Category: Fall 2020

Dear Friends,

No one knows what this fall will bring us, but it’s possible we will face a resurgence of COVID-19 in our area, with all its attendant challenges.

I sincerely hope the disease has not taken any loved ones from you. I hope you, your family and friends are staying as safe as possible. I hope you have not lost your job.

We are working hard to anticipate and prepare for potential disruptions. We have an unbelievable team here, who make me proud every day with their willingness to take care of our customers when it matters most. They have been extraordinarily flexible and committed, and I could go on for hours with stories of how they put the needs of our customers first.

We are taking many steps to minimize the risks to them and to you. We will all need to be flexible and patient with each other as we adapt to the new challenges we face. I appreciate the trust you’ve placed in our family to keep you warm — more than words can convey.

Be well.

Warmly,
Martin Romanelli

When you enroll in our Auto Pay program, you save time, stamps and checks. You’ll still have complete control over your account, but you’ll never again have to search frantically through your house for a misplaced invoice that you know is due any day now.

Instead, your payments are automatically deducted each month using your credit card, debit card or bank account.

And, you can start getting your statements by email to further cut down on paper clutter.

Call or contact us through our website to request enrollment.

Many of our customers have changed their fuel consumption patterns because of the public health crisis. If you work from home, you’ll probably use more heating fuel this season than you’ve used before.

Please let us know if your heating habits have changed from last year. If we don’t have this information, it may throw our automatic delivery projections off.

To completely take away your worries about running out, contact us to install a Gremlin™ tank monitor at no charge. For the tank monitor to work, you must have a basement or indoor tank and be on automatic delivery.

If you have a second home, a Gremlin tank monitor from Burt’s is a must-have. It just makes sense! We don’t have a crystal ball so we don’t know if you’re spending more time at your vacation home because of the pandemic. A tank monitor ensures we can be accurate with our deliveries and prevent run-outs. That’s true whether you have a second home or not.

Gremlin tank monitors: just one more example of why it pays to buy from Burt’s. Remember, there is no charge for installing your tank monitor! If you currently have a Gremlin please notify us if your Wi-Fi router info has changed.

Please visit Burts.com to read more about our tank monitors.

Home is our haven, an escape from the turbulent outside world. That’s why we’ve filled these pages with information that we hope will make you as safe and comfortable as possible — all the time.

More Dangerous Than Poppies

The wicked witch attempted to use poppies to send Dorothy into a permanent sleep. Carbon monoxide (CO) can do that for real.

CO is created when any kind of fuel is burned, but it’s vented safely to the outside. That’s why it’s important to have all fuel-burning devices serviced regularly by a professional. This will ensure that your equipment is operating properly.

Because CO is a toxic, invisible and odorless gas, you should already have CO detectors installed around your home, especially near all bedrooms. Remember to test the detectors about once a month.

A faulty burner or furnace can cause a CO leak. Other causes of CO leaks can include:

• unvented appliances running for long periods of time.
• back drafts caused by pressure imbalances near the heating system.
• a vehicle left idling in an attached garage.
• a blocked flue.
• a gasoline-powered generator left running in a basement or attached garage.

CO poisoning symptoms include fatigue, dizziness and nausea. If you suspect a CO leak, get fresh air right away by opening doors and windows and leave the house before calling for help.

Oilheat’s CO safety net

As someone who uses oilheat, you can feel better knowing that if your oil burner malfunctions (most often due to a lack of maintenance), the safety devices in the unit will typically shut the furnace or boiler off.

Plus, you will usually see smoke coming out of your boiler or furnace as a warning sign. In contrast, a gas heating system usually does not produce a visual warning sign if there is a carbon monoxide problem.

The Yellow Brick Road to Savings

Technological breakthroughs have brought in a new era of higher efficiency and tremendous savings for anyone who uses oilheat.

The combination of increasingly efficient oil heating systems and continuous improvements with ultra-low-sulfur Bioheat® fuel is the one-two punch that will help homeowners in the years ahead.

