Heating Oil Delivery: Frequently Asked Questions
Tips you should know before getting your heating oil tank filled this fall.
With summer nearly over and fall getting closer every day, many Burt’s Reliable customers are contacting us to arrange their first heating oil deliveries of the season. Here are answers to some standard delivery questions our team is hearing.
Is the leftover heating oil in my tank still good?
Your heating oil from last winter is absolutely fine to use this coming heating season. Heating oil’s shelf life is usually about 18 to 24 months. Our premium fuel has an even longer shelf life.
In fact, we recommend North Fork and East End households fill their tanks before the start of summer. Having a full heating oil tank during hot weather reduces condensation, slows internal corrosion and extends your tank’s lifespan.
When should I have my heating oil tank filled before winter?
If you didn’t fill your heating oil tank before the start of the summer, we suggest you arrange a heating oil delivery in the later summer or early fall. This will put you ahead of schedule for the heating season. Plus, our delivery team has way more availability before temperatures start plummeting on Long Island.
How can I avoid unexpected oil runouts?
Heating oil runouts are nothing to brush off. Without fuel in your tank, your home’s heating and hot water equipment will stop working. If you’re away from Suffolk County through the winter, you might return home to find frozen or burst pipes.
Burt’s Reliable has a solution to free you from constantly checking tank gauges and worrying about running out of fuel. It’s called automatic delivery. When you enroll in this free service, Burt’s Reliable tracks your heating oil usage based on weather patterns and your customer history. We schedule your deliveries for you and ensure you get oil before your run low.
Don’t worry — you won’t buy more heating oil on automatic delivery. We only deliver fuel when you need it, and you only pay for the heating oil going into your tank.
How should I prepare for my heating oil delivery?
Our drivers always appreciate it when customers prepare for our arrival. Here are a few things you can do to ensure your fuel delivery goes quickly and easily.
- Make sure your home’s street number is visible. Clear away branches or leaves that may cover it.
- Unlock the gate to your home so our driver can access your property. Also, ensure any four-legged family members are inside when we arrive.
- Clear plants, weeds, debris, snow or ice from your fill pipe.
- If there’s been significant snowfall, please clear a path for our driver to access your fill pipe. We also appreciate it when you shovel and salt or sand your driveway. Our trucks need a 9-foot to 10-foot-wide clear path in your driveway, and if you’re on an incline, the driver must be able to apply their wheel chocks safely.
Our team is available to schedule your fall heating oil delivery. Reach out to Burt’s Reliable to order fuel.