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Heating Oil Smart Monitor

Heating oil smart monitors – why you need one!

We all live in a fast-paced world and much of our lives is automated, providing efficiency, peace of mind and simplicity. When it comes to heating oil, it’s something that you take for granted but when it runs out, you soon realise how much you rely on it. Whether it’s in a domestic setting, a commercial setting, agricultural or retail, when you run out of heating oil, you soon understand the problems that you face but this doesn’t have to be the case with a free heating oil smart monitor.

What is an oil tank monitor?

An oil tank monitor measures the depth of the oil in your oil tank. This allows you to know if your oil fuel levels are adequate for extra peace of mind.

Monitoring your oil tank level helps you keep warm in the cold, keep track of oil usage, and identify issues in the fuel tank at an advanced rate. One of the best ways to monitor your oil levels is through digital monitors. Digital oil monitors can be accessed via smartphones and tablets which gifts you the ability to easily view your oil tank levels.

As a member of our priority club, you will receive a free oil tank monitor that we will install and remotely observe to ensure your oil does not run out. Our oil tank monitors will alert and inform you when oil gets low as well as any sudden drops that could indicate a leak or theft.

How can you avoid running out of heating oil?

We invest in technology that improves and enhances the way that people use oil. We understand that running out of heating oil is an inconvenience but we believe that making life simple is key.

Running out of heating oil during the dark depths of winter, or in fact, at any time of year can be upsetting. With our priority account, you can change all of that. Through a priority account, you can transform how you use oil with an Oil Fox heating oil smart monitor. It gives you the ability to remotely check your tank levels and it removes the need for active management, similar to being on main gas, as we take care of topping up your tank when it needs it.

Tracking your heating oil levels

Ultimately, it’s about ensuring that your system can keep up with demand. Without oil, it cannot do that but that’s where we are on hand to ensure that we continue to keep you well-supplied with heating oil when you need it. An oil tank monitor allows you and us to accurately and efficiently monitor your tank levels without the need to look at your tank. We never want customers to run out and that’s why our priority account is designed to help meet demand, allowing us to efficiency schedule oil drops when we’re in the area.

OilFox heating oil tank smart monitors can connect to both mobile signal towers and WiFi to ensure that daily usage readings are sent to your app. The app can then provide you with an overview of you current tank level and consumption rate over time. To ensure that your OilFox unit remains active, there is a requirement for an on-going data subscription. This is similar in many ways to data subscription charges for mobile phones, however the cost is significant lower, at just 20p per day which equates to £6 per month. This cost is factored into your monthly direct debit arrangement, so there is no need to make any additional payment to us and your direct debit covers the cost of your fuel throughout the year along with the data connectivity charge.

Managing heating oil levels

If you have been keeping an eye on your heating oil levels personally, you are undoubtedly well aware of how crucial it is to do so. We have the necessary technology and a team of specialists that can tell when your levels are getting low. You can take a hands-off approach with the help of an oil tank sensor, which guarantees that you won’t ever run out of fuel again.

Although smart monitors are a future technology, we think that our clients have the right to use them now. Additionally, besides just our Oil Fox heating oil smart oil monitor, our priority account provides you with a lot more. Oil will be available when you need it, but you may also save money thanks to eco deliveries’ effective routing. Overall, the way you will check your oil levels is evolving, and we are at the forefront of that change.

Take the hassle out of ordering heating oil

If you are someone who actively monitors your own oil tank levels then there is every chance that you have been faced with situations where you have either run out or come close. This is a situation that can be avoided with ease because a heating oil smart monitor can transform the way you manage your oil levels.

Using state of the art technology, we will remotely monitor your fuel tank level. We’ll set up alerts to our depots when your level is getting low, allowing us to route a load to your tank when it’s required.

How does it work?

Join our Priority Club – just fill out a quick form
Get a FREE smart monitor for your oil tank
Once activated, download the app to your smart phone
Get peace of mind that we’re monitoring your tank and will re-fill it before you run out

As well as having the guarantee to never be left without oil in your tank, when you sign up to the priority club, you will receive a free tank telemetry unit. The unit will be professionally installed by our in-house installation team, meaning you have the peace of mind your device is set up correctly.

To make payments simple, you pay for your fuel with direct debit payments and have access to your digital consumption chart through the easy-to-use smartphone app.

Priority club cost savings

Not only do you get all of these great benefits, but you will also get the cost savings passed onto you directly, through our Eco deliveries, avoiding demand inflated or surge pricing.

