Around 5.5 million American households depend on heating oil to heat their homes.

Heating oil is a convenient fuel option, especially if you sign up for home deliveries. However, it is important that you prepare your property before a delivery.

For a safer, faster, and easier delivery process, follow our tips below.

1. Your Address Should Be Easy to Spot

You don’t want to miss oil deliveries for your heating system, so make sure the delivery company won’t run into any trouble finding your home. To make it easier for them, ensure your house number is clearly displayed.

The number should be visible at all times, even in the dark. Clear the area of bushes or other things that might obscure it. The delivery driver should be able to spot it without much trouble.

2. Provide Easy Access

Locating your house is one thing, but getting access to your fill pipe is another. Once they arrive, the delivery company will have to enter the property and get to the intake pipe.

If you have a locked gate and you’re not home, you’ll have to reschedule your oil delivery. If you’re planning to leave during the delivery time window, make sure to keep the gates unlocked and easy to open.

Ensure there’s a proper path to it, as well. The best thing to do is to stay at home so you can guide the delivery driver. If this is not possible, prepare for easy access in advance.

3. Clear Any Debris in the Path

A part of providing easy access to the fill pipe is clearing the path of any debris. The delivery driver will have to navigate the path while carrying a large hose.

Piled trash and other debris is potentially dangerous for the driver. At best, they will make it harder to complete the process.

Make sure the area surrounding the pipe is clear of any debris, as well. This will help the delivery process to move along quickly and efficiently.

4. Note Any Safety Issue

Delivery drivers have the right to not enter a property if their safety is at stake. An unsafe environment can lead to injuries and damage to the hose.

This means you’ll have to reschedule an appointment if the company could not complete the delivery due to safety concerns. Here are a couple of the most common hazards fuel oil delivery drivers face:

Pets

Many homeowners leave the pets out in their yard, which usually isn’t a problem. If you’re expecting a delivery, though, put your pets elsewhere.

Your pets shouldn’t be anywhere in the area where your fill pipe is. No matter how friendly an animal is, the delivery driver might still feel unsafe. They may not complete the delivery or they may drive through and realize too late that a pet is nearby.

In case of an attack, the homeowner is liable for any injuries and damages. To keep everyone safe, including you and your pet, prepare a safe place for them or keep them inside your home during the delivery schedule.

Ice and Snow

Keep in mind that a home oil delivery service would be carrying a hose, which is quite heavy. It’s quite easy to slip and fall on ice without carrying anything. Its even more dangerous with a hose, especially as they attempt to hook it up.

Snow is also a safety issue, even when there’s no ice. Mounds of snow are hard to get through with a hose. It might also make it hard for the delivery driver to locate the inlet pipe and the pathway itself.

If anyone has to climb or wade through to get to the other side, the pile is too high. 

If you’re expecting a delivery, keep the pathway clear of ice and snow. You don’t have to shovel the whole yard – just a wide enough path is enough.

5. Give a Heads Up Before Vacating a Home

With automatic deliveries, homeowners don’t have to worry about running out of oil again. The company will adhere to a schedule that’s customized according to the household’s usage and needs.

This is quite handy but might cause homeowners to forget about having it set up in the first place. If you’re leaving for a while or you have put up your home on the market, inform the company as soon as possible.

Ready For Oil Deliveries?

Following our tips above will ensure your home is always ready for oil deliveries. Implementing them ensures a safe, fast, and easy delivery process for both you and the driver.

Contact us today for on-demand delivery or to set up automatic oil deliveries. We’ll answer any question you have, so don’t be afraid to reach out.