can I use my kerosene to fuel paraffin heaters?

skylark52

I find myself with a broken and non-repairable oil boiler. We had an fuel pipe leak, and consequent fire within the boiler and it looks like the circuit board has fused because of it. Since it's a 23 year old Myler (?) boiler, the parts are no longer available.

I'm a single mum with no money for a new boiler + installation and system upgrade cost and a large, cold house to keep warm. It doesn't look like I am in line for a new boiler from the government because it's oil, not gas, even though I tick the boxes for qualifying criteria.

Now, I'm making plans to keep warm through the winter and besides our solid fuel burner in the living room, I was thinking to buy some paraffin burners to keep upstairs warm, specially since I have an oil tank with 500 liters of (now useless) oil.

Am I right to think that kerosene and paraffin are the same fuel? Am I also right that kerosene might be leaving a nasty odour if I burn it and if so, is it just the smell or could it be bad for our health?

I have read all the info on keeping warm and will invest in some electric blankets and insulate everything I can think off but I still have to try to heat the place without going broke!

I've looked into having the free solar panels installed on the government scheme but as my house is on the market to be sold I found I would have to take them with me as I would be the one on the paperwork and this can't transferred to next owner of my house. As I have no idea where I will be going next (probably not enough left to buy a new house), that does not seem a good idea.

Any suggestions, or advise would be greatly appreciated.:T

thanks

suki1964

Parrifin and heating oil Te one and the same,other then purity and cost


I would not burn kerosene in the house. The stench and the soot wlul be enough to stop me

fishybusiness

Am I right to think that kerosene and paraffin are the same fuel? Am I also right that kerosene might be leaving a nasty odour if I burn it and if so, is it just the smell or could it be bad for our health?

My advice, don't use kerosene, on health grounds.

There is discussion from a couple of years ago about this somewhere on the forum, can't find it right now.

We had a couple of Inverter paraffin heaters, amazing heat, they do keep spaces really warm, and get rooms to temp quickly.

Downsides, if they are the type you are thinking of..

Lots of water vapour, it has to go somewhere, and open windows or good ventilation is needed.

Fuel is expensive, when I worked it out two years ago, in real terms it was as expensive as electricity. That didn't take in to account the purchase cost of the paraffin heaters.

IMO you would be better off with oil filled rads when you need them. Still expensive to run, much less expensive to buy.

fishybusiness

This is the thread I was thinking of...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1460277

skylark52

Thanks for that info. I have found some good stuff in that old thread!
I emailed the company selling paraffin heaters and they stated that although the heaters are not supposed to burn kerosene, it won't do them any harm and the only drawback would be the smell. No health hazards apparently. I will look into it further.

My parents always had (and still have) a paraffin burner in the hall, even when I was a kid. It was a lovely cosy kinda heat.

Food for thought. I will look into the alternatives like oil filled radiators. Just no idea what to do with all that heating oil if I decide not to burn it. Such a waste.....

Silent_Dancer

You should be able to get a new oil boiler if you receive benefits in England under the ECO scheme. There are fewer providers who will do this but it is possible.

To find out what support you could be entitlted to try the Energy Saving Trust.

bobmedley

Your boiler type is possibly a Merlin/Mistral/Myson. It would be worthwhile finding out the model. Oil boilers of that vintage had no electronics inside, just some wiring, a burner & thermostats (and possibly a timer), so there may be a chance it could be repaired (bits off Ebay for example).

Who told you it was not repairable?