuels are known as diesel fuel or "red" diesel, a term that refers to the red dye that is added to the fuel to distinguish it from the diesel fuel that may be legally used in engines in road vehicles. Diesel or red diesel fuel may be used in most oil boilers, although some modification of the boiler may be necessary.

Biodiesel

• Biodiesel is a fuel made by chemically modifying vegetable oil so that it is more efficient as a fuel source. Biodiesel is not a petroleum product, and it can be used alone or blended with petroleum fuel oil to produce a biodiesel blend. Biodiesel can be burned in most home heating boilers, allowing homeowners to take advantage of the environmental benefits of using cleaner burning biodiesel. However, these alternatives fuels are usually more expensive than petroleum fuel oils.

Boiler Differences

• Most boilers are capable of burning diesel fuel as well as kerosene, and the only modification necessary is often a change in the burner nozzle so that the fuel is introduced to the burner at the proper rate for optimal combustion. Any change in fuel or modification to the boiler mechanism should be done in consultation with the boiler's manufacturer. Because of its solvent qualities, pure biodiesel can cause problems with boilers' fuel filters and seals, so the use of unblended biodiesel in boilers is not recommended.