Calling your heating oil company shouldn't be a last-minute decision. Heating oil deliveries, while generally timely, can take a while and you don't want to be stuck with no heat in the middle of winter due to low supplies or bad road conditions. These days, you have options when it comes to your heating oil deliveries and you can choose the model that works best for you and your family.

Automated Deliveries

The first option is automated heating oil deliveries. The oil company calculates how often your home will need an oil refill based on the outside temperature, your personal usage history, and the size of your home. The company will then deliver oil on this pre-determined schedule, and you'll be billed accordingly. Individuals with a hectic work or personal schedule will find this option useful.

Monitor and Call

The second option is to call your company for refills whenever the oil tank is low. This option requires you as the homeowner to monitor the tank's levels and call when the oil levels are low, generally when the tank's gauge sits at or dips below 20 percent. If you go this route, you'll have more granular control over your bill by not having to stick to any set schedule for heating oil deliveries. However, you also run the risk of running out of oil or of having to wait for a considerable period after you call for a refill. You'll then be charged for the refill.

Which is Best?

The option that's best for you will partially depend on how harsh the winters are where you live. For example, according to the EIA, residential consumers in the Northeast U.S. used around 2.9 billion gallons of heating oil in 2019 – close to 86 percent of the total residential heating oil sales in the United States! Other factors to consider might include your personal and work schedules, how often you're home running the heat, and how much control you'd like over your billing schedule.

Whatever you decide, it's a good idea to note down the date of scheduled refills, or the approximate date you expect to need one, on a calendar so you can plan your other finances accordingly.

If you need reliable heating oil deliveries and services for your home, turn to the experts at Santilli Oil Company. We provide high-quality oil in prompt fashion. Call today or visit our website for more information.