The advantages of heating by oil described

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33251, 14 June 1973, Page 14

The advantages of heating by oil described

(From The New Zealand Oil Feild Institute)

Oil-fired central heating, long a fact of life in North America and European countries, is still considered by many New Zealanders to be a luxury’, beyond the reach of the average family. Far from being a luxury, oil heating is proven to be an economical, clean, safe and efficient method of heating the whole home and is, therefore, well within the means of nearly every home owner. With

the many excellent special payment plans, over periods of up to five years, any householder can take advantage of the comfort which oil heating offers. There are many different systems to suit a great variety of homes and a ready supply of fuel is available in all localities. Few people will deny the joy of sitting before an open fire, but in this day of many working mothers and a greater number of elderly people, the open

fire is becoming a special treat only to be enjoyed on an occasional wintry Sunday when time allows for the cutting and carrying of the fuel. In the face of threatened power cuts this winter, oil heating would seem to hold out the brightest hope of a warm comfortable home anywhere in New Zealand for the whole family to enjoy with the least effort and at a very low cost. The New Zealand Oil Fuel Institute (N.0.F.1.) is

an organisation of all interested parties in the oil heating industry in New Zealand and includes manufacturers, dealers, installers, distributors and fuel oil suppliers. The main purpose of this organisation is to oromote a high standard of safety and efficiency in all home installations and to dispel the many misconceptions about the cost of oil heating. To this end they have this year established a course of training at the Central Institute of Technology (C.1.T.) designed to train young men in all facets of the industry. This training supplements their other trade, technical and professional qualifications. Oil-fired heating is first of all an investment. The cost of installation is immediately offset by an increase in property value. A wide choice of available systems will permit you to obtain central heat-

ing to meet your exact requirements. Room heating, designed to heat an individual room with background heat carried to other areas. An stalled in an existing fireplace or -it may be free attractive unit may be instanding. Heat is distributed by natural airflow, or it may be fan assisted. It is thermostatically controlled and produces between 25,000 and 45,000 B.t.u.s per hour, equal to between 7.5 and 13 kilowatts a hour of heat. Area or zone heating is when the unit is installed beneath the floor in a central part of the house, even beneath a wall serving two rooms, with natural air circulated heat, or it may be fan assisted. These units produce between 40,000 and 60,000 B.t.u.s per hour, equal to between 11 and 17 kilowatts per hour of heat. Whole house heating, operating from a single unit

installed in a basement, laundry, covered back porch or utility room and so on, from which heat is distributed throughout the home. Two methods of heat distribution are available—warm air is fed through enclosed ducts and released by small attractive grills in any or every room in the house—or the heating unit may be a small hot water boiler from which heated water is pumped through small-bore pipes to attractive radiators placed in any room in the house. All. these systems are thermostatically controlled and even may incorporate a time switch to start and stop the heating system automatically at predetermined times. These systems may also include provision to heat domestic hot water requirements, as well as heating the home. The capacity of these units ranges from 60,000 B.t.u.s per" hour to 100,000 B.t.u.s

per hour, which is equal to 17 to 29 kilowatts per hour of heat. All domestic oil fuel heating works on the heat exchange principle, oil burns in a totally enclosed combustion chamber connected to a flue which takes the combustion gases completely outside the home. Air or water is circulated over the combustion chamber in order to warm it when it is directed to the areas of the house to be heated. A discussion on home

heating with any type of fuel would not be complete without mention of the advantage of insulation in the home. Surveys over recent years are proving the value of insulation. Anyone embarking on building would be well advised to invest in some form of insulation to improve comfort level and to save on fuel. Building authorities are considering making home insulation mandatory with building permits. Fuel oil delivery is automatic—at regular intervals

the supplier will call, check fuel level in the tank and top it up as required. Simple and attractive fuel oil storage tanks are placed outside the home and fuel trucks are fitted with extra long hoses to reach any home from the street. In response to a telephone call to your nearest N.0.F.1. registered oilheating dealer, the whole aspect of heating can be discussed at length, including the maximum amount of expenditure for installation and a detailed ex-

planation of the various types of heating systems and how they would be effective in your particular situation — taking into account the type of home construction and so on. and also the climatic conditions of your locality. Oil-fired home heating meets all modern healing needs of efficiency, clean liness, ease of storage and handling and is also kind to the environment —a matter of great importance in this ecologically aware society of New Zealand.