What Does It Mean When Heating Oil Is “Gelling”?

When it comes keeping your New Jersey home warm, heating oil is the BTU king, providing more heat per gallon when it’s burned than any other fuel. But heating oil itself doesn’t fare quite as well against extreme temperatures.

The fact is, heating oil can actually freeze if temperatures get cold enough (16°F, to be exact). When it does, heating oil doesn’t turn into a sold the way water does: it turns into a thick, waxy sludge. This process is called gelling.

Early in the gelling process– and before the oil has become too viscous to flow at all – wax particles (sometimes called platelets or crystals) form in the fuel. These waxy particles can circulate in your heating system, affecting it in multiple ways.

Oil Tank Problems Caused By Gelling

Here are some of the components that can be harmed by gelling heating oil:

• The tank — Since it’s heavier, gelled oil settles to the bottom of your heating oil tank; as more of it settles, less burnable oil remains.
• The oil lines — As gelled oil is pumped through heating oil lines, it builds on the walls, narrowing the passage way like a clogged artery. With less fuel reaching the igniter, efficiency suffers.
• The atomizing nozzle — To burn, your heating oil must first be turned into a vapor – a process that occurs in the atomizing nozzle. Gelled fuel will block the atomizing nozzle, allowing less oil through to convert to heat.
• The oil filter — As gelled oil is forced through the filter, it clogs quickly and needs more frequent replacement.

Avoiding Heating Oil Problems

If you have an outdoor heating oil tank – or if conditions subject your indoor heating oil tank to freezing temperatures – we highly recommend including a fuel additive to mix with your winter heating oil deliveries. Contact us today to learn about anti-gelling fuel additives for your heating oil.

Need reliable heating oil deliveries in NJ this winter? Trust the pros at Dixon Energy. Contact us today to join the Dixon Energy family of customers!