Does your home use oil heat? If so, you’re in good company! Currently, over 5.5 million US households choose this inexpensive, clean-burning option for their home heating needs.
As an oil user, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is whether you’ll choose an automatic fuel delivery service or order your oil on-demand.
The right option for you will depend on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. Reviewing the pros and cons of on-demand oil delivery vs. automatic delivery will help you decide with confidence.
Automatic Home Delivery
Customers who want the convenience of never running out of heating oil often choose automatic delivery.
When you opt for this service, the delivery company works with you to determine your average oil usage.
Based on this, you’ll have a set delivery schedule designed to ensure that you always have enough oil to keep your furnace running. Most households receive deliveries once every four weeks.
Advantages
The number one advantage of this residential delivery option is convenience.
You won’t have to monitor your tank or remember to call the fuel company to schedule a delivery. Most users love the “set-it-and-forget-it” aspect of this service.
Since the delivery company handles everything, there’s little chance that you’ll run out of fuel, resulting in the need for an expensive emergency oil delivery.
Customers who have signed up for an automatic delivery service also receive priority during high-demand periods.
Potential Drawbacks
The major potential drawback to automatic delivery is that it’s based on estimates. This means that if you have a major change that impacts your fuel needs and you don’t let the delivery company know, then there’s a chance that the estimates could be off.
Unfortunately, it’s possible that this might cause you to run out of fuel.
The issues we most commonly see are changes in space and schedule. For example, if you built an addition to your home, you would be heating a larger space, which would require more fuel.
If you’re working or schooling from home now, you may also be heating your house for more hours each day.
Small changes usually don’t impact the estimates enough to cause a problem. In almost all cases, simply communicating with your fuel delivery company is enough to ensure that your estimates remain accurate.
On-Demand Heating Oil Delivery
When you choose on-demand heating oil delivery, you’ll track your own usage. When you’re ready for a refill, you’ll simply call the company and schedule your delivery.
Advantages
The primary advantage of on-demand oil delivery is that you’ll have complete control. Some households find that this helps them with their planning and budgeting. Others simply prefer to handle these types of things themselves.
Potential Drawbacks
Since you’re taking responsibility for monitoring your usage, it’s important that you remember to check your tank often.
It’s recommended that you call to schedule a delivery when you notice your tank is about 25% full. There’s a good chance that you’re using oil faster than you think, so you’ll need to stay vigilant.
It’s always a good idea to assume your delivery will take at least 24-48 hours, and maybe longer during times of high demand. If you don’t provide enough time for delivery, there is a chance you will run out.
On-Demand Oil Delivery vs. Automatic Delivery: Impact on Cost
The final consideration when deciding between on-demand and automatic oil delivery is the cost you’ll pay for the oil itself.
When you choose on-demand delivery, you’ll be paying whatever the current price is at the time you order your fuel. On the other hand, automatic delivery helps to even this out. When you choose this method, you’ll pay the current price each time your tank is topped off.
For example, assume there’s a big storm or cold front coming through. You’ve checked your tank and see that it’s almost empty, so you call for a delivery.
Since everyone else is also preparing for the upcoming cold weather, there’s a good chance the high demand will cause a spike in the oil cost. If you’re filling an almost-empty tank, you’ll end up with a pretty hefty bill.
However, if you were on an automatic delivery plan, your tank would just need a small top-off. You would still be paying the higher price for fuel, but you’ll need much less, and there’s a good chance prices will be back to normal when it’s time for you to top off again.
Automatic delivery also won’t cost you any more than regular delivery. Each time the delivery company comes, you’ll only pay for the amount of oil that was needed to fill your tank back up.
And, since you’re less likely to run out of fuel, you won’t have to worry about paying extra for an emergency delivery service.
Timing Your Deliveries
If you’re super savvy, you could save money with on-demand delivery by tracking both your usage and trends in oil pricing. You may be able to time it right so you’re filling up your tank when prices are at seasonal lows.
One example would be making sure you fill up well before the winter weather arrives so you won’t need a fill-up during peak season. You will need to feel confident in your estimates, however, or else you could end up needing an expensive winter fill-up.
Heating Oil Delivery You Can Trust
Now that you understand the pros and cons of on-demand oil delivery vs. automatic delivery, you can decide which one is right for you. No matter what you decide, you’re in luck, because Sperr’s Fuel and Heating offers both!
Contact us today to discuss your fuel delivery needs. We’re happy to help!
