How is farm heating oil different from home heating oil?

The forms of home heating oil and farm heating oil both work for providing warmth in the cold seasons. Nevertheless, they have different levels of composition and legality in use. The heating oil that is used for heating the farms is basically known as red diesel. This comes in the category of low-grade fuel, and this is used to fuel the machines that are used in commercial infrastructures and/or settings. This is also a heavier kind of fuel.

The home heating oil, on the other hand, comes in the form of kerosene and/or 28-second oil. This is a lighter kind of fuel and also a cleaner kind of fuel. The key difference between farm and home heating oil lies in the tax rates and use of additives.

The fuel that comes to be used in farms is dyed and/or coloured in red and has some of the rebates to be used in off-road needs. On the other hand, while comparing red diesel vs. heating oil, it can be seen that home heating oil is not dyed red and is taxed. In addition, the properties of burning and the level of viscosity of the farm heating oil will not be applicable for use in home heating systems. If this is done, there can be issues of efficiency.

This article will be helpful to have a comprehensive idea about these two fuels while comparing farm heating oil vs. domestic heating oil.

Important Points For Farm Heating Oil

For the farms of the UK, the use of heating oil is based on the checks of some important factors. They are the forms of the fuel, their storage conditions, and the chances for saving costs on expenses incurred for them.

• Types

 In the UK, the basics of farm heating oil are connected with white diesel and/or DERV and red diesel.

Red diesel: In the UK, as per the difference between farm and home heating oil, it can be found that red diesel is used here in most of the forestry, horticulture, and agricultural activities. In the current times, there have been some restrictions on its usages. This fuel cannot be used in vehicles that run on roads. Some farming works, such as gritting and cutting verges, use this fuel.

Industrial heating oil: Farmers of the UK also work with the use of industrial heating oil or IHO. This works as a cost-effective alternative to gasoline. This form of fuel is used in the process of heating barns, workshops, the forms of greenhouses and for the drying of grains. In a comparison of red diesel vs. heating oil, it can be said that this IHO can work for maintaining the level of temperature of livestock and machines.

Bio-diesel: This is a form of biofuel. It is prepared from vegetable oils and fats. This works as a renewable fuel and as an alternative to conventional kinds of diesel. This can be blended with a regular form of fuel, and it can also be produced on the farm by the use of crops like rapeseed.

• Qualities

While searching for the quality of the farm heating oil vs. domestic heating oil, it can be said that farm heating oil meets the rules and specifications of British Standard 2869.

Thicker and heavier: The fuel, like farm heating oil, has a texture that is thicker and heavier. This is thicker than that of the normal diesel. This happens as it has high levels of viscosity. The flow of the fuel is less easy than that of diesel.

Prepared for commercial needs: The forms of farm heating oil are also known as gas oil, and they are basically prepared to be used in commercial needs, such as in farms. The red diesel is also known as 35-second oil and is used in farm heating.

Low levels of cost: When comparing the red diesel vs. heating oil, it can be said that the farm heating oil can be a cost-effective option for different farms, especially in places where people have established settings and/or arrangements for deliveries of such fuels. These fuels come at a lower cost than that of fuels like propane and electricity.

Dyed in red: Red diesel is coloured and/or dyed in red. This colour change has been done purposely. This colour works as a visual indicator and makes it different from the white diesel and/or DERV. This colour of red makes it have low levels of taxes.

Viscosity: The viscosity of the fuel, like red diesel and/or gas oil, is kinematic. This ranges from 2.0 cSt to 5.5 cSt at a temperature level of 40 degrees C. The viscosity and/or thickness of red diesel are similar to the viscosity and/or thickness of the standard kind of diesel. At the same time, the viscosity of bio-diesel can have a range of 3.5 mm²/s to 5.0 mm²/s at the temperature level of 40 degrees C.

Compatibility with the machine: The main difference between farm and home heating oil is the level of compatibility. The machine that will hold the fuel, like red diesel, needs to be well-maintained, and it should be made of proper metal. The fuel, like home heating oil, is not compatible with a farm machine. The fuel, like bio-diesel, can be inserted in a machine that was previously using diesel.

