Hunter Geist, Author at FuelSnap

What Type of Heating Oil Tank Do You Have?

September 23, 2026August 26, 2026

Knowing what type of heating oil tank you have is important! The capacity helps determine how much oil you’ll have in the tank at any given time. It’ll also help you better understand how long your tank will last you. Typically, tanks have a plaque or a label on the side of them. This will tell you a few things about the tank, but primarily, it’ll tell you the manufacturer and the capacity of the tank. However, other than how much oil the tank can hold, the capacity and type of tank give us some important information about other aspects of the tank. Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about the capacities and what other secrets that they tell us!

Standard Steel Tanks

The most common tank sizes for steel tanks tend to be oval-shaped 275 & 330 gallon tanks. These tanks can be in both horizontal and vertical styles. Sometimes, horizontal and vertical tanks can get mixed up with each other. So I’m going to explain how to tell if your tank is horizontal or vertical. This is important, as it can vastly change how much oil you have in the tank! If you have a Smart Oil Gauge, making sure you have the gauge set to the right tank size is crucial for its accuracy!

In the above picture, you’ll see various tanks. You can see both single-tank and double-tank setups. These are some of the most common tank setups in the Northeast. But you’ll notice that on both setups, some tanks are standing upright and the others are lying on their sides. Well, the best way to determine which is which is simple. I tend to look at it that horizontal tanks are flat on top like a table, but have rounded sides. You can see that with the above images of the horizontal tanks. They appear to be both flat on top and rounded on the sides. Meanwhile, the vertical tanks are rounded on top! If you look at the photo, you’ll see the vertical tanks have rounded tops but flat sides! Those are the best ways to remember which is which!

While relatively uncommon now, underground tanks are another type of steel heating oil tank to be aware of. These tanks tend to be 500-gallon cylindrical steel tanks. The only problem with these tanks is that they’re underground. These tanks are uncommon now because they are constantly being removed due to posing an environmental hazard as they get older.

Underground tanks are becoming less and less common. They are constantly being removed and replaced with above-ground tanks.

Steel Tanks – Oil Capacity

All heating oil tanks have a maximum capacity and a true capacity. The maximum capacity of the tank is the max the tank will be able to fill. However, your heating oil tank should NEVER be filled to the maximum capacity. When delivering oil, drivers will fill up until they hear the whistle stop blowing. This tells the driver that it’s time to stop pumping oil into the tank. When they do this, they tend to leave the top 4-6 inches of the tank open for airflow. This prevents the tank from leaking or overflowing! If your tank is filled to the maximum capacity, then you should see about getting it drained a little bit! Filling to the maximum capacity can put the tank at risk of leaking or overflowing!

On a 275-gallon tank, the maximum capacity is 275 gallons. But the true capacity tends to be around 250 gallons. This is when the whistle stops blowing. For a 330-gallon tank, the maximum capacity is 330 gallons, while the true capacity is around 315 gallons.

However, with underground tanks, this is completely different. Because the tank is underground, there’s no whistle/vent alarm. So when filling the tank, the driver has to be extra cautious. You might see them fill the tank for a few seconds before stopping and putting a yardstick in the tank. This helps them get an idea of how much oil is in the tank, so they know when to stop filling. On a 500-gallon underground tank, the true capacity is 500, but the max capacity is likely between 450 and 475, as there’s no set-in-stone way for the driver to determine when it’s time to stop pumping!

Roth Double Wall Tanks

Now, Roth tanks are a little different. These tanks are actually two tanks in one! The outside looks like a big steel rectangle. However, on the inside, there’s a slightly smaller plastic tank. That plastic tank is where the oil sits in the heating oil tank itself. The exterior steel tank is actually an extra form of protection in case the inner tank fails. The outer steel tank will catch any oil that escapes the innermost tank!

Roth tanks have many options. You can see the inner workings on the left. These tanks are durable and reliable!

As you can see in the above picture, there are a few different capacities for these Roth tanks. Typically, they range from 110 gallons up to 400-gallon tanks. However, note that if you have a Smart Oil Gauge, it’s not compatible with the Roth 1500L because of an interior support baffle on the inside of the tank that’ll prevent the Smart Oil Gauge from reading beyond half a tank.

Roth Tank – Oil Capacity

Similar to steel tanks, the Roth tanks will usually have the top couple of inches left open. Like the steel tanks, the top couple of inches are usually left open for airflow. But on Roth tanks, these tend to be much smaller. For example, the max capacity of a Roth 275-gallon tank is roughly 260 gallons. This is because the tanks are a little bit taller, so it evens out, and you’re usually able to fit slightly more in the tank than in a 275-gallon steel tank. That being said, the driver is still only going to fill the tank until they hear the whistle stop!

As I mentioned in the previous section, Roth tanks have a variety of different sizes and styles. This gives you a bit more options for the max capacities of the tank. You can have multiple Roth tanks installed beside each other. But they must be the same size and capacity. However, that’s few and far between. The different types of Roth tanks are listed below with their models and gallon amounts. Usually, you’ll find a sticker on the back or side of the tank with the model and gallon amount.