Oil tank monitors vs oil tank gauges

Oil tank monitors remotely and accurately measure and monitor the fuel levels in your tank to ensure the oil does not run out. Using updated technology oil tank monitoring systems can identify when oil levels are low and ensure they are refilled before disaster strikes.

The digitalised nature of oil tank monitors allows you to be notified and alerted of any problems and issues with your oil tank in real time. As part of the priority club, NWF Fuel will monitor your tank for that extra peace of mind.

Oil tank gauges are located in your oil tank and are usually easy and clear to read. They display the level of fuel remaining in the tank, usually indicated by a red marker, rather than the number of litres. Although they do not provide an exact measure of oil in the tank, they give a good indication of oil levels.

To find the exact amount of oil remaining in the tank using an oil tank gauge you will need to use an electronic gauge or conduct a manual reading.

Benefits of a heating oil tank monitor

It is important to continually monitor your oil levels to ensure you do not unexpectedly run out. Heating oil is a great way to keep warm but there are also many additional benefits.

Detects problems at an advanced rate

The automated nature of an oil tank monitoring system means that you and the fuel supplier are notified immediately of any problems or issues in the regard to the oil levels and tank.

Oil monitors can quickly identify sudden fuel level drops that may indicate a leak or theft and automatically sends notifications when oil levels get low to avoid disaster.

You won’t run out of oil

Oil tank monitors come with the guarantee that you will never be left with no oil in the tank. The oil tank sensors will identify low fuel levels and notify you and the fuel supplier with enough time to reload before you hit empty.

Automatic top-ups

When the monitoring system informs you and the fuel supplier of a low fuel level alert, fuel is automatically dispatched from the depot and routed to your tank.

Fuel will only be delivered to your oil tank when necessary, so you heat your home at an affordable and efficient rate.

What features should I look for in a monitor?

Easy to monitor

Being able to easily monitor oil levels in real-time at your convenience is an essential factor when installing an oil tank monitor. Viewing fuel levels on a mobile device makes it a simple and straightforward process meaning you will always have an accurate idea of your oil consumption and costs.

Automatic updates

Receiving automatic updates regarding fuel levels and fast alerts to oil problems relieves pressure and provides extra peace of mind. As a priority club member, you can eliminate all stress by allowing your fuel supplier to observe oil levels and distribute more when needed.

Can your distributor monitor levels remotely?

At NWF Fuel, all of our heating oil smart monitors measure oil levels remotely and can be monitored via your smartphone from the sofa. Our oil tank monitors remove the hassle of oil heating and provide you with comfort and confidence regarding your oil tank levels.

As a priority club member, you will receive a free smart monitor for your oil tank that is professionally installed and monitored by one of our expert team members. Once activated, you can remotely monitor your oil levels from any location you wish.

More about Oil Fox

Have a question that you can’t see the answer for? Contact us and let us know.

Premium fuels

Are Premium fuels worth it?

Most home heating fuels are refined from crude oil and their characteristics vary during the refining process which creates impurities. Premium fuels help eliminate these impurities but do not alter your home heating oil’s chemical properties.

By removing the impurities, premium fuels can improve the efficiency of a system and can be very cost-effective over the long term. Premium fuels often contain a range of active ingredients that help to maintain healthy performance and prevent issues such as sludge build up or corrosion that can lead to munch larger and more expensive issues later on. Using premium fuels alongside regular annual servicing can increase the lifespan of boilers, engines and combustion systems, so the key to understanding the value of the premium fuels is to look at both long term efficiency performance and the improved longevity of your boiler.

Introducing Premier Pure Premium Fuel

This is domestic kerosene that is used for heating purposes. Usually, it is fragranced for those that live in environments that are sensitive to fuel scents. Premier Pure has been made to make sure that homes get the top quality premium kerosene that serves them well.

About Premier Pure

Premier Pure premium fuel is known to lower to amount of carbon emissions
It is effective oil in preventing the formation of sludge in the heating boilers
While using Premier Pure premium fuel, your boiler will be protected against problems that require frequent repairs
Most fuels lead to the build-up of deposits, especially around the heat exchanger surfaces and around the nozzles. However, with Premier Pure premium fuel, the deposits will not build up in the same way
This type of oil is known to improve the efficiency of the operating systems
Premier Pure premium oil can improve the lifespan of your heating system. It is made in a way that boosts thermal efficiency and cuts down on soot and carbon in your tanks
Premier Pure used alongside a blend of fuel stabilisers, chemicals, and lubricants will reduce wear and tear and ensure your system will last longer

What are the key Premier Pure premium fuel components?

