Ordering home heating oil for the first time? Here's how to tell kerosene from gas oil, and how to check before you order so you don't get the wrong fuel.
By MyOil Editor ·
If you have a home heating boiler in Ireland, it almost certainly runs on kerosene, also called 28 second oil or home heating oil. That is the standard domestic heating fuel here, full stop.
Gas oil, also known as 35 second oil, green diesel, or agricultural diesel, is a heavier fuel used for tractors, farm machinery, older commercial boilers, and some generators. It is dyed green in Ireland for tax reasons.
So when you ring a supplier and they ask what you want, the answer for a normal house is nearly always kerosene. But it is worth understanding why, so you can order with confidence and never worry you got the wrong stuff.
The "seconds" number refers to viscosity, basically how thick the fuel is and how quickly it flows through a test cup.
Most domestic condensing boilers installed in the last 20 years are set up for kerosene. Putting gas oil into a boiler designed for kerosene can foul the nozzle, cause sooting, and lead to lockouts. It is not a swap you make casually.
Before your first order, spend two minutes confirming what you need:
If you have a farm and a single tank feeding both the house and machinery, do not assume. Get it confirmed, because the wrong fuel in the wrong place is an expensive mistake.
"Green diesel" trips up a lot of first-timers because the name sounds like it belongs in a car. It does not. Green diesel is gas oil dyed green, and it is only for off-road and agricultural use. Using it in a road vehicle is illegal, and using it in a kerosene boiler can damage the boiler.
If you are buying for a house, ignore the green diesel option entirely and order kerosene.
A few things worth sorting so your first fill goes smoothly:
Heating oil is bought by the fill, and the total matters more than the headline cents-per-litre. A few euro difference per hundred litres adds up across a full tank. We do not tell you when to buy or predict where prices are going. What helps is watching for genuine dips: you can set a price-drop alert and get told when local prices ease, then order when it suits your tank.
For an ordinary Irish home, order kerosene (28 second oil). Leave gas oil, 35 second oil, and green diesel to the farm and the machinery. If anything about your setup is unusual, confirm with your boiler manual or your OFTEC-registered technician before the tanker arrives.
Next step: check your tank level and rough usage so your first order is the right size, then compare a couple of local suppliers before you ring.
Set a price-drop alert and we'll email you when oil gets cheaper in your county.
Set a price-drop alert →Pop in your tank and last fill, and we'll estimate how many days you've got left.
See when you'll run out →Confused by 28-second oil, kerosene and home heating oil? Here's the plain-English guide for Irish homes, and how to know you're ordering the right fuel.
Read →Confused about bunded oil tanks and the rules in Ireland? Here's the plain-English difference, when you need one, and how to protect your tank.
Read →How long does an oil tank last in Ireland, and what are the signs your old tank is on borrowed time? A plain guide to knowing when to replace.
Read →Tell us your county and we'll watch the price by the fill, not the cent. Add your tank and we'll tell you when you'll run out, and nudge you in good time to order.