Roth 400L – 110 Gallons
Roth 620L – 165 Gallons
Roth 1000L – 275 Gallons
Roth 1000LH – 275 Gallons but with a shorter tank
Roth 1500L – 400 Gallons

Non-Standard Tank Sizes

Standard steel oil tanks and Roth tanks are the most common tank sizes in the Northeast. However, non-standard tanks can be a little tricky. Normally, these tanks will also have a plaque or label on the sides of the tanks. They’ll tell you the capacities of the tank and the manufacturer, like normal. However, the maximum and true capacities of the tanks vary. These tanks often have many varying sizes, so the true and max capacities aren’t as easily calculated. The best way to get an idea of what your true capacity is is to use a tank calculator. Simply get the dimensions of the tank and plug them into our tank calculator! Our calculator will be able to tell you how much oil can fit in your tank after you plug in the dimensions! You can find it here.

Determining Your Tank

Finding out what kind of heating oil tank you have is easy! Simply go over to the side of your tank and look for the label or plaque that’s on the side of the tank. That will typically tell you your tank size and capacity! But if you don’t see it, you can simply get the dimensions of the tank and plug them into a tank calculator. You can get the tank’s capacity from there!

However, knowing what tank you have is important to be able to track your usage and get an idea of how much oil you have left in the tank! Doing this will help you keep better track of your usage and oil level, especially if you have a Smart Oil Gauge! Knowing your tank size is crucial for the gauge’s accuracy!

Happy Heating!

Hunter

The Best Ways to Save on Heating Oil Costs

September 16, 2026August 26, 2026

Winter is slowly creeping up on us! Which means oil prices are going to go up as the weather gets colder and more people need heating oil! During the winter, heating oil prices tend to be at their most expensive. Winter also brings the need to order more frequently, which hurts your wallet! But you’re here to save on heating oil costs! So in today’s blog, I’ll make sure you’re prepared for what’s to come by giving you a list of things that you can do to save some money on heating oil!

Heating Oil trucks will come out and deliver frequently in the winter! However, make sure that you’ve got an order on the schedule first!

Canceling Your Automatic Delivery Plan: This might sound strange at first. But the reason for this actually makes complete sense! While it might not seem like it, Automatic Delivery is actually costing you more money in the long run! When it comes to automatic delivery, dealers will tend to charge more per gallon. On average, canceling your automatic delivery plan will save you roughly 50 cents per gallon! This can save you hundreds of dollars every year! Call-by delivery is much cheaper. You can go through the dealer directly, or you can order on our FuelSnap website!
Covering Up Drafty Windows and Doors: Drafty doors and windows are a primary cause of high energy use. These can be really bothersome when it comes to the amount of oil you burn. Drafts will let out the heat that your system is working so hard to create! Covering them up with draft stoppers or plastic wrap on windows will help prevent the hot air from leaving your home!
Fill Up Your Tank During the Summer: This is actually the ideal time to fill up your heating oil tank. During the summer, heating oil prices are at an all-time low. So be sure to take advantage of the low prices! You’ll be able to fill up your tank for much less than you would during the winter! However, you can keep an eye on your level and usage with a Smart Oil Gauge!
Avoid Ordering During the Holiday Season: You should avoid ordering oil during Christmas and New Year’s. The reason for this is that this is when oil is in the highest demand. Prices are high, and delivery availability is low. You should order and fill your tank before the Christmas season! Family gatherings and holiday parties are the number one reason for ordering during this time frame!
Make Sure Your Home Is Well Insulated: Ensuring your home is well insulated is crucial for being able to have a warm home during the summer. Insulation helps the house maintain the heat inside it. This’ll result in lower usage, as the house is better able to maintain the heat.
Getting a WIFI Thermostat: Wi-Fi thermostats are incredibly useful and are an amazing tool to be able to lower your heating oil usage. They’re incredibly useful and will help you be able to better manage your home’s temperature. Most of these thermostats have apps that allow you to control them. This means that you can lower the temperature when you’re away to prevent unnecessary oil usage or raise the heat wirelessly! With one of these, you’ll be able to control your heating oil usage!
Upgrade Your System: This might not apply to everyone, but if your system is old and hasn’t been updated, then it’s a good time to upgrade it! Making sure that your system is up to date is great because it’ll help ensure that your system is functioning properly! Plus, newer systems are more efficient! Which means that it takes less oil to heat the home! You can contact a local HVAC company and see what they recommend for a system upgrade!
When You’re Not Home, Turn Off Your Thermostat: Turning off the thermostat when you’re not home is a great way to lower heating oil costs. The reason being you won’t be burning unnecessary oil when nobody is home! However, if you have pets, then this won’t be an option for you! They’ve got to stay warm too!
Disable the Heat in Rooms that are Unoccupied or Empty: Turning off the heat in rooms that aren’t occupied or rooms that aren’t currently being used is a great way to save on heating oil costs! Make sure that when doing this, you close any vents or radiators in these rooms. Heat won’t be able to enter the room when this is done!
Set up and install a Smart Oil Gauge: Smart Oil Gauges are one of the best tools that you can have on your heating oil tank! They can track usage and level data to ensure that you won’t run out of oil! This is all at the touch of your fingertips through our mobile app! You can also receive alerts when the tank is low and when you get a fill-up! You can purchase one on our website here.

These are the two types of Smart Oil Gauge! The one on the left is the Duo, and the one on the right is the standard model. They both work great to track your heating oil usage and level information!

Concluding Thoughts

Heating oil can be expensive, especially during the winter! But if you follow these ten steps, you’ll become a master at getting the most out of your heating oil! You’ll know the ins and outs of how to prevent your oil from escaping through those drafty windows or burning more than you need to!

Ordering during the summer is especially useful with the lower prices! Canceling your automatic delivery plan is great, too, because it gives you the freedom to order from whoever and wherever you want!