The following are the main components of Premier Pure premium fuels:

Detergents
Dispersants
Metal deactivators
Anti-oxidants
Corrosion inhibitors

The fuel stabilisers and dispersants are very crucial components in the oil. The fuel stabiliser helps in inhibiting the formation of deposits when the fuel is heating up. The dispersants make sure that the tiny deposits are formed to exit through the nozzle and are completely burnt. Thus, these two powerful additives combined ensure that deposits won’t build up on the heat exchanger surfaces or even the nozzles.

The metal deactivator is used to cut down on fuel degradation, which is usually caused by metal interaction in the fuel system. The lining of the heating systems is often lined with copper, making the oil darken and degrade when both come into contact.

Corrosion inhibitor is purposely created to prevent wear and tear that may form in the heating systems. Thus, with Premier Pure, your heating system will have fewer rust deposits, and the metals will last longer.

The detergents used give the fuel a fresh smell when burnt.

Benefits of Premier Pure

Premier Pure is domestic kerosene available with added fragrances that give a fresh smell in environments sensitive to foul odours from fuels.
Lower carbon emissions. Premier Pure burns at 95 percent or more efficiently thus limiting the amount of carbon that is released to the environment.
Premier Pure increases the shelf life since the fuel does not degrade.
Since the system does not rust, you do not have to replace its parts regularly. Thus, by using Premier Pure service problems are reduced and the heating system serves you better and for a longer time.

Everything you need to know about boilers

A boiler system is purposely designed to heat the water inside a tank that supplies it hot through pipes. The boiler can also supply steam from the boiled water via pipes and radiators to release warmth. Most boiler systems in a residential setting are hot water heating systems. During the cold months of winter, both the hot water and steam producing boilers are excellent hearing systems to supply you with warmth.

Typically, a boiler sits on a burner and the burner burns fuel to release heat. Many boilers use natural gas, which is usually piped to the homes directly. However, often in rural area, natural gas lines do not serve most of the residences and so oil boilers are common.

Evaluating different types of boiler systems

There are three main types of boilers, system, heat only and combi. System boilers produce hot water for a storage cylinder which is used to for central heating. System boilers, unlike conventional boilers, take water in via a direct supply from the mains. A heat only boiler, also known as a regular or conventional boiler, usually has two tanks, a hot water cylinder and the actual boiler, situated in an elevated space such as a loft.

The third type of boiler, a combination or combi boiler, is supplied directly from the water mains. This means that you won’t need a hot water storage cylinder or a water storage tank as with other systems. When you use the hot water tap with a combi boiler, the gas burner is ignited and a heat exchanger transfers the energy to the water, which allows hot water to be generated almost instantly.

One of the key considerations when purchasing a boiler system is the system’s operating efficiency. The level of efficiency of your heating system will depend on the percentage of fuel that is used to create heat. Thus, a more efficient heating system translates to more savings on heating costs.

While evaluating a heating system’s efficiency, there are two common types, standard systems and high efficiency systems. Standard boiler systems are less energy efficient, usually operating at around 84 percent of maximum in efficiency levels. Standard boilers are also less costly in terms of upfront costs compared to high efficiency systems. High efficiency boiler systems are classed as having an efficiency that is more than 90 percent.

Still want more? For more information about the different types of boilers we recommend the Which? article “What are the different types of boiler?”

What makes a boiler high efficient?

A boiler works by heating water, conducting the hot water through pipework, radiators, radiant floors systems, or a coil. However, what makes some boilers high efficiency is that they trap any heat that tries to escape back into the system. In contrast a standard efficiency boiler allows the heat to be lost in the process of conducting.

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FAQs – Kerosene

What is Kerosene?

Kerosene is an extremely well known and popular fuel. It is a flammable hydrocarbon, an element consisting of Carbon (C) and Hydrogen (H), that has been used for centuries around the world. Kerosene and other hydrocarbons are obtained from crude oil by a process known as fractional distillation.

Fractional distillation is used to produce the fuel on an industrial scale by distilling crude oil in a process similar to that used to produce diesel or petrol.

What is it used for?

Kerosene is extremely popular in aviation, both as jet fuel and rocket fuel, as the fuel meets specifications for the temperature it remains a liquid at before freezing, the speed and efficiency with which it burns and it’s relatively high flash point, the temperature at which it ignites.

