Home Heating Oil Prices

Heating Oil Companies: Is there a Difference?

Heat is an essential for comfort, especially in cold weather areas. In severe weather, it can mean life, so you do not want to rely on a company to supply your home or business heating oil if they do not have a good reputation for service. Like any other service business, when it comes to heating oil companies, there is a difference.

Before you sign up with a heating oil company, ask them several questions about their business. One thing you want to know is how long they have been in this business, how expert they are with heating oil problems. If you encounter a problem in the dead of winter, you cannot have a rookie tinkering, doing even more damage that will cost money to fix. Reliable, certified technicians who are on call 24/7 for a company assure quality customer service. It is good to know that your company service trucks are stocked with parts you might need as well, so you don’ t have to wait for shipments in the cold.

Payment for expensive heating oil is another concern to be addressed. Does your company offer a payment plan to extend costs over the entire year instead of whopping big bills during the winter? Do they have any service protection plans to ward off high repair bills? And, do they have any credit plans that you can use? Finally, things happen, especially in winter icy and snowy weather. Does your heating oil company carry liability insurance in case they slip in the winter and damage your property or house?

Costs of heating oil are only one factor in service from heating oil companies. You want reliable people who know the area and have been a stable business. You want to know that your company and not an unknown subcontractor will do your work. You want to know if your technicians are trustworthy. Anyone can get a tank truck and set up a business, but only the best stay in business and are ready when you need them, for oil or repair. Be sure you investigate before you invest!

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Home Heating Oil Tanks

To use home heating oil, it is necessary to have the proper storage tank. When you are purchasing property, carefully examine it for evidence of any old, abandoned, or buried home heating oil tanks. You will be required to correct any problems with old tanks by law. Home heating oil is a petroleum distillate product, and can pose an environmental threat to the earth; and care must be taken to avoid leaks.

In the US, home heating oil is mostly used for heating in northeastern states. It was a change from messy coal heat in the 1920’s, replacing coal furnaces and bins quickly. The home heating oil tanks became an industry. Steel tanks last about 15 to 20 years before encountering problems from moisture and age. The piping and filler pipes are likely places for leak to occur. Spillage can happen from delivery messes, and rarely a tank may burst. Corrosive soil for buried tanks, and sloppy installation causing dents can lead to rust and corrosion problems. Water that gets into the bottom of the tank can also cause rust.

If you use home heating oil, the tank and pipes should be inspected annually for leaks and water accumulation. If you have an old tank either above or below ground on property you purchase, it should be inspected and approved, or removed prior to your purchase. It is essential to prevent oil leaks, as they are difficult to clean up, can spread through the ground, and contaminate water supplies. Consider the situation to be hazardous and provide regular inspections to avoid environmental problems.

The home heating oil tanks are the main part of your home oil heating system. Besides being hazardous, leaks are expensive when you lose oil contents. Most home heating oil tanks are the standard basement 275 gallon size and are made of corrosion resistant materials. Underground tanks are larger, running 550 to 1000 gallons, which is helping them become popular. Leaks are rare and preventable. Some steel tanks are coated and double bottomed so they never leak. There are also fiberglass tanks, and combination plastic with steel jacket tanks.

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Home Heating Oil

Home Heating Oil is a distillate of petroleum. It is commonly used to heat homes and businesses heating in countries where other fuels are unavailable. Heating oil is used widely across the northeast US states, and not at all in the Rocky Mountain States. Concerns over spillage and environmental damage is a major reason to protect water source from oil contamination.

Oil was used centuries ago in China for lamps. They probably also benefited from its warmth at the same time. Use in homes began after the introduction of oil burners in the 1920’s, when homeowners welcomed a change away from messy coal heating. Oil could be stored in home heating oil tanks, contained, inside the basement or garage, or outside in tanks or buried in tanks. There was no messy coal bins, soot damage, and the oil heat was cleaner, warmed evenly and did not create health hazardous drafts in the home. The heat could also be controlled with a thermostat, which was a great improvement.

It is best to store home heating oil inside to prevent moisture damage to the tank. Also it is easier to inspect indoor and above ground storage tanks for leaks or other damage. The tanks are made of steel, and need annual maintenance although the oil can be stored in tanks for years. Usually that is not the problem as it takes several tank fills to get through an average northeastern states winter.

Deliveries are always made by tanker truck. Most of the cost of the gallon of home heating oil is due to marketing and delivery costs, followed by actual cost of oil, and refining. Home heating oil prices run similar to diesel fuel oil prices, but costs come from different taxes or costs. The amount of home heating oil needed to get through a winter depends on the size of the home, insulation effectiveness, cost of oil, supply available, demand, world economic state, and the weather.

Home heating oil is a good alternative fuel source for homes and businesses that do not have access to gas. Like every system, it requires periodic attention and maintenance.

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