But don’t forget, this is all up to you! If you like having your automatic delivery plan, then don’t cancel it. However, what you choose to do with your heating system is in your hands!

Happy Heating!

Hunter

Smart Oil Gauge: Updating the WIFI Information

September 9, 2026August 26, 2026

If you’re an owner of the Smart Oil Gauge, then you’ll know how important it is for it to have a stable WIFI connection. However, in the off chance that you change your WIFI password, SSID, or router, then you’re going to have to go through updating the WIFI information. But how exactly do you do this? Well, there are a few ways, and by going through one of them successfully, you’ll be able to get the Smart Oil Gauge back online! Just be sure to follow the steps in this article!

Updating your WIFI Information: Why it’s Important

When you make any change to your WIFI, things will be different. The Smart Oil Gauge saves information on the internal computer. This information is typically your SSID and your WIFI password. But changing either one of these invalidates what the gauge has, so you’ll need to update them on the gauge. You won’t have to do this very often, but only when you change your WIFI password, router, or SSID. Please note that even if the router was changed and you keep the SSID and password the same, you will still need to update the credentials on the gauge.

The App Process

Going through the process in the Smart Oil Gauge app is one of the easiest ways to get the gauge reconnected to the WIFI. First, you’re going to want to open the app. When you open up the app, click on the gear on the bottom left (IOS) or the three dots and “Configure” on the top right. Then select “My Tank” under sensors. You’ll be brought to the sensor settings where there’s an option labeled “Reconnect WIFI”. From here, you’ll be brought to the screen that says “Before You Begin” at the top. Press Continue after you’ve gathered your WIFI password and have access to the sensor.

From here, make sure that your phone is connected to the WIFI that you want to connect the Smart Oil Gauge to. Type in your WIFI password and then hit Continue. Then, follow the steps as shown in the GIFs on the “Enter Config Mode” and “Confirm Config Mode” screens.

From here, simply join the CCF network when it pops up and allow the gauge to connect to your WIFI! The gauge should connect properly, and once you’re done with this process, the gauge should have reconnected to the WIFI!

Alternative Process

If the app process is unsuccessful, then you’re going to want to go through the alternate process. This process is a little bit different than the app process. It takes you through the WIFI settings on your phone rather than through the app.

First, you’re going to want to make sure that the Smart Oil Gauge is turned on. If it’s turned on, press and hold the button on the top right for two seconds (one-one thousand, two-one thousand) before letting go. The light on the gauge should be blinking once per second now.

Updating the WIFI information can be done through the alternate process. But unlike the alternate setup, you can leave the email blank and then click Save.

You should now see a network that shows up named “CCF########”. This is the Smart Oil Gauge. You can connect to it by typing in the password “smartoil”. From here, you’ll be brought to a screen that says “Captive WIFI,” and that’s asking for your SSID, password, and email address. If it doesn’t take you to this screen, go to your web browser and type in 192.168.4.1 to get there. Don’t worry, even if your phone says you don’t have internet, you’re still going to be able to connect to this IP address.

Once you’re on the login screen, select your WIFI and it’ll auto-fill the SSID box. From here, type in your WIFI password. Make sure you hit the ” show password button to make sure your password is correct! Once you’ve verified everything is correct, go ahead and hit the save button! The gauge should connect to your WIFI and upload a reading!

Force WIFI G

Now, this is an important setting to know about. If your WIFI network is both 2.4ghz and 5ghz, then there’s a setting you’re going to want to enable called “Force WIFI G”. This setting should be applied to networks with the “Smart WIFI” network setting. In short, Smart WIFI moves devices between 2.4ghz and 5ghz to improve performance. However, the Smart Oil Gauge isn’t compatible with 5ghz, so it’ll disconnect. This setting prevents the gauge from switching to 5ghz.

The WPS Process

WPS stands for WIFI Protected Setup. In short, this is a process that establishes a secure connection between the router and whatever device you’re going to connect it to. This is the last method you can try when attempting to update your WIFI information. Notably, this process doesn’t require using a cell phone or going through the app. Simply go over to the router and look for a button that says WPS or looks like a lock or link. Press the button, and the router should start flashing. Then, press and hold the config button on the gauge for three seconds (count one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand). The gauge should then start flashing three times a second quickly. After about thirty seconds, the gauge should stop flashing, and it’ll connect to your router! I go a bit more in-depth on this process in this blog post here.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve made a change to your WIFI network at all, then you must go through one of these processes for updating your WIFI! Don’t worry, though; they’re all simple to go through and easy to follow! Just follow this guide step-by-step to get the gauge reconnected to your WIFI and to get it back online!

But if you’re having trouble going through these processes, please do not hesitate to reach out! I’m always happy to help if you call our support line, and we’ll be able to go through the process together to get the gauge back online! I can be reached at 203-456-1499, option 3, from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.

Happy Heating!

Hunter

Running Out of Heating Oil: What to Do

September 2, 2026August 26, 2026

If you’ve found this article, then unfortunately, you’ve run out of oil! It’s currently the end of summer, so running out of oil isn’t the end of the world. However, if this has happened to you during the fall or, even worse, the winter, then it’s time to act fast. If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, it’s important to remain calm. In this blog post, I’ll be going over everything you need to do to diagnose and resolve this.

I’ll be covering each of these:

Making sure that you’re actually out of oil
Getting an oil delivery ASAP
Putting about 5-10 gallons of diesel in your tank
Restarting your burner

Are you Actually Out of Oil?

