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Why Waste Oil Heating Makes Sense for Rural and Off-Grid Operations

Why Waste Oil Heating Makes Sense for Rural and Off-Grid Operations

Why Waste Oil Heating Makes Sense for Rural and Off-Grid Operations

If you run a farm, rural workshop, or off-grid property, you already know the frustration of heating costs that arrive on top of everything else. Businesses like farms and construction sites face a relentless problem each winter: heating costs. What many rural operators do not realise is that the answer may already be sitting in drums behind the shed. Waste oil heating turns a disposal headache into a free energy source, and when done correctly in Australia, it is entirely legal and genuinely practical.

Key Takeaways

  • Waste oil heating is legal in Australia under strict conditions: Purpose-built heaters, proper fluing, on-site oil sourcing, and bunded storage are the non-negotiable requirements. Using non-compliant equipment or burning oil in open fires is illegal and carries serious EPA fines.
  • The fuel cost can be effectively zero: If you generate a sufficient supply of your own waste oil, the cost of heating with waste oil is zero. Compared with LPG at 4.2c/MJ, If you generate a sufficient put waste oil at just 0.8c/MJ, a dramatic difference for any rural operation already collecting used engine and hydraulic oil.
  • Improper disposal is a serious environmental risk: Waste oil that makes its way to the ground can pollute the soil and reach groundwater, contaminating a potential source, and one litre of waste oil can contaminate one million litres of water. Burning it in a compliant heater removes that risk entirely.
  • Payback periods are short: Most operations save $3,000-$10,000 per year on heating fuel alone, with a typical break-even period of just one to three years. Therefore, if your property produces regular waste oil volumes, a purpose-built heater is worth prioritising this season.

Quick-Start Prioritisation Framework

Scenario Best Approach Effort Level Time to Results
Farm producing tractor/equipment oil On-site waste oil space heater Low First winter
Rural workshop with consistent oil volumes SZ-series or Kozy-style forced-air heater Low-Medium 1-2 seasons
Off-grid property, slab or hydronic heating Waste oil boiler with hydronic circuit Medium 1-2 seasons
Property accepting oil from off-site sources Seek EPA and waste transport advice first High Variable

Start here if you are:

  • A small farm or workshop: A forced-air waste oil heater is the lowest-cost, fastest-payback entry point. Burn only oil generated on your own property.
  • Running an off-grid homestead: A hydronic waste oil boiler integrated with slab or radiator heating delivers consistent, quiet warmth without grid reliance.
  • Unsure about compliance: Contact your state EPA before purchasing any equipment. Victoria’s framework is a useful benchmark; other states have similar obligations.

a red truck parked inside of a metal building Photo by Jonathan Holt on Unsplash

How Waste Oil Heating Actually Works

The Mechanics of Compliant Burning

A waste oil heater is a specialised furnace designed to handle the impurities and higher viscosity found in used oil. Key components include a preheater that warms the oil for better combustion, a burner unit that atomises oil into a fine mist for clean burning, a combustion chamber that generates heat, and a heat exchanger that distributes heat through the facility.

Direct combustion of waste oil can supply daily residential energy in households, and self-atomisation and complete combustion can be achieved by recycling combustion heat to pre-heat the waste oil and decrease its viscosity. This is the critical point: a purpose-built atomising or vaporising burner running at high temperature produces clean, complete combustion. A DIY burn barrel does not.

What You Can and Cannot Burn

Modern multi-fuel heaters can burn any petroleum-based fuel including used oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic fluid, and diesel fuel. However, never introduce antifreeze, paint thinners, solvents, or coolant into a waste oil heater. These contaminants can produce toxic emissions and will put you in breach of state EPA regulations immediately.

Pro Tip: Filter your waste oil before it enters the heater’s storage tank. A basic sediment filter removes water and particulates, reduces ash build-up inside the combustion chamber, and extends service intervals significantly.

