Build With Oil is the comprehensive program created to promote Oilheat to builders, contractors, building owners, real estate professionals and homeowners.

If you’re an Oilheat Dealer, the Build With Oil Program is your practical guide for building on the success of the national program to benefit your own company. Helping you get a larger share of the builders market is our top priority. You’ll gain valuable advice and assistance in building your own program quickly and inexpensively. And you’ll be offered the tools you need to achieve your sales/marketing objectives.

If you’re a Builder and/or a Contractor, the Build With Oil Program will provide you with the benefits of installing Oilheat equipment in your residential and commercial projects. And it will provide you with the contact information you need to establish mutually beneficial relationships with Oilheat dealers in you area.

If you’re a Real Estate Professional, the Build With Oil Program will demonstrate to you why buyers prefer the cozy efficiency and dependability of Oilheat. And how, by working closely with the Oilheat Dealers in your area, you can get the help you need to sell more homes faster.

If you’re a homeowner or building owner, the Build With Oil Program will show you why Oilheat is the best choice for cozy comfort, energy efficiency, dependability and savings.

Oil Hovers Around 8-Month Lows Near $80

By PABLO GORONDI

Oil prices hovered around 8-month lows near $80 a barrel Thursday after the U.S. central bank balked at implementing vigorous stimulus measures to boost waning economic growth and U.S. crude stockpiles rose unexpectedly.By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for August delivery was down 92 cents to $80.53 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Earlier in the session, the contract dropped to $79.92, the lowest since October. On Wednesday, it fell $2.90 to settle at $81.45.In London, Brent crude for August delivery was down $1.13 at $91.56 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday extended an interest-rate reduction program known as Operation Twist, pledging to sell $267 billion of short-term Treasury bonds and buy longer-term Treasurys through December. However, traders had been hoping for a more aggressive stimulus package known as quantitative easing.

“Bears are on the cusp of smashing through the $80 level,” energy trader and consultant The Schork Group said in a report. Schork said the benchmark U.S. crude could fall to $74 and Brent to $82.

A surprising jump in U.S. crude supplies also weighed on crude prices. The Energy Information Administration said oil supplies grew by 2.9 million barrels last week while analysts surveyed by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos., had predicted a decrease of 600,000 barrels.

“The inventory data … was sobering,” said analysts at Commerzbank in Frankfurt, noting that U.S. crude oil stocks had reached their highest level in nearly 22 years. “Given that refinery utilization is close to a 5-year high, one would really have expected to see an inventory reduction. That this was not the case was due to significantly higher crude oil imports and increased U.S. oil production.”

Crude has plunged about 25 percent from $106 early last month amid signs of slowing economic growth in the U.S., Europe and China. However, some analysts say investors are too pessimistic about global crude demand prospects.

“Oil prices at current levels are too low and a more a reflection of risk aversion rather than any significant unwinding in demand,” National Australia Bank said in a report.

In other energy trading, heating oil was down 0.71 cent at $2.5775 per gallon while gasoline futures fell 2.59 cents at $2.4814 per gallon. Natural gas gained 5.1 cents at $2.568 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Oil

Energy Tomorrow – Petroleum, or crude oil, is a naturally-occurring liquid composed primarily of hydrogen and carbon compounds. Americans use oil for transportation fuel and to heat our homes, but this resource is vital to our daily lives in many other, lesser-known ways. Petroleum products touch most aspects of our day-to-day safety, mobility, health and lifestyle. From replacement joints and pacemakers to fertilizers, feedstocks, phones and iPods®, oil is a key component in the vast majority of manufactured goods.

Currently, oil is the principal transportation fuel in the United States, accounting for more than 97 percent of the energy that powers our nation’s automobiles, airplanes and ships. In fact, oil is expected to remain the dominant fuel in our nation’s energy mix for decades to come. As global demand rises, is it vital to produce more North American energy. Doing so boosts U.S. energy security, but also keeps our economy going strong.

Combined with natural gas production, the oil industry supports nearly 9.2 million American jobs, while providing millions of dollars to the economy through state and local revenue each day. Consider it the energy stimulus: $476 billion delivered to the U.S. economy in 2010—equal to roughly 60 percent of the 2009 federal stimulus. It’s a stimulus that didn’t require an act of Congress and which, with the right policies, can be repeated over and over—helping to drive broader economic recovery.

Warmth for today … the energy to fuel the future. That’s Oilheat. It’s where comfort meets technology. Where world-class innovation meets friendly personalized service. Where technological advances are made every day that can help you save energy … money … and our environment.

This site has a wealth of information about Oilheat, including Oilheating equipment, oil production, the benefits of Oilheat, FAQs … and much more.

