Safety

Safer than you think….........today’s oilheat

Oilheat, natural gas, propane and electricity; all of these fuels have are used safely in millions of homes every day. But is one fuel safer than another? This is a concern we hear most frequently from Nova Scotia consumers.

Let’s face it. The worst-case scenario resulting from an oil mishap is far less daunting than the worst- case scenario from a gas mishap. The chemical properties of natural gas (95% methane) make it a relatively clean-burning fossil fuel, but those same properties make it potentially dangerous.

Gas Line Leaks & Risk of Explosion:

Gas is volatile. The biggest hazard of a gas line leak is an explosion that is capable of levelling a house. When natural gas builds up in an enclosed area, it becomes extremely volatile. Gas leaks OUTSIDE the home are dangerous as well.

Oilheat is non-volatile. It will NOT explode, ignite or generate hazardous, life-threatening fumes. And while the chances of an oil release from today’s corrosion-resistant storage tanks (made from fibreglass and polyethelene) are next to NIL, should a release occur, there have been no deaths or injuries associated with leaking oil tanks.

Equipment Malfunctions & Carbon Monoxide:

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that utility gas home heating systems are the leading cause of carbon monoxide deaths in the USA. Natural gas and propane create CO first, smoke second. There is NO warning

Oilheat is safer when it comes to carbon monoxide emissions. During an oilheat equipment system malfunction, it creates a great deal of smoke BEFORE it creates carbon monoxide. The smoke serves as an early warning signal.

Regardless of the type of fuel you use, a CO detector should be installed in every home, and every heating system should be inspected regularly by a qualified heating technician.

At the end of the day, is there anything more important that the safety of your family?