Having no heat is not always a result of running out of oil. Sometimes, faulty hardware in the system can cause it not to produce heat. Running out of oil isn’t always the problem here. For example, a couple of years ago, my family and I kept waking up to a cold house, but we had oil! We contacted an HVAC company, and they took a look at our boiler. Turns out it was a broken starter! So it’s important to make sure you’re actually out of oil!

The best way to check if you’re actually out of oil is by using your float gauge. If you removed your float gauge for a Smart Oil Gauge, then you can look at the readings on the app, or you can stick the tank. However, when using the float gauge, you’ll want to carefully remove the cylinder from the gauge. From here, slowly and carefully push down on the colorful disc. If there’s oil in the tank, it’ll slowly return to normal. If not, then you’ve run out of oil! If you have oil in your tank, you can skip to restarting the burner.

This is a split float and vent pipe. These are fairly uncommon, but they function as both a float gauge and a vent pipe.

Order Some Oil ASAP

If you’ve determined that you’re truly out of oil, then getting a delivery as soon as possible is crucial. Using our FuelSnap website will get you a delivery of oil quickly. You’ll get a list of local dealers in your area available to you, with their prices! These dealers are based on your zip code, which means that you’re in their delivery range! If you’ve got the Smart Oil Gauge, there’s FuelSnap integration in the app! You can simply click on “Check Oil Prices,” and you’ll be able to order oil in the app.

But don’t feel like you’re required to order oil through FuelSnap! If you have a dealer that you know and trust, then absolutely order from them! Especially if they can deliver the same day. Just make sure to let them know that you’ve run out of oil, and they’ll get you in for an Emergency Delivery!

After you’ve placed your order for heating oil, you should get an email confirmation. The email will have details on the delivery. Such as the date of the delivery and the order date. If you’ve ordered from FuelSnap, you’ll get the dealer’s contact information as well. You can then contact the dealer to get an estimate of when it’s going to be delivered.

Adding Diesel Into Your Tank

After you’ve placed an order for heating oil, run to the gas station and get some diesel. It’s close enough to heating oil that it won’t negatively impact your system. Start with 5-10 gallons of diesel. This’ll be a great way to start your system again while you’re waiting for your delivery of heating oil to come in. Depending on where you get your diesel from, it might cost you anywhere from $30-$60 total. But this is an emergency. However, be aware that using diesel is only for temporary use. It’s not a good long-term solution to heating oil.

Putting a little bit of diesel in your tank is great to keep you going momentarily until you get a fill-up.

The best way to get diesel is with the use of a yellow jug. Gas stations usually sell them, but if not, you can probably get one at Home Depot, Walmart, or an Auto store. This helps you tell the difference between Gasoline and Kerosene, which are in red and blue canisters, respectively. In the summer, 5-10 gallons of diesel will likely hold you over for a week. But during the winter, it’ll only last you a day or two.

Getting the Burner Reset

Lastly, you’re going to want to restart your burner. When you run out of oil, your system will stop. After you’ve put oil or diesel in the tank, you’re going to want to get it back up and running. Your system has likely been without oil for so long that you’ll need to restart it to get your system functioning normally again. In the image below, you’ll see your system’s starter. There’s a big button in the middle that you’re going to want to press. Pressing that button will help jump-start the system again. The button itself is translucent and should be flashing red. Once you’ve pressed the button, you’re going to want to wait about 15 seconds or so. You should hear the system begin to come on at this point.

Most furnace systems will have a restart button that you can press. Simply giving it a quick push will help restart your system.

However, if your system doesn’t come back online, the lines will need to be bled. DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WITHOUT SPEAKING TO AN HVAC COMPANY! It’s best to contact an HVAC tech before attempting this. This isn’t something you should normally try without guidance. After you’ve gotten the lines cleared, your system should be up and running again! But be sure to contact an HVAC company to get your system inspected afterwards.

Final Thoughts

Running out of oil can be frustrating. But as long as you keep a level head, you’ll be able to fix it quickly! Worst-case scenario: if you run out of oil, simply go get some diesel in your tank and place an order for heating oil! Best-case scenario: you’ve just got clogged feed lines.

However, broken or faulty equipment should be replaced by your HVAC company. Replacing this equipment will help ensure your system is up and running as it should once more! Make sure your HVAC company takes a look at it!

Preventing runout is easy as long as you’re on top of your usage and level. Getting a Smart Oil Gauge will be your best asset when preventing this. You’ll be alerted when the tank level is low and will have your usage data and level all in the app! You can even set up push notifications to alert you when you need to order and even when you get a fill!

Happy Heating,

Hunter

Heating Oil Vs Propane: What You Should Know

August 26, 2026July 23, 2026

In the Northeast United States, heating options are quite limited. However, natural gas is increasing in popularity. It’s cost-effective and reliable, making it an excellent choice to heat with! However, unlike the two titans of the industry, Heating Oil and Propane, it can’t be installed in a pre-existing home or neighborhood. This makes it unavailable to most of the general public.

But in small apartments, condos, and places with mild winters, you’ll see electric heat and heat pumps being more common. Electric heat can be expensive, but in places where winters are milder or with smaller spaces, it won’t be as bad. Otherwise, your options are left to Heating Oil and Propane.

Heating oil and Propane are the most popular forms of heating across the East Coast. They’re both fuels that get delivered to your home in a liquid state before it’s converted to heat and pushed throughout your home. Despite these two having some similarities, there are some differences. But what are they exactly? I’ll be covering exactly what you need to know below!

Outdoor heat pumps look like this! They’re increasing in popularity and are cost-effective!

