How to Use Oil Additives to Save Money

The price of heating oil is more vulnerable to price fluctuations than that of electricity or mains gas. Even if people buy their home heating oil from Emo.ie, they still need to look for money-saving methods to help them to heat their homes for less. A good way to look after the oil and the boiler is to use additives.

Heating oil additives contain dispersants, detergents, stabilisers, corrosion inhibitors and other compounds that help to improve the efficiency of the boiler and keep the oil in better condition.
Most oil boilers work by spraying oil out of nozzles and burning it in air. Over time, the nozzles and heat-transfer components can become clogged with deposits and residues – soot and incompletely-burned oil – which inhibits the transfer of heat to the water. This means your boiler has to work harder to meet your thermostat’s target; using oil additives can break down these deposits and prevent them from returning, saving money in the long run.

Getting rid of deposits and sludge also helps to keep your boiler running – if your boiler is a few years old it will be prone to rust and the usual wear and tear. Additives contain lubricants and cleansers to keep all the internal parts running more smoothly, reducing the need for unnecessary repairs. They are surprisingly effective, too, with a small bottle of additives – 200ml – being enough to treat 1,000 litres of oil.

These compounds don’t eliminate the need for regular inspection and maintenance, however – not all problems can be solved or prevented by additives, so a yearly check (at least) is important.
Additives also keep the fuel itself in good condition – heat, moisture and the passage of time can cause heating oils to degrade, but anti-oxidants can slow this process down. Ideally, the compounds should be added when the oil is delivered, but if the homeowner has to add them, they should make sure to wear safety gloves and glasses.

Image source: Home heating Shutterstock

More about using additives
Using additives doesn’t alter the chemical make-up of your oil, so they won’t make it any more efficient – it already is as efficient as it could be – only by using a modern, efficient boiler will you get more out of your oil.

If your oil seller provides premium kerosene, then this is a good way to get the additives you need, effort-free! Premium kerosene has already had the additives put into it before it’s sold, so it’s ready to help your boiler or oil-fired cooker work more efficiently. Of course this kerosene might be more expensive initially, but if you consider the advantages you’ve just read about, it’ll save money and potential problems in the long run.

When you think about saving money on your heating oil, using additives might not be the first thing that springs to mind – you’ll think of looking for cheaper oil, servicing the boiler or turning your thermostat down. However, using additives is almost effort-free and a small bottle of oil additives can last for up to two years – a worthy investment.

*collaborative post

Sturgeon Moon

 After such a rainy summer where a lack of allotment attendance has meant an overgrown array of mares tail, grass and an ochre carpet of bee and hoverfly attracting nasturtiums, there was a surprising amount of homegrown goodies hiding amongst the vegetation to take home:

• French beans
• Borlotti beans
• Glorious orange gladioli
• A pumpkin already fallen off its stalk
• Beetroot
• Potatoes
• Raspberries
• Blueberries
• Courgette

After dispatching the bounty into the car I was able to take a walk around the plots as the sun dipped and buttery light streamed across the corn tassels. Still blue skies but twilight creeping in from under the railway bridge and across the vegetable patches. Sunflowers reaching for the last sunbeams before the shadows take over.

 The leeks have flowered adding a row of full stops to a strip of bare soil that once grew early potatoes and tansy from a Medieval Fayre has softened the edges with its medicinal yellow 'bitter buttons'. Once used as a strewing herb on the floors to keep the flies away, it does indeed have a strong camphorous smell. Folkore says it will keep monsters away so we gathered some to take home to see if it works......  Walking to the plots at the far end to admire a profusion of sunflowers in all sizes and past sweet peas climbing a trellis, I looked up and saw the full moon all aglow, low in the sky just above the rooftops. A sturgeon moon, so called as it marks the time when the fish can be readily caught.

One of those moments where you feel at ease, just in awe of such a majestic sight and the connection of everything from the little seeds that I sow to the tiny moths I disturb as I brush through the grass and the heady scent in the air of late summer.


Joining in with Mammasaurus for How Does Your Garden Grow?

Quarry Park Shrewsbury: a bridge, bells and boats

The River Severn runs through Quarry Park in Shrewsbury, the river itself drawing people to this area of town for centuries and due to its popularity as a walk by the well-to-do, the Mayor in 1719 had over 400 lime trees planted along these promenades. 