The following video demonstrates how a DIY waste oil heater functions in practice, showing the combustion process and basic construction from start to finish.

 

The Australian Legal Framework: What Rural Operators Must Know

When Burning Waste Oil Is Legal

Burning used oil is legal in Australia when done with purpose-built, compliant equipment under the right conditions. Underpinning Victoria’s Environment Protection Act 2017, which came into effect on 1 July 2021, is the General Environmental Duty. The GED is central to the Act, and businesses must reduce the risk of their activities that potentially harm the environment or human health through pollution or waste.

Under state EPA frameworks, burning waste oil is permitted for commercial and workshop space heating using purpose-built heaters and burners. Equipment must achieve complete combustion without discharging visible smoke, offensive odours, or toxic airborne particulates. Small-scale workshop heaters operating below 3 MW thermal capacity in Victoria generally do not require complex industrial licensing, provided they comply with local planning, building, and general environmental duty regulations.

When It Becomes Illegal

The line is clear. Burning used motor oil in open pits, drums, or backyard incinerators is strictly prohibited. Burning oil in modified gas bottles, drip pots, or improvised appliances that discharge black smoke is illegal. A person commits an offence if they contravene the General Environmental Duty in the course of conducting a business or undertaking, with penalties reaching 2,000 penalty units for a natural person and 10,000 penalty units for a body corporate.

Accepting commercial quantities of waste oil from off-site sources without proper EPA waste tracking and transport permits is also illegal, and doing so can reclassify your property as a waste treatment facility subject to full EPA licensing.

Pro Tip: Burn only the oil generated on your own property. This keeps compliance straightforward and keeps regulators off your doorstep. Sourcing oil from neighbouring farms or workshops triggers additional permit requirements in most states.

Storing Waste Oil Safely on Rural Properties

The Bunding Requirement

Before your heater even ignites, your oil storage must comply with Australian standards. Australian Standard AS1940:2017 covering the storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids, is the national benchmark applying across every state and territory. The practical outcome for rural operators is straightforward.

Australian regulators, including EPA NSW, refer site operators to AS 1940 when determining capacity requirements. In practice, a bund must be capable of containing at least 110% of the volume of the largest container stored, or 25% of the total stored volume, whichever is greater. Therefore: if your waste oil drum holds 200 litres, your bund must hold at least 220 litres. Get that right before you store a single litre.

Labelling and Separation

Both waste oil and waste coolant are Prescribed Industrial Waste fluids, and disposing of or losing containment of these liquids carries serious environmental and financial repercussions. Even a small spill can create a significant environmental issue, one litre of oil disposed of incorrectly has the potential to contaminate one million litres of water.

Keep waste oil in clearly labelled, dedicated containers, separate from coolant or fuel. Australian legislation forbids the disposal of waste oil into soil or stormwater and outlines requirements for prevention of spills by ensuring oil is stored in a bunded and covered area in appropriate containers.

a group of tanks sitting next to each other Photo by Chelaxy Designs on Unsplash

Why Rural and Off-Grid Properties Benefit Most

No Grid Dependence

In rural areas where propane deliveries can be inconsistent or costly, a waste oil heater offers off-grid, low-cost warmth for barns, shops, and greenhouses. For properties far from town, this removes reliance on fuel delivery schedules and price volatility entirely.

Farm Machinery Produces the Fuel Naturally

Agricultural operations often have access to surplus oil from machinery, and waste oil systems can help provide affordable heating for barns and greenhouses. Tractors, diesel pumps, generators, and farm vehicles generate used engine and hydraulic oil continuously. That oil was previously a disposal cost. A compliant heater converts it into a heating asset.

Environmental Responsibility on Your Land

Heating with waste oil reduces the need for other heat sources like natural gas, electricity, and propane, directly saving money on heating bills while offsetting demand for those fuels in energy markets. For rural operators who care about what happens to their land and waterways, burning waste oil in a compliant, high-temperature heater is genuinely the responsible choice compared with improper storage or disposal.

