What Is “Gelling”?

If you live in a cold climate like ours here in Maine and have an outdoor heating oil tank, using normal #2 heating oil can cause a number of problems.

That’s because when heating oil drops to a certain temperature, it begins to solidify — similar to water turning to ice. But when heating oil freezes, it doesn’t assume a solid state like ice – it simply becomes thicker, creating a kind of sludge. This thickening is commonly called gelling (sometimes called waxing).

Gelling can affect your system in several different areas, including your:

• Heating Oil Tank — When heating oil gels in the tank, the heavier sludge settles to the bottom; as more oil settles, less interior tank space and less burnable oil remains.
• Heating Oil Lines — As gelled oil is pumped through heating oil lines it builds on the walls, narrowing the passage way. With less fuel reaching the igniter, efficiency suffers.
• Atomizing Nozzle — The opening at the end of the atomizing nozzle is very small, but it’s designed to allow heating oil to pass through so it can be misted for combustion. Gelled fuel can block that nozzle, meaning that less oil will get through to convert to heat.
• Fuel Filter — As gelled oil is forced through the filter, it clogs quickly and needs more frequent replacement.

Our kerosene blend: A cold weather solution

Our kerosene heating oil blend – a 50/50 mixture of #2 heating oil and kerosene – is a heating oil variant with a lower gel point than #2 oil. Economical, efficient, and cold-resistant, our blended oil will keep the heat coming through the long, cold Maine winter.

As our service area’s most reliable blended fuel supplier, Murray Heutz is the go-to source for cold weather, outdoor fuel solutions.

Need heating oil / kerosene blend for your outdoor tank or mobile home? Murray Heutz delivers. Contact us today to learn more.