If you live in the Northeastern region of the United States, heating oil is likely something you can’t do without. The region accounts for around 85% of the heating oil sales in America.
You rely on this oil to keep your home warm through the cold winter months, so you need to be sure that you have the oil you need when you need it.
You can’t afford to trust such a precious resource to any oil delivery company. You need to find a reliable supplier that offers prompt delivery and professional service.
Read on for seven tips on how to pick the best oil delivery company.
1. Research Oil Delivery Companies Online
The internet makes kicking off your search for an oil delivery company easy. Start by running a search for companies in your area.
Once you locate a few companies, head to their websites to learn more about them. You’ll find reviews of their services and a list of their offerings.
Many of the reviews and client testimonials posted on a company website will be overwhelmingly positive, but you can still learn some valuable information from them. Look for patterns in the reviews. If most customers rave about highly professional technicians or unbeatable prices, it’s very likely those are perks of a particular company’s service.
2. Ask Your Neighbors
With oil delivery being so common in Delaware and Pennsylvania, there’s a good chance that you already know someone who patronizes an oil delivery company.
Ask them all about their oil delivery service. It’s likely these customers will offer a more honest and unfiltered look at a company.
If you don’t know anyone that uses an oil delivery company, you could try reading reviews on an online review platform or asking on social media. You’ll receive the same honest feedback from those sources that you would get from a neighbor.
3. Learn About Delivery Options
Heating oil can either be delivered on-demand or through automatic delivery.
With on-demand delivery, you’ll have to place an order whenever you’re running low on oil. An automatic delivery service will analyze your usage patterns and the efficiency of your HVAC system and send you more oil whenever they suspect you’re running low.
Both oil delivery types have their benefits, so your delivery option is a personal preference. You’ll just need to make sure that a particular company offers your preferred delivery method.
Most homeowners prefer automatic delivery to on-demand delivery. It eliminates the guesswork that comes with ordering fuel oil before you need it.
4. Delivery Time Matters
Since your comfort depends on the promptness of your oil delivery, you need to be sure that it arrives when you expect it to. Many companies list estimated delivery times on their websites and it can usually be found in reviews you read.
If you can’t find this valuable piece of information anywhere, you can always reach out to the company and ask them directly. The most responsible companies should be upfront about their delivery times.
Asking the company or finding the information on their website will be more accurate than trusting an online review. Also, keep in mind that delivery times are just an estimate and things like inclement weather can cause unforeseen delivery delays.
5. Be Wary of Hidden Fees
Many residential oil delivery companies will clearly state their delivery service charges and be upfront about pricing. However, some companies pack hidden fees into the cost of their services.
You may be charged an oil delivery fee, a tank maintenance fee, or a miscellaneous fee. Most online reviews will mention these, so keep an eye out for them when you’re doing your research.
Delivery fees and tank maintenance fees are fairly common, so expect most companies to charge you for them. Miscellaneous fees, on the other hand, can quickly add up and leave you with a bill much higher than you were expecting.
6. Look for High-Quality Oil
Two oil delivery services may offer similar pricing and delivery times, but one may be using inferior quality oil. There are a number of different kinds of heating oil, and some may not be suitable for your home.
For instance, if you have an outdoor tank, you’ll need to find a company that offers heating oil with additives that prevent it from freezing. If the oil is frozen and won’t flow into your HVAC system, it can’t heat your home.
Some older homes still use a boiler system. If you have this kind of HVAC setup, you may be more limited in the kind of oil you can use.
Other types of high-quality oil include kerosene and grade 2 heating oil. Many homeowners prefer these kinds of oil because they’re incredibly efficient and burn cleaner than lower-quality oils.
Make sure that your prospective heating oil delivery company offers quality oil that is compatible with your HVAC system.
7. Shop Around for Other Service Perks
Plenty of companies will boast about their trained staff and prompt delivery times, so you may need to get a little more creative before making your final decision on an oil delivery company. Look for other perks of their service that could tip the scales for you.
Some companies offer special payment plans to ease the financial burden of heating your home. Look for these on their website or inquire about them when you contact the company.
Other perks could include specialized HVAC services. Oil delivery companies are incentivized to keep your HVAC system working perfectly so you continue to be a loyal customer. Not all companies offer this kind of service. If you find one that does, you can be sure they have your best interest at heart.
Sperr’s: An Oil Delivery Company You Can Trust
Finding an oil delivery company can be a chore, but following these tips will make it much easier.
Do your research online, contact the delivery companies if you need more information about their services, and be sure they offer quality oil.
For high-quality oil delivered automatically or on-demand, reach out to Sperr’s Heating and Cooling today.