Kroll Heaters Australia has been supplying purpose-built waste oil heaters and boilers to Australian farms, workshops, and off-grid properties for decades. Recent projects include a Leongatha, Victoria dairy farm running a 90-degree hot water system using a Kroll SF6 Waste Oil Boiler. Their range covers forced-air workshop heaters through to full hydronic boiler systems suitable for slab heating and radiator circuits.

Pro Tip: If your property runs both a workshop and living quarters, consider a hydronic waste oil boiler. A single unit can supply hot water to radiators, in-slab systems, and domestic hot water simultaneously, all from oil you are already collecting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is burning waste oil legal on my farm in Australia?

Yes, provided you use purpose-built, compliant equipment and burn only oil generated on your own property. Under state EPA frameworks such as Victoria’s Environment Protection Act 2017, farm and workshop space heating from on-site waste oil is permitted. Open burning, DIY burn barrels, and non-compliant heaters are illegal and carry substantial fines. Check your specific state EPA’s requirements before purchasing equipment.

What types of oil can I burn in a waste oil heater?

Compliant heaters can operate using most waste oils of mineral and plant origin, including engine, gear, hydraulic, and fuel oil, provided the oil has a maximum density at 15°C of 860 kg/m³ and an ignition temperature exceeding 56°C. Never introduce solvents, antifreeze, paint thinners, or coolant, as these produce toxic emissions and constitute illegal burning under EPA legislation.

How much waste oil does a heater actually consume?

A Kozy-style waste oil heater suitable for spaces up to 300m² uses approximately two litres of waste oil per hour on low and three litres per hour on high. A typical farm generating regular machinery oil can sustain a heater of this size comfortably through the colder months. If your volumes are lower, consider a smaller unit or a hydronic boiler that retains heat in water for longer periods between burn cycles.

Do I need EPA approval to run a waste oil heater in Victoria?

Small-scale workshop heaters operating below 3 MW thermal capacity generally do not require complex industrial EPA licensing in Victoria, provided they comply with local planning and building regulations and meet the General Environmental Duty under the Environment Protection Act 2017. You must use purpose-built equipment, flue correctly above surrounding rooflines, store oil in bunded containment, and burn only on-site generated oil. Contact EPA Victoria directly for site-specific guidance.

Sources

  1. Environment Protection Act 2017, General Environmental Duty, EPA Victoria. Framework for waste and pollution obligations. https://www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-environment-protection-framework
  2. Waste Oil Heater Guide: Reuse Engine Oil for Heat, The Environmental Blog, 2025. Costs, savings, and farm applications. https://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/2025/07/waste-oil-heater-guide/
  3. Frequently Asked Questions on Waste Oil Heating, Kroll Heaters Australia. Energy cost comparisons and heating FAQ. If you generate a sufficient
  4. Why Proper Waste Oil Disposal is Crucial, Benzoil Australia. Environmental contamination data. https://benzoil.com.au/why-proper-waste-oil-disposal-is-crucial/
  5. Oil Bunding Regulations and Requirements in Australia 2026, Best Bunding. AS1940:2017 compliance guidance. https://bestbunding.com.au/blogs/news/oil-bunding-regulations-requirements-in-australia-how-to-stay-compliant
  6. Bunding for Spill Containment in Australia, Trade Enviro. 110% bund rule and EPA enforcement. https://tradeenviro.com.au/guide/bunding-for-spill-containment/
  7. Is Burning Waste Oil Dirty?, EnergyLogic Waste Oil Heaters. Environmental offset benefits of waste oil heating. https://energylogic.com/is-burning-waste-oil-dirty-hint-its-greener-than-you-think/
  8. Kroll Kozy Waste Oil Heater, Kroll Heaters Australia. Product specifications and consumption data. A Kozy-style waste oil heater
  9. Recent Heating System Installations, Kroll Heaters Australia. Dairy farm and rural project examples. https://kroll-heaters.com.au/recent-projects/

