The first oil bill is rarely the surprise. The surprise is the second one, when you realize the total moved and you did not see it coming. Oil delivery has a few levers, and most of them are yours to set if you know where they are.
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First, confirm the furnace runs on oil
This article covers heating oil only. If the furnace runs on gas or electricity, the items below do not apply. If you are not sure, look for a fill pipe with a cap near an outside wall, or a tank in the basement or outside by the house. Any old delivery slip will name the fuel.
The four things that move the total
Tank level. The emptier the tank is when the truck arrives, the bigger the drop. Ordering while the gauge still shows a comfortable amount, rather than waiting until it is nearly empty, gives you room to compare companies and choose a day that suits the route.
Fill size and minimums. Many companies set a minimum order or charge a delivery fee that does not shrink with the amount. A small top-off can cost more per gallon than a larger fill. Ask what the minimum is before you order a small amount.
Timing and route. Delivery companies schedule by area. A fill on a regular route day can carry a lower fee than an emergency call. Ask whether his address is on a standing route and which day it runs.
The price plan. Some companies quote the price on the day of delivery. Others offer a set price for a period, sometimes with a prepayment. Ask which one you are getting, and what happens to your price if the market moves up or down during that period.
Questions to ask before you sign anything
What is the delivery fee, and is it charged per drop or once a season? Is there a minimum gallons charge? Does the plan lock a price, and for how long? Is there an automatic delivery schedule, and how do you cancel it? Who decides when the company calls him to top off? If the answers are not in writing, ask for the written terms before the next fill.
Keep the path to the tank clear
A driver who cannot reach the fill pipe may charge for a return trip or leave the order undelivered. Keep a path shoveled to the tank and the cap free of drifts. Winter is when the trucks are busiest, and one failed delivery can throw off your schedule for weeks. Check the gauge yourself every week and write the reading on the note by the fridge door. You are not taking over his job. You are putting the number where he will see it.