Switching: When you Should Make it

When it comes to making the switch to either Heating Oil or Propane, it boils down to when your home needs a new boiler or furnace. The most expensive component tends to be the system. When changing out your current system for the other, here are some things that you’ll need to know.

Tank: The tank is the most important component of your system. Regardless of whether you own it or are renting it, you should know where it is and what its capacity is.
BTUs per Gallon and System Efficiency: Knowing the difference between the two fuels, BTUs and System Efficiency, is important for functionality. For example, propane tends to be more efficient. However, it produces fewer BTUs per gallon than heating oil.
Shopping Flexibility: If you like to be in control of when you receive your delivery, then this is important. You don’t want to run out while waiting for a delivery!

What are the Differences?

The biggest difference between the two types of tanks is the cost. Propane tanks are often much more expensive than heating oil tanks if you buy them outright. At the time of writing, you can buy a standard heating oil tank at Home Depot for around $1k, depending on the model. However, propane tanks tend to be a bit pricier at $1.5k for an average tank. While the prices are similar, a heating oil tank is the cheaper option.

How they’re stored is another major difference. Heating oil tanks can be placed indoors or outdoors. They also tend to be more compact, preventing them from taking up a lot of room. However, propane tanks tend to be big and bulky. Plus, if you’re renting them, then you’re required to have them installed above ground, outside. But if you own them, you can install them underground without posing a threat to the environment.

Propane tanks will tend to look like this. They’re installed above ground outside if they’re rented by an oil company.

The Owner of the Tank

Tank ownership is a big part of owning a heating oil or propane tank. When it comes to heating oil, you’ll typically own your tank. Meanwhile, with propane, the provider tends to own it. This means that they’re in control of when you get a delivery!

When making the switch from heating oil to propane, the provider will tell you that it’ll save you money, but that’s just not true! Renting the tank from the provider will prevent you from ordering from anyone else! You’ll have no freedom when it comes to ordering! In most states, it’s illegal to fill another provider’s tank. This means in an emergency situation, you won’t be able to order from someone else if you need to! If you want to change providers, you’ll either have to buy out your tank, buy your own, or contact another provider to put their tank in!

However, when it comes to heating oil, you’ll always own your tank! You can buy it directly from the manufacturer or a storefront such as Home Depot or Lowe’s. But you get the added benefit of having the freedom to order from whoever you want! So it’s best to own your tank regardless of whether you heat with heating oil or propane!

Standard oil tanks will look like this. Typically mounted on the side of the house, in the basement, or in the garage.

Which is More Efficient?

With how current prices are for heating oil, it might seem that propane is the better option to go with. However, just by looking at the price per gallon, you’re omitting two of the most important factors. These factors are BTUs (British Thermal Units) and Efficiency. BTUs determine how much heat is produced by a gallon of the desired fuel. For example, heating oil produces 138,000 BTUs per gallon! However, propane will only produce 91,000 BTUs per gallon. That is significantly less than what heating oil produces!

While BTUs are a major factor when it comes to heating, efficiency is important as well. Most modern-day boilers and furnaces tend to be 95% more efficient when compared to older furnaces. Propane furnaces will convert 95% of the propane into heat. Meanwhile, heating oil will only produce 85-90% heat from the boiler/furnace. Using 85% in our calculation below, we’ll get the following:

Propane: 91,000 x .85 = 77,350 Effective BTUs per gallon

Heating Oil: 117,300 x .85 = 117,300 BTUs per gallon

If we’re doing a comparison side by side, you’ll want to take a look at how many gallons of propane it takes to produce the same amount of heat as heating oil. This will be based on one gallon of heating oil. Heating oil produces 117, 300 effective BTUs per gallon, while propane only produces 77,350 effective BTUs per gallon. Using the following, you’ll be able to determine how many gallons of propane it takes to produce the same amount of BTUs as a gallon of heating oil.

117,300 / 77,350 =1.51 gallons of propane

As you can see, heating oil produces more BTUs per gallon than one gallon of propane! You’ll need a gallon and a half of propane to match the amount of heat that Heating Oil Produces!

Flexibility to Order From Who You Want

The nice thing about heating oil is that you have the freedom to order from whom and where you want to. Signing up for automatic delivery is a start. However, note that when you sign up for automatic delivery, you’ll end up paying a premium price per gallon. Call-by is much better in terms of placing orders. There are no hidden fees, and using reliable websites such as FuelSnap, you’ll end up getting some great prices!

Price shopping when it comes to propane is VERY hard. This is because most of the time, a propane tank is going to be rented from the provider. There’s a small percentage of propane tank owners who own their tanks. If you’re one of them, congratulations! But unfortunately, you won’t be able to do much shopping around.

However, with heating oil, the market is much more competitive. Due to this, prices tend to be a bit more sporadic than with propane. Dealers are constantly competing with each other to get customers on their schedule, so it’s advantageous to have the best price in the area. This gets them more orders and more new customers! Heating Oil tanks also get the bonus of utilizing the Smart Oil Gauge!

At the time of writing, these are the current oil prices in Danbury.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to which is better, heating oil is the clear answer. It burns much hotter, and you own your tank, which makes shopping around a breeze! Plus, with cheaper tanks and competitive pricing, you’ll be able to get a fill-up for a good price and not be restricted by the dealer!

However, that’s not to say that propane is without its merits. It’s versatile and is often used for more than just heating! If you find yourself needing to use propane for cooking, electric, and more, then this is your answer! Just be aware that you’ll likely have to rent from your provider!