Wood Pellet Boilers: How to Get the Most Efficiency

How to Get the Most from an Efficient Wood Pellet Boiler in Australia (2026)

Heating bills are a persistent worry for Australian households in cooler regions-such as Victoria, the NSW Southern Highlands and Tablelands, Tasmania, the ACT, and regional South Australia-where bottled LPG, heating oil, and volatile electricity tariffs can quickly escalate costs. As states like Victoria continue to phase out new residential gas connections, interest in modern, high-efficiency hydronic wood pellet boilers is growing rapidly. If you are considering switching to a hydronic pellet system or want to optimise an existing setup, this guide provides a clear, practical framework tailored for the Australian market. The Kroll Caria is a local example, see https://kroll-heaters.com.au/waste-oil-boilers/caria-wood-pellet-boilers/

Key Takeaways

  • Efficiency varies widely based on operation: Modern wood pellet boilers deliver high efficiency with low particulate emissions. Most domestic units achieve thermal efficiencies of 70% to 90%, but only when properly maintained and fuelled. If your system is performing at the lower end of that scale, specific system adjustments can recover lost output.

  • Pellet quality is non-negotiable: Poor-quality pellets generate excess ash, increase emissions, and risk auger jams. High-quality pellets deliver reliable output, cleaner combustion, and lower long-term maintenance costs. Always source certified fuel.

  • A buffer tank is the single best hardware upgrade: Incorporating adequate thermal storage reduces boiler cycling, drastically cutting emissions while boosting overall efficiency. In low-load scenarios, system efficiency can jump from 57% without storage to 74% with a buffer tank.

  • Off-grid and regional savings: While biomass boilers replace expensive bottled LPG or diesel heating in off-grid or un-serviced areas, pairing them with correctly sized hydronic circuits delivers significant running-cost advantages over traditional slab or radiator fuels.

Quick-Start Prioritisation Framework

| Strategy | Best For | Effort Level | Time to Results | | Switch to ENplus A1 certified pellets | All pellet boiler owners | Low | Immediate | | Add or correctly size a buffer tank | Systems without thermal storage | Medium | Days | | Set up a regular cleaning schedule | All installations | Low | 1-2 weeks | | Annual professional service | All systems | Low (outsourced) | 1 day | | Review off-grid energy & electrification incentives | Off-gas-grid regional properties replacing oil/LPG | Medium | Weeks |

Start here if you are:

  • A new pellet boiler owner: Prioritise fuel quality (certified ENplus A1) and establish a regular cleaning schedule first-these provide immediate efficiency gains at zero extra cost.

  • An existing owner facing high fuel consumption: Investigate buffer tank sizing and heat exchanger fouling before changing any controller settings.

  • Considering switching from LPG or diesel/oil: Assess your property’s hydronic layout (radiators vs. in-slab) and pellet storage space before selecting boiler capacity.

Understanding Efficiency Ratings (and Why They Differ)

One of the most common points of confusion when shopping for a hydronic wood pellet boiler in Australia is interpreting brochure efficiency figures.

Manufacturers testing under EPA guidelines quote HHV (Higher Heating Value) efficiency, which accounts for the energy required to vaporise moisture in the fuel. This is a conservative, standardised metric ideal for direct comparison. European specifications often quote LHV (Lower Heating Value), which produces efficiency numbers several percentage points higher for identical performance.

In real-world Australian domestic installations, the gap between a boiler’s rated laboratory efficiency and actual seasonal performance comes down to system design:

Why the real-world efficiency gap exists:

While laboratory conditions see condensing pellet boilers exceed 90% thermal efficiency, real-world operational averages often hover around 70% to 80% if unoptimised. The primary causes are ash accumulation on heat exchanger tubes, high-moisture fuel, and frequent short-cycling during mild shoulder seasons.

