Is Automatic Heating Oil Delivery Right For You?
Posted on: 24 January 2023
If your home's heating system is powered by heating oil, you know how important it is to have an ample supply of heating oil on your property at all times.
Many heating oil companies offer automatic delivery services so that you don't have to remember to schedule your fuel deliveries. While automatic delivery has its perks, it isn't the right solution for every homeowner.
Here are three reasons why you might want to consider sticking with scheduling your heating oil deliveries individually in the future.
1. Avoid a Contract
Automatic heating oil deliveries are usually scheduled on a contract basis. This means that you pay for automatic deliveries within a certain time frame. If you are planning to move in the near future, being stuck in a contract can be detrimental to your plans.
The new homeowners may not want to take over your contract, and you could end up paying early termination fees as a result.
Scheduling your fuel deliveries individually gives you total control over when and for how long your heating oil is delivered to your home.
2. No Estimated Usage
Automatic heating oil deliveries are scheduled based on estimated usage. The fuel company will evaluate the average monthly usage in your area, then schedule your deliveries according to this estimate. This model can be problematic if you don't maintain a consistent level of heating oil usage each month.
For example, if you go on vacation for a few weeks you may find that an automatic delivery comes too soon. If you have a lot of guests staying at your house for a period of time, a scheduled fuel delivery may not come soon enough and you could run out of heating oil.
Scheduling all your deliveries manually allows you to account for fluctuations in your heating oil usage.
3. No Locked-In Price
Automatic heating oil deliveries are typically associated with a locked-in price. Whatever the rate is at the time you enter into the contract with a heating oil company is the rate that you will pay for your fuel for the duration of the contract.
Unfortunately, the locked-in price doesn't allow you to take advantage of the lower fuel prices during the off-season. Paying less for your heating oil in the off-season could offset any price increases that you incur during peak usage.
Avoid the locked-in prices of automatic heating oil deliveries so you have the ability to shop for the best rate when you need your tank refilled.
For more information about heating oil services, contact a local company.
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