At the end of the day, which you choose to use to heat with is up to you. They both have their positives and negatives and will both provide you with ample warmth and will be effective long-term heating solutions.

Happy Heating!

Hunter

How to Avoid Running Out of Oil

August 19, 2026August 18, 2026

With the heating oil season just over the horizon, it’s important to keep in mind how much oil you’ll use during the winter. But it’s also a good idea to start checking heating oil prices regularly! At the time of writing, oil prices have spiked due to the war with Iran! Heating Oil is at about $4.25- $4.50 per gallon! This is due to the price of crude oil, and it’s incredibly expensive to fill up a tank with oil! Especially with prices where they are now, it’s crucial to be on top of your usage and keep track of your oil level! So the question stands: “How do I avoid running out of oil? Well, don’t worry, I’ll be answering all the important questions below!

Filling up regularly will help prevent runout! The last thing you want is to wake up to a cold house!

Heating Oil Tank Capacity

The maximum capacity of a standard heating oil tank is around 275-330 gallons. But it’s a good thing to know that these tanks will rarely be filled to their true capacity. The reason for this is that dealers will fill up until the whistle stops. This’ll actually make the true capacity different. On a 275, it will be 250 gallons, while on a 330, it’ll be around 315 gallons. Your capacity will have some effect on how much and how frequently you order oil. Ideally, you’ll want to order oil when your tank gets to a quarter. On a 275-gallon tank, this is around the 75-gallon mark, while on a 330-gallon tank, it’s closer to 95 gallons.

You should NEVER let your tank’s oil level get below 1/8. The reason for this is that this is around the time your system might start to catch sludge. On Roth tanks, this isn’t a problem. However, on standard steel tanks, sludge can be sucked into the feedlines. When this happens, your lines will get clogged, which will cause the system to shut down, resulting in no heat! On a 275-gallon tank, the 1/8 mark is about 35 gallons. But if your tank’s feed lines are top-fed, then this will be the point at which you run out of accessible oil.

What Happens When You Run Out?

When you’re running out of oil, the first thing that’ll happen is that you’ll have no heat. No heat means waking up to a cold home, which isn’t a fun experience! However, it’s important to note that waking up to a cold home doesn’t always mean you’re out of oil. It could mean that there’s a faulty part in the boiler/furnace or the feed lines are clogged! It’s always good to check! One time, my boiler’s starter wasn’t working properly! We had heating oil, but the starter wasn’t working, so my family and I were freezing!

When you run out of oil, you’ll want to run and grab some diesel. This’ll hold you over until your delivery of oil arrives.

If you’ve run out of oil, the very first thing you should do is contact a local oil dealer to place an order! Try to see if they can put you in for an emergency delivery. Once you’ve placed the order, go to the gas station and get about 5-10 gallons of diesel. This should hold you over until your delivery arrives. If you need the step-by-step guide to this, you can check out what to do here.

How Long Will a Full-Tank Last?

If you know what size your tank is, then you’ve got a baseline. You’re going to have an easier time figuring out how much a full tank of oil will last you. However, a Smart Oil Gauge will make the process of finding this out much easier for you! In my articles on Spring and Winter usage, I calculate specifics on how much you’ll expect to burn if you’re interested!

However, if you haven’t guessed by now, winter sees the most heating oil usage by far! Primarily due to the cold weather outside, you’ll find yourself burning around 5-7 gallons a day! Sometimes even more if you have a large house and use it for both heat and hot water. You might see yourself ordering oil more frequently during this time! Typically, you’ll need to order oil every month or so, depending on how much you’re using.

But on the flip side, during the spring and summer months, you’ll end up using significantly less oil! During this time of year, oil usage is going to be at a low. So you might only see yourself burning less than a gallon a day. Running out of oil is very unlikely during this time. But even so, don’t let your guard down!

Your average daily usage is going to be different depending on the size of your home and what the temperature outside is.

Final Thoughts

Avoiding running out of oil is fairly easy. So long as you’re on top of your heating oil usage and tank level. Make sure that when your tank starts to get low, you order at a quarter tank. This gives you enough time to get the delivery before you run out! You can use a website like our FuelSnap website to get the best prices on heating oil in your area! With the combined use of the Smart Oil Gauge and FuelSnap, you’ll get a leg up on other homeowners!

Making sure that you’re on top of your level and usage is crucial to make sure you’ve got oil in your tank. Keeping an eye on this will prevent you from running out as long as you’re on top of it!

Happy Heating!

Hunter

Smart Oil Gauge: The Installation Process

August 12, 2026August 11, 2026

Making sure that your Smart Oil Gauge installation is correct is crucial for its functionality. Depending on your tank, the installation process is different and can sometimes be confusing with all the different adapters! The Duo and Standard models also have slightly different installations. Granby tank installations will end up being different than Roth installations. But before you install the Smart Oil Gauge, you must set it up and connect it to the app first! This will make the install process much easier!

What’s Required for Installation?

When it comes to installing a Smart Oil Gauge on a standard steel Granby tank, there are a couple of things that you need! Firstly, you will obviously need the gauge! Then, you’ll need a pipe wrench and pipe dope. Those can be purchased at Lowe’s, Home Depot, or on Amazon. DO NOT USE TEFLON TAPE! Finally, if you need an adapter, you’ll need that too! Don’t worry, I’ll touch more on that later in this blog.

However, for Granby double-wall tanks and Roth double-wall tanks, you will simply need the Smart Oil Gauge and the Roth adapter! I’ll touch more on those Roth adapters later, but the installation on these is a little bit simpler!