The Role of Pellet Quality in Real-World Performance

In Australia, using certified fuel makes a noticeable difference from the very first delivery. ENplus A1 certified pellets (complying with ISO 17225-2 standards) guarantee a moisture content below 10% and an ash content under 0.7%. In addition, wood heaters and boilers sold in Australia must comply with strict particulate emissions and efficiency standards (AS/NZS 4012 and AS/NZS 4013).

High Moisture / Low Grade Pellets --> Lower Calorific Value --> More Fuel Consumed --> Heavy Ash & Clinkering ENplus A1 Certified Pellets --> Maximum Heat Output --> Optimal Combustion --> Minimal Residue

Why ENplus A1 is the Standard to Insist On

  1. Higher Heat Density: You burn less volume to maintain target water temperatures across your hydronic radiator or underfloor heating loops.

  2. Lower Ash & Clinker Risk: Low ash content prevents “clinkering” (where minerals melt into hard slag inside the burn pot), which restricts airflow and triggers unexpected shutdowns.

  3. Auger Protection: Uniform density and low “fines” (dust) prevent dust build-up from choking the fuel feed auger.

Pro Tip: Always clean out your fuel hopper or bulk silo after every 4 to 5 bulk deliveries (or at least once every two years) to clear accumulated sawdust before it enters the auger feed.

Buffer Tanks: The Single Best Upgrade Most Owners Overlook

Because hydronic heating demand fluctuates throughout the day-especially during autumn and spring in southern Australia-pellet boilers often modulate down to their minimum heat output. When heating demand drops below this minimum threshold, the boiler is forced to shut down and restart repeatedly.

 

How Short-Cycling Destroys System Efficiency

Every start-up cycle requires the electric igniter to run, consuming power while fuel burns inefficiently during the warm-up phase.

Without Buffer Tank: Boiler Fires --> Overheats Loop Quickly --> Shuts Down --> Cools Down --> Restarts (High Emissions) With Buffer Tank: Boiler Fires --> Charges Thermal Buffer --> Runs Long Clean Cycle --> Shuts Down Cleanly

Research into small-scale biomass heating demonstrates that adding a correctly sized buffer tank delivers striking operational gains:

  • Thermal Efficiency: Boosted from 57% (low-load without storage) to 74% when connected to a buffer tank.

  • Particulate Emissions: Reduced from 180 mg/MJ down to 64 mg/MJ, a two-thirds reduction in smoke and particulate output.

If your hydronic installer hasn’t included a buffer tank in your quote or existing setup, adding one should be your top priority.

Maintenance Calendar

While automated wood pellet boilers handle daily fuel feeding, maintaining peak efficiency requires routine attention.

Weekly / Fortnightly (5-10 Minutes)

  • Empty the ash pan (use cooled wood ash in garden beds or compost).

  • Scrape down the burn pot / grate to remove residual carbon build-up.

  • Operate the manual heat exchanger cleaning levers (if equipped).

Monthly

  • Inspect the hopper for excessive dust or fines at the base.

  • Check flue connection joints and clear any soot accumulation.

Annual Servicing ($350, $600 AUD)

  • Book an annual service with a qualified technician during summer or early autumn. Technicians have greater availability, and your system will be fully prepared before the first winter cold snap.

  • Service includes deep-cleaning internal flues, inspecting the ignition element, checking door seals/gaskets, and updating controller firmware.

Running Costs & Financials in Australia (2026)

Upfront System Costs of Wood Pellet Boilers

In Australia, a fully automated residential hydronic wood pellet boiler (18kW to 35kW capacity) generally costs between $12,000 and $24,000 AUD for the boiler unit, buffer tank, and core plumbing controls, excluding the internal heat distribution circuit (radiator panels or in-slab piping).

