One of the most important things that you should do is to learn all that you can about your options in supply companies. Like many people in your area, you may believe that you are stuck dealing with just one company. In reality, however, there may be several smaller businesses that service your area. Forging relationships with these entities is definitely in your best interests given that you will need to rely on them should any delays in delivery every occur.
The most obvious step to take in these efforts is to make sure that you order your fuel in plenty of time for the cold months that lie ahead. You certainly don’t wait until the first frost hits the ground before placing your order. Moreover, you want to order as much as you can possibly receive at any one time.
It is important to note that when demand exceeds supply, those who have made the first arrangements to receive their shipments will be given top priority. This is the best reason to avoid any delays in this area. If you wait too long and find yourself in the middle of an unseasonably cool autumn, you may have a very hard time getting what you need at all.
Another vital thing to note is that this is also one of the best ways to cut your winter costs. If the price of oil spikes, it will usually do this mid-season or late in the season. That’s because this is often when demand tends to be its highest. Keep in mind that weather can be unpredictable in any area and thus, you should always be prepared for the unexpected.
Make sure that your oil tank is in decent physical condition. This includes making sure that there are no leaks or other structural damages that will affect the efficiency and longevity of your supply. You should have your boiler and all major components service at least once each year. Try to do this at the end of summer just ahead of refueling.
There are also fuel monitoring systems that homeowners can install. In fact, some of these are complete with smart technologies. As such, homeowners can check fuel levels from any location and at any time. This way, you’ll always know exactly when you need a top up. Once these alerts are sent, be sure to let your supplier know right away.
It may be possible to have a secondary storage tank installed. This is ideal if you happen to live in an area in which delivery becomes a progressive problem as the weather grows colder. This secondary tank can house sufficient oil for getting you through a single, missed delivery, and your boiler can be set up to automatically draw from this tank once the primary fuel source has run dry.