Throughout the 19th century the park grew, more pathways, the addition of benches for the genteel and those statues so typical of the Victorian worthies. The Shrewsbury Horticultural Society held its first show in The Quarry in 1875 and still does to this day.

Across the sprawling grass field where dogs run after sticks, couples sun bathe and children kick footballs is St Chad's Church with its rounded tower. It's a great experience to hear the bells ringing and to sit on the field with a cup of coffee from the kiosk (or make your own at home https://poundcoffee.com/best-super-automatic-espresso-machines/).) I then start to rhapsodise about change ringing and telling whoever will listen about the joys of pulling the ropes. A colourful fair is pitched up too for the thrill seekers but we are quite content with the football and a bag of snacks. 
Upon getting restless we went for a walk across the Porthill Bridge over the looping river by grand houses with small boats moored off pretty jetties. A popular pub, The Boathouse is on the other side, alive with people on the flowery terrace. Standing on the bridge, which being of the suspension variety does vibrate a fair bit much to the delight of the kids, we watched a dog having fun playing fetch into the river. Go on, one more time. Splash! Park watching, it's an entertainment. Even the statue of Hercules couldn't help but muster a tiny smile (well maybe) despite being ridiculed in his party hat.  

Quarry Park is in Shrewsbury town centre and there is nearby parking. On site there is a children's play area, an ice cream van usually in attendance and a coffee kiosk. Throughout the year there are many events held here such as the World Championship coracle boat racing in September.

Degustabox July

Degustabox July was a summer box of refreshing drinks and treats for the warm days and evenings. First to try were....

Berrywhite organic drinks, cranberry and guava, lemon and ginger. These were really nice, made with sparkling spring water with no added sugar. The cranberry flavour was my favourite and great as a summer drink.

Seabrooks Lattice Heroes Crisps £1.99, vegetarian chorizo flavour and gluten free. Really tasty and eaten all at once on our travels.

Jordan's Swiss Style Muesli £2.79
Crispy wheat flakes, oats, raisins and finely sliced almonds with no added sugar. I don't eat muesli and cereal in the morning but have it for lunch or an afternoon snack. This was a nice mix and I'd try it again if I saw it on offer.

Bahlsen Choco Leibniz biscuits 4 x 40p
A favourite anyway in our household particularly with my son. The chocolate is so moreish and these handy small packs were great to pop into my bag.

Rejuvenation Water £1.99
A refreshing drink made with Derbyshire spring water. I had the Spanish Orange flavour which was lovely but they are in apple and mint plus ginger flavours too.

Brookside chocolates £3.40
Now these were divine. I was really enjoying them until my son found them and pinched them off me. Exotic fruit and berry flavours blended with dark chocolate. I really hope I come across these again in the supermarket.

Rowntree's Fruit Pastille Infusions £1.29
I don't eat jelly sweets but I'm reliably informed by my two young testers that these were rather nice. 3 flavour fusions - orange & grapefruit, raspberry & pomegranate, apple & elderflower. No artificial flavours, preservatives or colours, super for keeping them happy on the summer car journeys. 

Felix Gerkins £2.15
Skips and dances and eats gherkins, I love these. Boo hiss if you don't. These gherkins are handpicked in Sweden. Hallå!  Crunchy and sweet with added spices, I've been adding these to my salads. 

Itsu Crispy Seaweed Thins 2 x £1
Harvested from South Korea's clear seas and naturally full of iodine, zinc, iron and B12. Very low in calories and a great addition to salads, all sorts of savoury foods or as a snack. Not one for us and I'd prefer seaweed products more locally sourced like what we see in Pembrokeshire.

Sarson's Balsamic Vinegar £1.99
A full bodied Modena balsamic vinegar for salads and dipping. Really tangy and multiple uses from making dressings or adding to stews. 

Cracker drinks £1.50
Pineapple, coconut and lime juice that has no added sugar and was lovely. Less than 90 calories per serving so not too bad as a drink even though I'm on a diet. Be great to add some chopped fruit too, to make an non alcoholic punch. 

ALO Drink £2.45
A curious drink with blobs of aloe vera in it so quite a strange sensation but not a bad taste. 

Degustabox is a great way of trying out new food products each month, it become a surprise that we look forward to, what exciting treats will we find. It's well worth trying out and you can do at a reduced price, use the code BLDEG15 for £7 off.

*I received a box for the purpose of the review, words are my own honest opinion.