Fuel & Running Cost Comparison

  • Pellet Fuel Pricing: In Australia, bagged pellets typically cost $10 to $14 AUD per 15kg bag ($0.65, $0.90/kg), while bulk delivery sits closer to $550, $700 AUD per tonne.

  • Cost Per kWh: This translates to roughly 12c to 18c per kWh of heat delivered.

  • Comparison: This makes pellet hydronics significantly cheaper to run than bottled LPG (often 25c-35c/kWh equivalent) or direct electric heating, and highly competitive against resistive heating in off-grid applications.

Payback & Incentives

For regional property owners replacing LPG or diesel boilers, switching to a wood pellet boiler system typically yields a payback period of 4 to 7 years through fuel cost savings alone. While Australia does not have a single national biomass grant, regional off-grid energy grants, farm efficiency subsidies, and state-based energy upgrade schemes (such as VEU incentives where applicable) can help offset system transition costs.

Frequently Asked Questions re Wood Pellet Boilers

How efficient is a wood pellet boiler compared to a gas boiler in Australia?

Modern condensing wood pellet boilers achieve thermal efficiencies of 85% to 93%, matching high-efficiency gas boilers while utilizing a carbon-neutral fuel source. Compared to bottled LPG, wood pellets offer substantially lower ongoing fuel costs per megajoule of heat delivered.

How much does it cost to install a wood pellet boiler in Australia?

A complete residential setup-including an automated pellet boiler, buffer tank, flue kit, and primary manifold controls-typically ranges from $20,000 to $28,000 AUD installed. Total cost depends on property size, flue height requirements, and whether existing hydronic radiators or underfloor pipework are already in place.

What pellets should I use in my wood pellet boiler?

Always specify ENplus A1 certified pellets or locally produced fuel certified to equivalent premium standards. Uncertified pellets often contain higher bark or dust content, leading to clinkering, frequent auger blockages, and lower heat output per kilogram.

Do I really need a buffer tank with a wood pellet boiler?

Yes. A buffer tank acts as a thermal battery for your hydronic system. It prevents constant on-off cycling during mild weather, protects the ignition element from premature wear, reduces particulate emissions by up to 65%, and improves seasonal fuel efficiency by up to 17 percentage points.

 

 

 

 

Recommended Standards & Resources

  • AS/NZS 4012 / AS/NZS 4013: Australian standards governing solid fuel appliance power output, thermal efficiency, and flue gas emissions.

  • ISO 17225-2: International standard defining solid biofuels and ENplus pellet quality specifications.

  • AIRAH (Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating): Best-practice guidelines for residential hydronic system integration and thermal storage sizing.

Heat Pumps

Heat Pumps

Viessmann

Kroll was asked to project manage an air-water Viessmann heat pump installation at Preston, Victoria.  The legacy radiator network was deemed to suit a Viessmann. Installation was performed by ADH Plumbing of Essendon. Technical support provided by Viessmann engineers and Kroll Heaters.

Viessmann Vitocal air-water Heat Pump

Kroll in 2024 will be distributing the Vitocal Variant Heat Pump manufactured in Germany by Viessmann. These air to water units are ideal for domestic:

  • Floor Heating
  • Floor Cooling
  • Off Grid Users seeking high electrical efficiency

Note also that the Vitocal uses R290 [propane] refrigerant which has a very low GWP or global warming potential compared to R32 refrigerant, for example. In other words, far more eco-friendly than other refrigerants. R290 is also over 30% more energy efficient than R32 heat pumps. [Sources: ATMO Europe hydrocarbons21.com & Purdue University]

 

Go to Viessmann Australia’s new website at https://www.viessmann.com.au/

Air Water Heat Pump

Heat Pump Outdoor UnitHeat Pump Inside Hydronic Interface

Arikazan’s Hybrid Heat Pump Wood Pellet Boiler ‘Boltero’

  • Kroll in 2024 will be distributing the Boltero Hybrid heater Cooler.

