You probably have already noticed the cold weather making its appearance. Before you know it, winter will be here which means home heating oil will be a part of your daily life again.
About 5.7 million American households use home heating oil with the Northeast responsible for about 3 billion gallons of oil alone.
We’re here to tell you that it’s important to order oil now before winter gets here to help save you time and money.
Automatic Delivery Ensures You Always Have Oil
Once winter hits, the demand for oil will skyrocket. The last thing you need during the freezing wintertime months is to be left without heat in your home.
You can combat this demand by planning ahead and setting up automatic delivery now so that you will never be without heat later on.
Automatic delivery is a delivery option that is both convenient and affordable. This type of delivery spreads out your fill-ups and helps to even out the price you pay.
For example, during a big snowstorm, everybody will likely be calling for fuel delivery which will often result in a shortage.
If you’re on an automatic plan, it’s far more likely that you’ll have priority service from your oil supplier, and you might not need as much oil since your deliveries are scheduled. This will also save you money.
Save by Ordering Before Prices Rise
Topping off your tank now before the cold temperatures hit will give you a leg up on saving money this winter.
Heating oil demand is seasonal and prices tend to rise in the winter months when demand for oil is highest. Homeowners in the Northeast use a high amount of heating oil during winter and relatively little during the rest of the year.
During the winter, the buyer’s anxiety about short-term supply may rise which often leads to a price increase.
By ordering in the fall you are more likely to get better prices. Elevated prices can hit your wallet harder if your tank is low and you need more gallons.
Heating Oil Trends Over the Years
The current price for heating oil in Pennsylvania as of October 2020 is about $1.50 per gallon. The following chart depicts the price trends of residential heating oil in Pennsylvania.
Understanding seasonality (a seasonal fluctuation or trend) is important when looking at the price of heating oil.
It is wise for homeowners to cover their fuel needs before the heating season begins as this is when there is often a price hike as illustrated by the chart below.
Spread Your Budget Out Over the Season
A budget plan is also wise as it will help spread out your payments throughout the year.
A good budget plan will look at your usage over the last heating season to estimate your usage for the upcoming season. This means that the projected budget is often right on target.
It will also enable you to enroll in convenient options like auto-pay, so you don’t need to worry about writing a check every month.
Budget plans are a good fit for most customers. Budget plans deliver predictability and control over your oil budget!
Get Ready for the Cold Winter Months!
If you put steps in place now, before the winter hits, you will save money on oil and keep you and your family warm all year long! Contact Sperr’s to set up automatic fuel delivery or let us answer any of your home heating questions.