Steel Tank Installations

These types of tanks are the most common. Most homes in the United States that have heating oil will use a standard Granby tank, regardless of if its 275 or 330 gallons. If you don’t have an adapter for the standard Smart Oil Gauge installation, then all you need to use is the pipe wrench and pipe dope. Simply apply a thin layer of pipe dope onto the bottom threads and then hand-thread it into the tank as far as you can. Then, you’ll want to use your pipe wrench and thread it down all the way until you cannot thread it anymore. You can watch our video instructions here.

This is an example of installing the gauge onto the tank. You cannot install the Smart Oil Gauge onto a combined fitting with the vent pipe.

However, if you’re using an adapter, then you’ll want to thread the gauge into the adapter WITHOUT pipe dope. Then, put a thin layer of pipe dope on the bottom threads of the adapter. Once you’ve done that, use the pipe wrench to tighten the gauge and adapter onto the tank.

Granby and Roth Double Wall Tanks Installations

I mentioned this briefly, but when installing the Smart Oil Gauge onto a tank that’s either a Roth or Granby double-wall, you will just need the adapter and the device. You CANNOT install the Smart Oil Gauge onto the tank’s fitting that comes with the tank. The reason for this is that the gauge sends its signal in a cone shape, not straight down. The tank’s fitting doesn’t accommodate the gauge’s signal. Without the adapter, the Smart Oil Gauge will only read full.

For this installation, you DO NOT need to use Teflon tape or pipe dope. You can simply hand-thread the gauge into the tank and then remove the existing tank fitting from the tank. Then, put the Smart Oil Gauge and the adapter onto the white fitting in its place. You can watch an installation of this process here.

Smart Oil Gauge Adapter Compatibility

There are a couple of adapters for the Smart Oil Gauges, so it can be a little confusing which one you need for your setup. The standard Smart Oil Gauge has three adapters, while the Duo only has two.

The three adapters for the Standard Smart Oil Gauge are the 1.25″, 1.5″, and Roth adapters. The 1.25″ NPT adapter is used on tanks that have a 1.25″ fitting. This adapter is only usable with the standard Smart Oil Gauge. The Duo is not compatible with a 1.25″ fitting. Each of the adapters have their own SKU. CCF-905 is for the 1.5″ NPT, CCF-906 is for the Roth, and CCF-908 is for the 1.25″ NPT adapter. You can use the graph below to get a better idea of which one you need.

Using the above graph will help you understand which adapter you need!

Now, Smart Oil Gauge Duos only have two adapters. These are the CCF-905DUO and the CCF-906DUO. These are the 1.5″ and the Roth adapters, respectively. The Duo cannot be used on tanks with 1.25″ NPT fittings. This is because these fittings are too small for the sensors of the Duo to fit through the hole. But one thing you need to know about the Roth adapters is that you have to slide the guide cone into the body of the gauge first. Without doing that, the Smart Oil Gauge won’t be able to be read properly.

The Smart Oil Gauge installation must look like the one above. This will ensure that the gauge is reading correctly!

Non-Traditional Tank Installations

While Roth tanks are easy and Granby tanks are straightforward, non-traditional tanks will tend to be a little tricky. While most standard tanks are oval-shaped, these tanks tend to be more rectangular, cylindrical, and cube-shaped. However, as long as the tank has a fitting that’s 2″ NPT, you shouldn’t have any trouble installing the gauge onto the tank! These tanks will often have a 2″ NPT fitting, but in rare cases, they don’t. So make sure that your tank has one of these fittings!

However, if your tank fitting is larger than 2″ NPT, then the gauge won’t be able to be installed on this tank size. We don’t sell adapters that are larger than 1.5″ NPT. The Smart Oil Gauge cannot work with any of the off-the-shelf adapters. Standard off-the-shelf adapters don’t accommodate the Smart Oil Gauge’s ultrasonic signal, so the readings might not be accurate. The adapters we provide are specifically made for the gauge and to accommodate its signal. Adapters that are off the shelf do not.

What Can’t the Gauge be Installed onto?

While the Smart Oil Gauge can be installed on most tanks, there are a couple of tanks for which the gauge cannot be installed. The major tanks that the gauge cannot be installed on are Roth 1500L, Underground tanks, and fiberglass tanks. I go a bit more in-depth as to why that is in this article.

The Smart Oil Gauge can’t be installed on fittings that are raised, T-pipes, or extension pipes. Raised fittings will make it harder for the gauge to get the signal beyond the fitting, which will ultimately make the gauge read “Full” all the time. The same can be said for T-pipes and extension pipes. While the extension pipe raises the gauge higher than it should, on T-pipes, the gauge won’t even be able to see the oil!

Conclusion

Depending on your tank size and style, your Smart Oil Gauge installation will be different! Which is perfectly fine! As long as you are following the steps in the gauge’s instructions as well as the tips and tricks in this blog post, you’ll be able to install the gauge without any issues!

Just make sure that when you’re installing the gauge, you have all the necessary tools and equipment! Don’t forget to get the gauge set up in the app first before you go ahead and install it! That’ll make the process so much easier to get it set up and installed!

Happy Heating!

Hunter

Preparing Yourself for Heating Oil Season

August 5, 2026September 17, 2026

It’s officially August! Which means Heating Oil Season and Winter are just around the corner! Winter is peak season for heating oil, and now that it’s August, there’s a lot for you to do before winter is in full swing! Like every winter, you shouldn’t go in unprepared!