• Some new oilheat systems have efficiency ratings in the 90%+ range, providing more warmth with less fuel.
• Many new oil boilers now incorporate energy-saving controls that can reduce fuel usage by as much as 10% and provide a more even heat.
• High-efficiency oil furnaces feature variable-speed motors that use as much as 80% less electricity.
• The oil boilers and oil furnaces of today are about the same size as a three-drawer filing cabinet. Installing a new heating system can not only free up space, but will save you a lot of money on fuel.

Dorothy Was in Hot Water. Are You?

With hot water usage significantly higher in most homes this year, some people have found that their water heater is not capable of keeping up with the increased demand.

If it’s taking longer for your water to heat, the water doesn’t get as hot as it did before or you simply keep running out of hot water, you are probably ready for an upgrade. And if you notice a slow leak from your tank or rust on the tank or in your tap water, you definitely need a new water heater.

If you think your water heater is failing — the average water heater lasts anywhere from 7 to 13 years — please speak with us about your options in oil-fired water heaters. After installing one, you will benefit from low-cost access to virtually unlimited amounts of hot water.

That’s because the “recovery rate” is as high as 120 gallons per hour. (Recovery rate measures how many gallons of water can be heated in an hour).

This means plenty of hot water for the whole family — something that less efficient gas and electric water heaters cannot provide.

Take the indirect approach

Many of our customers now use their boilers not only to heat their homes, but to produce hot water for showers, hot tubs, washing machines, dishwashers — you name it. And they get it virtually free in the winter.

It’s called an indirect-fired water heater, and if you have a boiler, it can be a phenomenal option.

Anytime your boiler is heating your home, your indirect water heater works for free. A traditional stand-alone water heater has to use gas or electricity to keep that water hot. And that’s a huge waste of money.

If you have a water heater that is 10 years old or older, check out an indirect — and less expensive approach — to heating your water.

If you think it’s time to replace your tank, you’ll be happy to know that today’s tanks are light-years ahead of the old models.

Today’s oil tanks are corrosion proof, and many feature double-wall construction that makes them even tougher than their predecessors. We highly recommend the Granby EcoGard aboveground tank, which is virtually leakproof, with warranties of up to 25 years.

Fall Specials*

SAVE $300 on a Peerless oil boiler
SAVE $200 on a Thermo Pride oil furnace
SAVE $150 on a Granby aboveground oil storage tank

When we replace your tank, we will also bring your fuel lines up to code to provide even more insurance against leaks.

Contact us today for more information, and be sure to ask about our Fall Specials.

*Offers expire 10/31/20

Oil heat is cleaner, greener and more economical than ever, thanks to the combination of high-efficiency equipment and clean-burning Bioheat® fuel.

New oil heating systems are small, smart and super efficient. They can also save you up to 20% or more on your annual heating costs. If you usually spend $2,000 a year on heating your home, you can save as much as $400 with a new system.*

We offer many different equipment options to fit your budget and our team has expertise in all types and models of oil heating equipment.

*For illustrative purposes only. Savings will vary based on a variety of factors, including age/condition of current system, size of home, heating habits, etc.

Q: How do I know when it’s time to replace my oil heat system?

A: Here are some rules of thumb to help you decide whether to replace or repair your heating system.

Replace your system if:

• It is more than 20 years old and only in average condition.
• It does not keep you as comfortable as you would like.
• It breaks down frequently.
• It is burning too much fuel.

Repair your system if:

• It is less than 10 years old and in good condition.
• Your heating costs have been acceptable.
• You’re pleased with your level of comfort.
• Its performance is reliable.
• It is still under warranty.

Contact us today to request a free, no-obligation heating system evaluation. We will conduct a full inspection and determine if you could benefit from an upgrade to a new furnace or boiler — one that will not only enhance your home comfort but save you a lot of money as well.