Posted: October 14, 2024
Businesses on the South Shore have long relied on heating oil to keep employees and customers warm in our harsh New England winters. For over a century, Atlantic-Pratt Energy has reliably delivered top-quality commercial heating oil to businesses in Braintree, Milton, Quincey and many more cities and towns.
We’re happy to say that heating oil is a safe, reliable way to keep your commercial spaces warm all year round. Still, it’s important to know how to safely handle and store this fuel.
Most heating oil is a distillate of crude oil. It’s nearly identical in composition to off-road diesel. That means it’s denser than gasoline and also far less explosive. When your heating system or hot water equipment needs to burn heating oil, the liquid fuel is converted into a fine mist so that it can be ignited in the combustion chamber.
(The commercial heating oil from Atlantic-Pratt is not exclusively petroleum, but we’ll discuss that in more detail shortly.)
Liquid heating oil poses no explosion risk. Indeed, if you dropped a lit match in a bucket of commercial heating oil, it would go out like the bucket was full of water. That’s why it’s safe to have a heating oil tank inside a basement, garage or other enclosed space.
The most considerable risk involving commercial heating oil is that it could spill from a failing tank. This can result in unpleasant odors and fumes — and you’ll need to clean spilled oil, which can be quite expensive.
Heating oil is far less toxic than gasoline, but some people may experience irritation, headaches or nausea if they come into contact with it. If you get heating oil on your skin or eyes, wash them thoroughly. If you feel unwell after washing it off, reach out to a medical provider.
If you or someone else ingest any of this fuel, contact medical help right away.
Heating oil tanks can last for 20 years or more before you need to replace them. If your business’s tank is approaching 15 years, call us in to take a look at it. Oil tanks generally fail because of corrosion on the inside. That’s not easy to detect with the naked eye, but our team can do a thorough inspection.
With that said, some signs that your aging tank might be experiencing corrosion are:
We’re glad you asked! We deliver Bioheat® fuel, an eco-friendly blend of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil and renewable biodiesel. There’s a lot to love about Bioheat fuel. Not only is it better for the planet, but it burns cleaner, reducing how many deposits are left on your system’s heat registers. That reduces the wear and tear on your heating system and saves you money!
Get in touch with Atlantic-Pratt Energy today to discuss your commercial heating oil needs. Our dedicated fuel delivery team is ready to help you!