What Can I Burn in My Oil Furnace?

Oil No. 2

• The most common home heating oil fuel is known simply as oil No. 2. This is a diesel fuel oil type that has a high sulfur content and is quite dirty. It has been used to heat homes for many years and is still widely available. The oil is a petroleum-based diesel fuel that contains up to 500 parts per million of sulfur. This is among the least environmentally friendly options available.

Biodiesel

• Those looking for a more environmentally friendly option for diesel fuel oil should consider biodiesel for their furnaces. According to the Oregon Environmental Council, EPA testing has shown that burning a version of biodiesel known as b20 is much cleaner than oil No. 2. B20 is a mixture or petroleum diesel and biodiesel mixed at an 80 to 20 percent ratio. Burning this type of oil in your furnace will reduce emissions by as much as 10 percent and will reduce carcinogenic hydrocarbons by 21 percent. Compared to oil No. 2, this mixture will also reduce carbon dioxide content by 11 percent.

Substitutions

• You can burn substitutes in your furnace with similar heating results. In fact, the company where you buy your home heating oil might put these substitutes into your heating oil anyway. When a shortage of a preferred heating oil exists, substitutions can be made using kerosene, jet fuel and regular road diesel such as you can buy at a gasoline station, according to the website for Enviroharvest Inc.

Pollution Health Concerns

• Because some diesel pollution is a given when you use a home heating oil furnace, you should be aware of the associated health issues linked to the substance. Diesel pollution has been linked to asthma, cancer and heart problems. Reducing the overall production of diesel pollution can help to reduce health risks for young children as well as the elderly and those with respiratory illnesses in the area.