The Boltero is ideal for domestic:

  • Floor Heating
  • Floor Cooling
  • Off Grid Users seeking high electrical efficiency

Boltero  is a Hybrid wood pellet 7 – 30kW heater & cooling 1 – 6kW.

Go to  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOUPH5mkR3Y

         

Wood fired Hydronic Heating for Off Grid

Look at the detail that’s possible

Off Grid people: Flow rates, pressure drops, tubing length, location of manifolds all supplied by Kroll’s Wood fired Hydronic Heating. Over twenty years of practice helps Installers and Builders & Owners to cooperate and complete projects. It’s all part of the Kroll process. Wood Log Heating and Wood Pellet Heating is possible. Check https://kroll-heaters.com.au/waste-oil-boilers/wood-boiler-kk-series/

Also check: https://kroll-heaters.com.au/waste-oil-boilers/caria-wood-pellet-boiler/

Efficiency

The Caria Series is Certified to EN303-5 as over 93% efficiency

The Ventum series is Certified by EN303-5 over 91% efficiency

Power consumption

The Ventum KK30 and KK40 uses 200 watts or less.

The Caria CP23 and CP40 uses 100 watts and 120 watts respectively.

Examples of Cost

The KK30 System is $16,250 + GST. Remember: the System is the VG30, 1000l thermal storage tank, LK810 charge valve, LK519 wood safety, LK 924 valve, an air/dirt remover plus an Auto Fill valve

The KK40 System is $22,570 + GST. Remember: the System is the VG40, two by 1000l thermal storage tanks, LK810 charge valve, LK519 wood safety, LK 924 valve, an air/dirt remover plus an Auto Fill valve

The CP23 Caria Wood Pellet Boiler is $11,490 + GST

The CP40 Caria Wood Pellet Boiler is $15,548 + GST

Heat Loss Calculations designed by the CSIRO

 

 Wood Fired Hydronic Heating

Bill Of Material or BOM

Piping Design

Heat Loss Calculations designed by the CSIRO

 

Wood Fired Hydronic Heating

 

 

 

 

More projects, see https://kroll-heaters.com.au/photo-gallery/

More suppliers & partners see https://www.krollit.com/products/waste-oil-burner-emb20

https://www.arikazan.com.tr/en/

https://www.kroll.de/service/internationale-handelspartner/

Waste Oil Workshop Heaters

WASTE OIL WORKSHOP HEATERS AND BURNERS

Heating with waste oil or used oils can be an extremely smart choice for space heating and/or floor heating in domestic and commercial applications. If your farm or workplace produces used oil why not get your heat for minimal cost. The waste oil can be used to heat up your workshop heating using the SZ furnace or the 52kW Kroll Kozy. The Kroll Kozy is a European made, drip-feed, manual start with a 90 litre WO fuel tank and puts out between 30kW and 50kW of warmth producing 5,500 cubic metres of air per hour. Fully AS/NZS 3100:2022 compliant, RCM certified for electrical safety, for 240vac 50Hertz.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TKCWCfx-nYY

The New Kroll Kozy

 

Your Waste Oil Heaters and Heating Solutions

Waste oil heating and waste oil burning is Kroll core business.
This means the precision burning of waste oils, used or unused automotive or vegetable oils for domestic or commercial heating. Space heating with waste oil heaters and hydronic heating from recycled waste & used oils is what we do for you. Commercial heating, home heating and hydronic design services are available. Recently wood gasification hydronic boilers have been available as well. So, waste oil and waste wood!

Kroll can provide the hydronic solution for your floor heating or hydronic radiator heating or a combination of the two.

Kroll fan coil units convert hot water into warm air similar to a how car radiator uses a fan to coil the engine water. We use the German made EMB burners to burn the oil. These are available in 20 kW power output up to 250 kW if required.

The powerplant is the German made EMB series burners, available from 20 kW to 250 kW

https://kroll-heaters.com.au/waste-oil-burners/waste-oil-burners/

German made Waste Oil Burner Gun

The German made EMB Series waste oil burner provides a broad range of power outputs.