Taxations: The fuel, such as red diesel, is added with some sorts of tax rebates. This is 46.81 pence for one litre. This reduces the duty rate to the range of 11.14 pence for one litre. This duty rate is lower than that of the white diesel.

Use of additives: The industrial heating oil, like red diesel, needs to be added with additives. This is needed for improving the properties of cold flow, checking the microbial growth, and empowering the forms of lubricity.

Regulations: To know what is better in red diesel vs. heating oil, it can be seen that since 2022, the fuel, like red diesel, has been forbidden to be used in some of the specific kinds of vehicles and machinery.

Btu: It can be seen that the fuel, like red diesel, which comes in BS 2869 Class A2 range, has the rates of BTU in 138,690 for one gallon when compared to farm heating oil vs. domestic heating oil.

Contents of sulphur: The main difference between farm and home heating oil is that the farm fuel, like red diesel, has particles of sulphur, as per the classifications. For example, the classification of A2 has the particles of sulphur in 10 ppm, and the fuel that comes in class D has the particles of sulphur in 1000 ppm.

Important Points For Home Heating Oil

There are some important factors that make a significant difference in farm heating oil vs. domestic heating oil. In the UK, people use home heating oil for space and water heating.

• Types

In the UK, home heating oil comes in various types and ranges.

Kerosene: In the UK, most people work with kerosene. This is a liquid form of fuel and is derived from petroleum. In some of the remote areas of the UK where gas oil cannot be accessed, people use kerosene.

Gas oil: In the UK, some of the off-grid homes, especially where the heating system is old, people use gasoline.

HVO: The fuel, like HVO, has come up as a sustainable source of fuel. This fuel works as a great alternative to fuel like kerosene. This fuel releases low levels of CO2 emissions.

• Qualities

High in cost: The price of home heating oil comes with various ups and downs. This happens due to the factors of weather changes, global incidents, and the levels of the local supply chain. The fuel, like HVO, comes at a high cost due to its production process.

Colourless and/or slightly yellow: To select one in red diesel vs. heating oil, it can be seen that in the UK, home heating oil, like kerosene, has the colour of light yellow, and at times it can be colourless. This comes in the form of clear fuel, and it is free from sediments.

Primarily prepared for home heating: In the UK, the substances of home heating oil, like kerosene, are prepared to be used in home heating. This is the most common form of fuel and is prepared by refining the substances of crude oil.

Viscosity: The other difference between farm and home heating oil is the level of viscosity. The range of viscosity and/or thickness of home heating oil can range from 1.50 cSt to 5.0 cSt at a temperature level of 40 degrees C.

Compatibility with the machine: The home heating oil, like kerosene, can be inserted in standard level of oil-fired boilers that are used for domestic needs. It can also be inserted in a machine of the central heating system.

Taxations: To find what is better in red diesel vs. heating oil, it can be said that the home heating oil ranges are added with some sort of VAT. This comes at a low rate of 5%.

Use of additives: In the UK, heating oil is added with some sort of additives. These additives are added to enhance the level of performance of the storage tanks, boilers and the fuels.

Regulations: The fuels, like home heating oil, are connected to some sort of regulations for safe storage and safe handling. While comparing farm heating oil vs. domestic heating oil, it can be found that home heating oil users should follow the rules of the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) Act of 2001.

Btu: The main difference between farm and home heating oil is the rate of BTU. The home heating oil in the UK has a rate of BTU of 137,000 to 138,000 for one gallon.

Contents of sulphur: The home heating oil has a range of sulphur in 0.1%. You can also get the fuel with ultra-low sulfur or ULSHO.

Wrapping Up

Farm heating oil and home heating oil are both needed to solve the issues of heating homes and commercial settings in the UK. But there is a difference between farm and home heating oil. The fuel, like farm fuel, is related to red diesel. This fuel is heavier and is not properly refined. This fuel is used to fuel the farming and industrial machines.

On the other hand, while comparing farm heating oil vs. domestic heating oil, it can be found that home heating oil is related to kerosene. This fuel is lighter and is more refined. The main difference between red diesel vs. heating oil depends on the viscosity and/or thickness and the proposed usage.

In both cases, the fuel should be stored in a safe area and should be used safely. There can be ups and downs in the prices of such fuels as per the ups and downs in the market and weather changes.