Brrrrrrr. And just like that, it’s time. Winter is fast approaching and many home heating oil customers will need to be prepared for the cold months ahead. The home heating oil delivery trucks are beginning to circle.
Given the current market conditions such as refineries affected by the hurricanes and global economics, many homeowners and tenants are not as privy to the impacts on their wallets. In an effort to aid heating oil users we have put together a few tips on how to save a few extra dollars on your heating oil this season.
- Order wisely, grasshopper. When to order oil? Probably the most important aspect of cutting your oil bill this winter is buying as much of it as possible at the right time. Some people shop their oil around and compare oil prices. Many people ask us when exactly is the right time and this can be an extremely difficult question to answer. There are a number of factors contributing to the variation of the price of heating oil and it can be complicated to follow...even for the best industry analyst. However, for the vast majority of us an understanding of basic economics can save you a substantial amount on your heating oil bill. As we all know, as the demand for products increases the price of that product begins to rise. As the weather begins to turn colder and the nights get longer, heating oil use increases as people spend longer amounts of time indoors and their heat on for longer periods of time. Increased usage has an impact on the world price of oil and this will be particularly noticeable from mid-autumn until the end of winter.
- Early bird gets the worm. Plan Ahead. It is now autumn and arguably the best time to stock up on your oil as prices tend to be lower right now than later in the year, particularly if supply problems develop nationally or regionally. This might be a good time to plan ahead and compare oil prices….oh wait, you don’t have to do that now...Slick you covered. We offer the lowest oil prices around.
- Fill’er Up! It is also important to remember to try and order as much fuel as you can – the larger the order the lower the cost of delivery for the distributor is reduced, saving you more money over a 12 month period.
- Shop it like it’s hot! Direct debit schemes can seem like a good way to spread the cost of oil across a 12 month period but they can also be costly and prevent you from shopping around for the best possible deal. Good thing Slick is here to help you get the best possible price!
- Some other tips (but who’s counting):
- Turn your thermostat down
- Have your oil burner serviced annually. You want to burn oil and not your cash.
- Tighten that envelope - The effectiveness of insulation and appropriate draft proofing techniques are very important. Keep that heat on the inside!
Stay Warm out there!
