Wilson Oil and Propane

Increase Your Knowledge About Oil Tanks Here are answers to some of the common questions we get about heating oil tanks. Q: How Long Do Heating Oil Tanks Last? Heating oil tanks can last for decades, but like anything else, they eventually need to be replaced. Life spans vary depending on the humidity in the environment, the thickness of the tank’s wall and other factors. When tanks do fail, it’s hard to see it coming, because they generally erode from the inside out. That’s why it’s a good idea to have them inspected periodically since cleaning up a tank leak can be incredibly expensive. We also recommend that you speak to us about our ProGuard® Tank Protection . This is available for both underground and aboveground tanks. If your oil tank is more than 30 years old, it’s a good idea to look into your heating oil tank replacement options. How Can I Tell If My Oil Tank Is Wearing Out? Besides getting periodic professional tank inspections, you should also do your own visual...

The Gold Standard for Removing Airborne Particles One of the most effective products used to improve indoor air quality today is the high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. HEPA filters, which are considered the gold standard for removing airborne particles like dust, pollen and bacteria, are highly recommended for anyone who suffers from allergies or respiratory ailments like asthma. These highly effective air filters are used in air purifiers and forced-air HVAC systems like furnaces and central air conditioning units. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a HEPA filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any other airborne particles with a microscopic size of 0.3 microns. These are known as “true HEPA filters,” which must meet strict industry standards for air filtration. The difference between a HEPA filter and a regular air filter is that HEPA filters are composed of thousands of thin fibers. This design is...

Help Us Keep Propane & Oil Deliveries on Schedule This is the time of year to share some tips to assure timely deliveries as well as how to keep your heating system operating safely and efficiently all through winter. Let’s begin with some delivery advice. Watch Your Tank Levels If you call us to order fuel, make sure to check your heating oil or propane tank regularly—especially in the middle of a cold snap. Don’t wait until your fuel level gets too low. We recommend calling when your oil tank is about ¼ full or when your propane tank gauge reaches 30%. Combine Automatic Delivery with a Tank Monitor Are you signed up for automatic delivery? If you aren’t, we think you should be! Automatic delivery is a free service that takes away the hassle of having to check your tank and order your fuel. It also lowers the risk of running out of heating oil or propane. Whether you use propane or heating oil, you may qualify for a wireless tank monitor, which you can use in combination wit...

A Furnace Distributes Warm Air Through Your Home Today’s energy-efficient furnaces offer Delaware Valley homeowners a great opportunity to increase their comfort while decreasing their energy usage. New furnaces can now heat a home using significantly less energy compared to older-generation equipment. Knowing more about how your furnace works will help you to make smart choices if you’re considering replacing your old heating system with a new, high-efficiency model. And if you’re having a heating problem, knowing more about how your furnace works will be helpful when you discuss the issue with our service technician. Understanding Your Furnace Furnaces can be powered by either fuel oil, propane gas, natural gas or electricity. Also known as warm-air or forced-air systems, furnaces produce heated air in the combustion chamber. Inside a gas- or oil-fired furnace, the fuel is mixed with air and burned. The heat exchanger transfers the heat to the air, which is pushed through the ...

What Is a Boiler? Boilers use hot water or steam to heat your home. Another name for a boiler is a hydronic heating system, which is defined as a system that transfers heat via a circulating fluid, such as water, in a closed system of pipes. Steam boilers can still be found in older homes, usually ones built before the 1950s. If you have this type of system, your boiler stays true to its name because it actually has to boil water to make steam before your heat can be distributed. In comparison, newer boilers do not need to boil the water to make steam. Instead, they use hot water to distribute heat through a home’s piping. The heat is distributed through your home by either radiators or baseboards. Because a boiler is a closed-loop system, water does not need to be constantly brought in or replaced, making it more efficient. Some of the key components of a boiler system include: a burner , where the fuel (gas or oil) is ignited in the combustion chamber . a heat exchanger , wh...

Where It Comes from, How It Keeps You Warm If you’ve kept your home warm with heating oil for a while, you probably already know that heating oil, like many other products, comes from the refinement of crude oil. Through the process of distillation, hydrocarbons are removed from the crude oil and become a substance that can be further purified and blended to make the heating oil that we ultimately deliver to your heating oil tank. Wilson Oil and Propane just doesn’t just deliver heating oil though. We deliver premium B20 Bioheat Plus® fuel. Bioheat Plus fuel is a blend of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil and renewable biodiesel. It’s produced domestically, and it offers several advantages over traditional heating oil. Biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oils, animal fats and other renewable materials, is considered a biogenic fuel that reduces carbon output 100%. That’s because the combustion of biofuels and other biogenic energy sources recycle  carbon dioxide ...

Affordable Energy for Everyone Since propane was first identified as a volatile compound in gasoline in 1910, businesses and scientists have worked diligently to make propane the viable fuel source it represents today. The process itself of making propane has evolved over the last century or so. Today, there are two primary ways propane is produced. Because propane is created through the processing of natural gas and crude oil, it is a fuel that is largely a domestic product. In fact, about 90% of the American propane supply is generated right here in the United States! That abundant, right-at-home supply in your propane tank makes propane a reliable fuel choice for your Delaware Valley home or business, and all its potential appliances and equipment, throughout the year. Crude Oil Refining Some propane is created during the process of crude oil refining. There are a lot of products that can be derived from crude oil refining, including gasoline, diesel fuel, kerosene, jet fuel an...