Your Guide to Industrial Heating Oil (IHO)

Industrial heating oil, also known as IHO, is often the lifeblood of many businesses and buildings. Without it, you lack the heat to keep employees, residents and patients comfortable, power for certain generators, and processes that keep certain industries moving.

In this post, we’ll talk about what industrial heating oil is, the applications it’s used for, and why it’s a benefit to businesses. 

What is industrial heating oil?

Industrial Heating Oil, often referred to as IHO, is a type of fuel oil. It’s used for generating heat and power in commercial and industrial applications, most often for boilers, furnaces, and power generators. 

As a middle-distillate fuel, IHO is made from the distillation of crude oils and sits between light fuels such as gasoline and heavy fuels such as residual oils in terms of composition. 

Is industrial heating oil the same as diesel?

IHO is not the same as diesel. In fact, it’s a cost-effective replacement for Class D gas oil (red diesel) and white diesel for commercial boiler applications. 

Since the UK government implemented legislation changes regarding the uses of red diesel in April 2022, gas oil can no longer be used in commercial boiler use, making IHO the perfect, fully rebated alternative. 

What are the uses of industrial heating oil?

Due to the versatility of IHO, it can be used in a wide range of applications across many industries. 

Industrial applications

IHO can be used to fuel boilers and furnaces, which produce steam and hot water for manufacturing, heating, and power generation. This is a common use in the pharmaceutical, food processing, and chemical production industries. 

For ceramics, glass, and metal production, industrial heating oil helps reach the high temperatures needed in kilns and ovens. IHO is also used in oil refineries to provide heat for cracking and distillation processes, and in chemical production, heat is needed for specific chemical reactions in the creation process.

Factories such as asphalt plants need IHO in the production and maintenance of asphalt for road repairs and construction, while the process of textile manufacturing across the world needs heating oil to help with the dyeing, drying, and finishing of textiles. 

Commercial applications

In commercial settings, industrial heating oil is most often used to heat buildings, such as schools, hospitals, airports, office buildings, and swimming pools. Beyond this, it’s used in hospitality to heat water and laundry facilities, in agriculture for optimal growth in greenhouses, and in the food industry for cooking and preservation.

The benefits of IHO

Due to the high energy density of industrial heating oil, it’s an incredibly efficient fuel. It produces significant heat per unit, making it ideal for use in industrial processes. Its consistent, reliable performance means steady temperatures which are key in processes where precise temperature control is crucial. 

Industrial heating oil’s excellent efficiency leads it to be more cost-effective than alternative fuels. Its lower fuel consumption results in overall reduced operating costs, making it a firm favourite in many industries where fuel is a large budget factor. 

Because of the wide availability of industrial heating oil, it’s a reliable source of fuel. This means less stress over your own supply running low and not being able to replenish it. Industrial heating oil can also be stored in on-site tanks, leaving you with reserves should the unlikely event of a shortage happen. 

Industrial heating oil suppliers

If you need IHO to keep your business functioning, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Fuelsource today. We’ll facilitate between the oil suppliers and your site or building, ensuring the fuel you need is delivered on time and efficiently. 

With our fuel management system, we can keep on top of your fuel levels remotely. By doing so, we’ll arrange your fuel deliveries for exactly when you need them, meaning you’ll never be without.

Running low on fuel and don’t have management systems to keep track? We offer a reliable emergency fuel delivery service, with the aim of getting your fuel to you within 24 hours.

To learn more about industrial heating oil or any of our fuel services, contact our friendly expert team on 0207 846 0255 or use our live chat feature to speak to one of us today.