Is Heating Oil Or Natural Gas Safer? Contact Charity Oil For Fuel Oil Delivery Service Palisades NY

Now that winter is here, many of the homes in the USA are utilizing their heating systems warmth. These heaters utilize various fuel sources to produce heat. Homeowners in the north-eastern section of the United States mostly use two common fuels, which are heating oil and natural gas. The construction of pipelines to supply natural gas to homes has made this fuel accessible; and this causes many homeowners to reconsider whether they should change their fuel source from heating oil to natural gas. A major factor that influences this decision would be safety for the family and the neighborhood. This article will discuss fuel safety and its importance to homeowners.

The Environment & Natural Gas

Previously, because of accessibility, many homes could not make the choice to convert to natural gas; however, this is no longer the case. With the ongoing construction of pipelines to supply natural gas, in addition to the requisite power plants which creates a transport network, natural gas as a fuel source can now be accessed by more homeowners. Now, homeowners can select natural gas as their fuel option.

On the other hand, natural gas does have its disadvantages. The pipelines supplying natural gas cause adverse environmental impacts. The environmental problems caused by these pipelines unfortunately do not have clear solution to remedy the impacts. The damage caused to the ecosystem and the surrounding environs is therefore everlasting. The challenges encompass air pollution, desecration of native wildlife, air pollution, global warming emissions, in addition to other problems. Further to the adverse environmental impacts, the new pipelines create many other issues, including with the power plants. The David Suzuki Foundation shared the following article which discusses the issues in more detail:

Natural gas-fired power plants do emit lower levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides than coal-fired plants, but these emissions still contribute to acid rain and ground-level ozone, both of which can damage forests and agricultural crops.

Ground-level ozone (commonly called smog) has also been linked to a range of respiratory illnesses. More recently, ground-level ozone has been linked to the development of childhood asthma, the “most common chronic disease” among children.

Possibly more troubling are the emissions of fine particulates from gas-fired power plants. Though particulate emissions are about ten per cent of those produced by coal power, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 77 per cent of particulates from natural gas plants are dangerously small. These fine particulates have the greatest impact on human health because they by-pass our bodies’ natural respiratory filters and end up deep in the lungs. In fact, many studies have found no safe limit for exposure to these substances.

Using natural gas as a “transition fuel” also poses risks. That’s because pipelines required to transport natural gas from its source to the power plant are expensive. High pipeline costs have to be spread out by building several gas-fired power plants that last a generation. Even the best-case scenario shows that natural gas is not a solution to climate change.

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The above article implies that the natural gas pipelines do not provide the optimal answer to heating in the winter. The impacts to the environment are too grim. In addition, natural gas also causes health problems. On the other hand, heating oil is transported via a pipe network that transfers the crude oil from one place to another; and this is considered to be a safer method compared to other modes of transportation. However, there is proof that pipelines for natural gas and the requisite power plants are hazardous both to the environment and to people’s health.

While you may be unable to control the assembling of pipelines for natural gas or the erection of power plants, your purchasing power does give you a say. By choosing not to switch your heating fuel to natural gas, your choice reflects that you are not in support of power plants and natural gas pipelines infringing on the environment or damaging your health. Countless homeowners have made the decision to share their opinions on this matter.

Your Home & Natural Gas

By now, everyone should know that the mode of transport for natural gas supply is not safe for the environment or people’s health. Have you considered how this may affect your home? Natural gas explosions are not uncommon and usually make the news. Actually, the rate of reports of home explosions caused by natural gas is frightening.

Gas Leaks

Gas leaks are no laughing matter, and are actually very serious. Some of the gas companies try to lighten the impact of such explosions by saying that poor maintenance of the heating system is the primary cause of natural gas leaks. On the other hand, this article from The Atlantic titled “Gas Leaks Are Everywhere”, shares the account of a gas leak inspector who refutes these claims.

I was required to document all the leaks that I found, but the gas company only immediately fixed those leaks that were within five feet of an enclosure.

But over time, I learned a surprising truth: The bulk of the gas leaks identified are left leaking. Those between five to 15 feet from a house or structure would receive a check-up after six months. Leaks more than 15 feet from a building were noted but required no special attention.

No matter how much work we do to police them, there will be gas leaks for as long as there are gas lines. Even if the number of people surveying and repairing gas lines drastically increased in the next year, old leaks would still persist and new ones would still appear.

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A substance called mercaptan is added by gas companies so that natural gas emits a “Sulphur-like, rotten egg” scent. Natural gas has no odor and is undetectable by human senses, without this additive. While some homeowners are keen to scent, many persons are incapable of identifying the smell and therefore, do not notice that there is a gas leak until it has gone too far.

