Glossary termNo. 10 / 10
- Category
- Tank & usage
- Fuel
- Heating oil
- Source
- Industry practice
A home's fuel-efficiency constant used to run automatic delivery: the number of heating degree days that pass per gallon of oil it burns (degree days ÷ gallons used), typically ~3 to 30+ depending on size, insulation, and system efficiency.
It's the "miles per gallon" of your heat — a dealer multiplies your k-factor by your usable tank gallons to predict how many accumulated degree days mean you're due for a refill, so a lower k-factor (more oil per degree day) means more frequent deliveries.
Source: standard heating-oil-industry operational practice (HDD-per-gallon consumption constant).
Filed by Nick Bruzzi