The operation sequence pumps fuel out of the special Kroll day tank and into the burner tank. A float switch controls the level inside the burner tank and supplies power to an oil pump on the day tank. Another float switch (overflow protection) serves as a limiter, which switches to fault if the tank is overfilled.

WASTE OIL BURNER

The operation sequence pumps fuel out of the special Kroll day tank and into the burner tank. A float switch controls the level inside the burner tank and supplies power to an oil pump on the day tank. Another float switch (overflow protection) serves as a limiter, which switches to fault if the tank is overfilled.

A thermostat sets the oil temperature in the burner pre-heater tank and starts the burner when the set point temperature is reached.

Also, the automatic burner control system monitors the operation of the burner and provides diagnostics to the user. A special nozzle aspirates and finely atomises the fuel using the compressed air flowing into the nozzle[s]. Therefore, the compressed air serves as primary air for the combustion process.

The burner blower supplies the secondary air, which mixes with the atomised spray at the baffle plate. This ensures full combustion and operational reliability.

Also, at an oil temperature in excess of 150° C, the safety switch automatically de-energises the burner. The Siemens controller displays diagnostics. These burners mount to air furnaces like the Kroll SZ series or heat water in a hydronic boiler [water heater]. Talk to Kroll about your heating needs and hydronic design for domestic and industrial applications. Off grid users take note!

See https://kroll-heaters.com.au/waste-oil-burners/waste-oil-burners/

See https://www.krollit.com/products/waste-oil-burner-emb20

More Operation

The operation sequence pumps fuel out of the special Kroll day tank and into the burner tank. A float switch controls the level inside the burner tank and supplies power to an oil pump on the day tank. Another float switch (overflow protection) serves as a limiter, which switches to fault if someone overfills the tank.

A thermostat sets the oil temperature in the burner pre-heater tank and starts the burner when the set point temperature is reached.

Also, the automatic burner control system monitors the operation of the burner and provides diagnostics to the user. A special nozzle aspirates and finely atomises the fuel using the compressed air flowing into the nozzles. Therefore, the compressed air serves as primary air for the combustion process.

The burner blower supplies the secondary air, which mixes with the atomised spray at the baffle plate. This ensures full combustion and operational reliability.

Also, at an oil temperature in excess of 150° C, the safety switch automatically de-energises the burner. The Siemens controller displays diagnostics. These burners mount to air furnaces like the Kroll SZ series or heat water in a hydronic boiler [water heater]. Kroll can help with your heating needs and hydronic design for domestic and industrial applications. Off grid users take note!

 

 

The Caria Wood Pellet Boiler Examination

The Caria Examination

A Caria CP40 40kW fully automatic hydronic wood pellet boiler has been installed in country Victoria. After initial firmware updates to sort out a pellet feed issue, the CP40 Pellet Boiler is functioning correctly. Of course the automatic ignition, self cleaning features and minimal maintenance is assisting the owner greatly.

The CP40 wood pellet boiler is charging 2000l of water storage to 77C. A great feature of the CP40 operating system is the ability to tweak parameters remotely, an essential thing for a complex machine in a remote location.

Performance Data

See some of the power and temperature information –   https://kroll-heaters.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Robs-CP40-shutting-off-at-77C-Upper-sensor.pdf.

 

Diagnosis

Every parameter is configurable remotely. This is very useful to speed things up or down, vary boiler max temperature, vary maximum power, adjust upper and lower buffer parameters. The operation mode [running, ignition, supervision and halt phases are displayed]. The boiler power, flame size, pellet feed rate, flue gas temperature and boiler temperature are displayed in real time. The alarm register is there to be examined 24 by 7.

See https://kroll-heaters.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Robs-Display.jpg

Also – 

Wood fired Hydronic Heating for Off Grid