Meanwhile, persons in the home may suffer from nausea, dizziness, fatigue, headaches or irregular breathing. Individuals may not know that there is a gas leak in the house, and gas explosions could be the result. Hearing about natural gas explosions is actually commonplace throughout the country. While a gas leak may not cause an explosion, a natural gas leak can cause major health problems in the home, and could result in death.

Uncontrollable Gas Leaks

Homeowners who keep a tight maintenance schedule of their heating system and take preventative actions to prevent a gas leak in the house, still have to face the uncertainty that something could go wrong. These gas explosions do not impact just a stand-alone house. Most explosions also extend to the neighbors’ houses.

In addition, homeowners may have their natural gas supply shut off when there is a hazardous situation occurring. Another challenge is when the weather causes a negative effect on the natural gas pipes, which could cause the supply pipes to break, thus affecting the supply. This is discussed in more detail in this article published by energy.gov.

Severe storms, flooding, and earthquakes can expose and break pipes, however. When disruptions do occur, it can take weeks or even months to restore. Homeowners should take care in identifying and reporting any problems, as they may pose substantial risk to public health and safety. A break in a natural gas pipeline can lead to fires and/or explosions.

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The article shared that gas pipes do break because of weather conditions. If a pipeline breaks because of the weather, it could take several weeks before it is fixed. In turn, homeowners will have challenges with heating their home because the heating source is not available. Of course this is a horrible situation to happen during the cold winter.

Gas Supply Interruptibles

Homeowners also need to understand that there may be instances when there may be a natural gas supply interruptible or curtailment in supply. There are several reasons why this may happen including a break in the pipeline or a gas explosion. A curtailment may also be caused by a supply shortage or when there is excessive demand. The latter is not an uncommon occurrence.

This is why homeowners have to seek other options for fuel sources. When there is a gas service interruptible, homeowners have to endure hours or sometimes days without natural gas to keep their homes warm. Being without heat or having to do without the appliances which use natural gas can leave a homeowner in a terrible state.

In addition, before there are any supply challenges or interruptions occur, the prices of natural gas can increase overnight, and this makes it hard for homeowners to budget for the costs of heating their homes in the winter. Ethanol Producer Magazine published the following article which discusses this topic in more detail.

When facing the potential for curtailment, plants have to consider more than simply losing their natural gas supply—they must also consider the cost of natural gas. Extreme cold snaps can cause the demand for natural gas to increase significantly, resulting in prices of natural gas skyrocketing alongside demand before a curtailment event happens.

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Heating Oil

Homeowners who use heating oil to heat their homes have the opportunity to experience several benefits. Definitely when it relates to safety, heating oil has several advantages. Firstly, heating oil is non-combustible. Therefore, heating oil is not explosive. Heating oil cannot burn in its liquid state. It is possible to light a match, put it into a tank with heating oil, and the match will automatically be extinguished. As natural gas is mixed into the air, it becomes very explosive.

In addition, no hazardous carbon monoxide leaks that can result in health challenges for homeowners will go undetected, and this includes death in families who utilize natural gas. Alternatively, heating oil systems show clear signs that there is a problem which needs to be dealt with. The scent of oil will be obvious before any major problems happen. When fuel oil systems are not professionally and consistently maintained, oil leaks can occur.

All heating systems, despite the fuel source, will experience challenges once there is no proper maintenance. Unfortunately, natural gas heating systems may get a crack in the heat exchanger which in turn produces a gas leak that homeowners would not be cognizant of.

Heating oil comes from crude oil. There is a solid supply of crude oil; therefore, homeowners do not have worry about any interruption of supply. These reasons make heating oil a more viable and safe source of fuel for heating.

Conclusion

Using fuel oil to heat a home brings a level of comfort for a homeowner in terms of safety and health. There would be no undetectable gas leaks or possibility of explosions. In addition, as previously mentioned, heating oil, unlike natural gas which always has the possibility of leaks, is not transported via a pipe network connected precariously to people’s homes.

Fuel Oil Delivery Service Palisades NY

When thinking about what fuel you should use to heat your home and power your appliances, be sure to take safety into consideration. Gas explosions are all too common and we hear about them constantly on the news. This is too close for comfort.

It is also important to maintain your heating system, regardless of what fuel source it uses. For a reliable, trusted, and affordable heating oil delivery and heating system maintenance, be sure to contact Charity Oil.

We service Ardsley NY 10502, Ardsley On Hudson NY 10503, Blauvelt NY 10913, Dobbs Ferry NY 10522, Eastchester NY 10709, Elmsford NY 10523, Hartsdale NY 10530, Hastings On Hudson NY 10706, Irvington NY 10533, Nyack NY 10960, ,Orangeburg NY 10962, Palisades NY 10964, Pearl River NY 10965, Piermont NY 10968, Sparkill NY 10976, Tappan NY 10983, Tarrytown NY 10591, Tuckahoe NY 10707, West Nyack NY 10994, Yonkers NY 10701, and surrounding areas.