Let OilheatAmerica be your link to the latest news on advancements in Oilheat equipment and in the fuel itself … important tips on conserving energy around your home … and helpful ideas on maximizing your comfort and peace of mind every day.

What is the best set-point for my thermostat?

Temperature set points in the home are clearly a matter of personal preference. We do recommend that homeowners leave their thermostats at one setting and avoid turning the system on and off. This will allow your system to keep comfort levels even throughout the house.

How often should I change my filter and what kind should I use?

1” filters are the typical choice for most homeowners. 1” should be changed monthly and we recommend pleated filters over the typical blue poly filters. 5” media filters should be changed every six months and are an excellent choice for homeowner’s who would like to increase the level of filtration in the home and not invest in a electronic air cleaner. Electronic air cleaners offer the highest level of filtration for homeowner’s. Please refer to the maintenance and care manual that should have been provided with your air cleaner. Also note that electronic air cleaners must be serviced in order for the units to maintain their efficiency.

Is preventive maintenance really worth it?

Yes, having semi-annual preventative maintenance performed allows homeowners to receive the maximum efficiency comfort out of their system. Clean coils and balanced refrigerant charges are one example of how preventive maintenance can help homeowners.

What is the best heating and cooling system for my home?

Heating and cooling systems are more than just equipment alone. Duct systems (forced air), proper refrigerant piping, and proper system sizing are just a few facets of a quality heating and cooling system. All equipment manufacturers are not created equally. Southern Air, Inc. only installs the highest quality systems on the market.

What is Dual Fuel and how can it benefit me?

“Dual” refers to the pairing of a heat-pump with a gas, oil, or LP furnace/boiler. Dual fuel allows the homeowner to heat with their heat pump down to a certain temp and then bring on the fossil fuel unit below the heat pump lockout point. This simply means that you can heat with your heat pump on cool/mild days and heat with your fossil fuel unit on the really cold days, maximizing your comfort and the dollars in your wallet.

How often should I have my ducts cleaned?

Every time homeowners have their equipment changed out or every 10 to 15 years.

Is it okay to close vents?

Generally no. Comfort Systems are designed for “balanced” airflow. This means that all vents are considered to be open when a system is designed to condition a given space. If a homeowner is interested in permanently closing off supply vents they should consult a licensed mechanical contractor.

What is the best way to control Humidity?

Whole house steam-humidifiers are the best way to control humidity during the heating season where humidity needs to be added to the space. During the cooling season variable-speed air handlers and multistage cooling equipment along with a properly sized duct system are three key components to removing humidity from the space. If a homeowner has a specific humidity problem, they should consult Southern Air, Inc.

Why is there “Smoke” coming from my outdoor unit?

Heat pumps have a cycle called “Defrost”. The defrost cycle removes the “frost” from the outdoor coil by switching the system in air conditioning mode for a short period of time. The back-up heat will come on during this process to condition the air. Homeowner’s may experience a slightly cooler supply air temperature during defrost.

What is a heat load calculation?

A heat load calculation is a procedure that is used to properly size heating and cooling equipment. Units are commonly improperly sized. Properly sized systems allow homeowners to control humidity and condition the space with relative ease. Heat load calculations should be performed every time a system is changed out; if there is a problem with humidity; or system have an excessively long run time.

We used these questions and answers from the Southern Air site in hopes that you would find them useful as well.

Heating engineers who wanted a way to relate each day’s temperatures to the demand for fuel to heat buildings developed the concept of heating degree days.

To calculate the heating degree days for a particular day, find the day’s average temperature by adding the day’s high and low temperatures and dividing by two. If the number is above 65, there are no heating degree days that day. If the number is less than 65, subtract it from 65 to find the number of heating degree days.

For example, if the day’s high temperature is 60 and the low is 40, the average temperature is 50 degrees. 65 minus 50 is 15 heating degree days.

Cooling degree days are also based on the day’s average minus 65. They relate the day’s temperature to the energy demands of air conditioning. For example, if the day’s high is 90 and the day’s low is 70, the day’s average is 80. 80 minus 65 is 15 cooling degree days.

Heating and cooling degree days can be used to relate how much more or less you might spend on heating or air conditioning if you move from one part of the country to another. Of course you’d have to take into account how well insulated your new home will be in comparison to your old one and the different costs of electricity, gas or heating oil. You could also use records of past heating degree days to see if the money you’ve spent on insulation, or a newer furnace or air conditioner is paying off. To do this, you’d also need records of past energy use.

The heating degree season begins July 1st and the cooling degree day season begins January 1st.