When was Kerosene discovered?

Inventor Abraham Gesner trademarked the term Kerosene in 1854 but the history of heating oil goes back much further. There is plenty of evidence that as far back as 1500 BC the Chinese were using heating oil for lamps.

What are the other common names for Kerosene?

As you might expect from a fuel that’s been around since at least the 9th century, home heating oil has plenty of other names. It is commonly referred to as:

Boiler Juice
Burning Oil
28 Second Heating Oil
Industrial Paraffin
C2 Kero
Standard Kero

How widely is burning oil used in the UK?

There are approximately 1.1 million properties in the UK that use heating oil as the primary fuel for heating, it is also used in a purer form for cooking.

What is the lifespan of heating oil?

The lifespan of heating oil is dependent upon the conditions in which it is kept. If it is stored in a purpose made, weather proof container, it should last around two years and up to a maximum of around five years.

Are there different grades of kerosene?

In the UK there are two standard grades of heating oil. BS 2869 Class C1 is used for lanterns, camping stoves, wick heaters. BS 2869 Class C2 is used as domestic heating oil.

What temperature does Kerosene burn at?

Kerosene’s flash point is in excess of 35 degrees Celsius.

Is kerosene dangerous?

The health risks associated with handling and using heating oil are minimal, provided that the fuel is used in accordance with safety practices.

What more?

Check out Kerosene: health effects, incident management and toxicology for information about heating oil (also known as paraffin and jet fuel), for use in responding to chemical incidents.

Have a question that you can’t see the answer for? Contact us and let us know.

Order Heating Oil Online FAQs

Order heating oil online FAQs

Q. Why is the minimum order 500 litres, why can I not just order 200 litres?

A. Our minimum order is 500 litres. Unfortunately, we don’t offer deliveries for less than 500 litres so that we can ensure our customers receive the best value from our services.

Q. Is heating oil safe to use?

A. Yes domestic heating oil is very safe. It is considered one of the the safest type of heat, it warms your home quickly, safely and cost effectively.

Q. Do I need to be present when the delivery is being made?

A. We don’t need you to be at home for a delivery, as long as our driver can access your tank easily and it isn’t locked.

Q What is premium kerosene?

A. Our premium kerosene improves the efficiency of your system by enabling the fuel to burn better. Your boiler will run at its most efficient, immediately. Premium kerosene reduces the amount of sooty build-up to keep your boiler running better for longer.

It also helps to maintain your boilers optimum performance resulting in improved efficiency, lower CO2 emissions and using less fuel to heat your home.

Q. Is there a best time of year to purchase heating oil?

A. It is always best to fill your tank before the winter months. When the heating season begins, delivery times may be increased due to high demand and prices can also rise.

Q. Why do fuel prices change?

A. The wholesale price which we buy your heating oil at constantly fluctuates. We continuously monitor the wholesale price of the heating oil we supply and we buy from all of the major oil companies to ensure we can offer you the best prices possible.

Q. I have just moved into a property with oil heating, how much oil should I purchase?

A. You can have your tank filled or you may want to budget a certain amount of money. However the minimum order is 500litres.

Q. Where is my delivery?

A. The order confirmation provides you with the latest date that your order will be delivered. Please be aware this is an estimated time.at very busy periods of high demand there may be a delay however the supplier always will aim to deliver on time.

Q. Can a delivery be made by a smaller tanker?

A. Yes we have access to smaller vehicles. Please note you only need to select the small vehicle if for example you have a miniature dust cart to collect your waste.

Q. How much is VAT on fuel?

A. There is 5% VAT on all heating oil deliveries for domestic customers to their homes. For commercial customers, including farms, there is 5% VAT on orders less than 2,300 litres. For deliveries greater than 2,301 litres, commercial customers pay 20% VAT on the whole delivery.

Q. How do I pay for my fuel?

A. We currently accept Visa, Visa Debit and MasterCard payments via our website.

Q. Can I cancel my order?

A. You can cancel the order before the delivery has been scheduled. Please email us if you wish to cancel.

Order heating oil online FAQs – Have a question that you can’t find the answer for?
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Want more info about kerosene?
Check out our Kerosene FAQs page

The UK and Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA)

We are an approved UKIFDA member. UKIFDA is the trade body for the liquid fuel distribution industry, and as such members follow best practice and adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and Customer Charter.