Fall and Winter are just around the corner! Which means soon your home will look like this!

Changing Out Your Air Filters

Forced air is an increasingly popular form of heating. If you use this, then now is the best time for you to change out your air filters. Ideally, these should be changed out every couple of months! However, if you have pets, then these should be changed out more frequently! But during the summer months, especially, they’ll get much dirtier. This is often due to collecting allergens, pet hair, dust, and dander! Changing out these filters is crucial to maintaining a healthy home, especially if you live with people who have allergies!

However, what’s the process for changing them? If you follow the steps below, you’ll understand exactly what you have to do to replace them!

The first thing you should do is turn off the furnace. This is crucial because your furnace might turn on if you’re changing out the filters! You don’t want that to happen!
Then, you’ll want to remove the side door to the furnace to access the filters. After doing this, snap a quick picture of how they’re installed currently. This will help you make sure the new ones are installed correctly after you’ve taken the old filters out!
Find out what size your filters are. If you haven’t done this before or are unsure as to what size filters you have, you’ll want to get this information. The most common size for these filters is 25x20x1. But if you don’t have any replacements, you can stop by the hardware store and pick up some.
Once you have the replacement filters, you’ll need to replace them! The replacements should have arrows showing how they’re installed. Follow those so you can install them properly!
You’re all set! Just close up the furnace door and turn it back on!

Changing out your filters is pretty easy! Just make sure you turn off your furnace when you do it!

Gathering Firewood

If you’ve got a fireplace or wood-burning stove at home, then you might know that you have to gather firewood. My family and I have a wood-burning stove, so typically we start to gather firewood around May-June. The earlier you gather it, the better, because it gives the wood time to try out before you burn it! But if you start stocking up now, then you’re still on the right track! Sometimes the cold weather doesn’t start until late September, early October anyway!

If you don’t have a lot of time to gather firewood on your own, then buying pre-cut wood is an option! However, it tends to be a little bit more expensive. You’ll be able to find them at places such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply, and even some gas stations! But if you’re like my family and have been doing this for a while, you’ll have a log splitter! This speeds up the process of cutting up wood! Rather than relying on an axe. These machines streamline the process!

But if you have the time, gathering and splitting your own wood will save you so much money! Some woods, however, will tend to burn better than others. Oak, for example, is the most popular for burning. It’s not messy, and it takes some time to burn. However, pine is very sappy and can take a bit longer to dry out. Birch, on the other hand, burns quickly, and it doesn’t last very long. However, this makes it an excellent fire starter!

Stocking up on firewood is a great way to prepare your furnace and wood burning stove for the long winter ahead! This’ll also lower your heating oil usage if you have both!

Heating Oil Tank Inspection

As the years go by, your heating oil tank will get older. This often makes it susceptible to general aging over time. The tank itself will experience wear and tear as it gets older. For this reason, regular tank inspections are important for your tank. While this process doesn’t take a long time, it’s crucial for your system’s functionality and your safety.

In this section, I’ll be covering a brief explanation of what’s involved in a tank inspection. But if you want a more in-depth explanation, check out this article here.

Inspect the Legs to make sure that they’re sturdy. Also, make sure that there’s leaks in the tank.
Make sure there’s no rust on the seams of the tank.
Check the bottom and sides of the tank for any signs of leaking oil.
Make sure that the oil lines have no leaks.
Check the oil filter to ensure it’s not leaking.
Check the top of the tank and fittings for any damage, rust, or cracks.

These are the key points you’ll need to look at when getting a tank inspection!

System Tune-Up

Annual system maintenance is important for your heating oil system to function as intended. Making sure your system is properly maintained is a requirement to ensure that the system itself doesn’t shut down when you need it. If it’s been a while since your last system service, or you need one, contact your local HVAC technician. They’ll be able to do all the required service and maintenance to make sure that your system is in tip-top shape! But keep in mind the price. Usually, system maintenance will cost around $300-$400 on average.

However, when you contact your HVAC company, see if they offer a maintenance contract. These service/maintenance contracts will help you stay on top of your system’s maintenance. This’ll ensure that your system is in good shape for when you need it. Some HVAC companies will actually give you a discount when you sign up with them! It’s a good thing to ask!

Fill-Up Your Heating Oil Tank

Now that it’s getting to the end of summer, it’s a good time to fill your oil tank. Making sure that you have a full tank of oil will be very helpful when winter comes. Filling up your tank of heating oil will make sure your tank is ready to go when the temperatures start dropping! If you’re getting low now or are sitting at around half a tank, now’s a good time as any to order oil. It’s always a good idea to go into heating oil season with a full tank!

Your tank gauge is another important tool for you when it comes to monitoring heating oil usage and level. Most tanks come with a float gauge. However, the Smart Oil Gauge is another useful tool to track your data. You’ll have access to everything that you need at the touch of your fingers! You’ll even be able to order oil with our FuelSnap integration. FuelSnap lets you get the best selection of dealers and prices in your area!

Getting a fill-up now of all times is a great idea! This’ll make sure that you’re all ready for heating oil season!

Closing Thoughts

There are plenty of things that you need to do before heating oil season arrives. If you have the above-mentioned available to you, you’ll be fully prepared for the winter! Make sure you’re prepared when going into heating oil season and winter! You won’t want to be blind sided by a snowstorm or cold weather and not be prepared. If you’ve got a wood-burning stove or fireplace, stock up on firewood. If you’ve got a heating oil system, make sure that you get your tank filled and your system serviced!

As temperatures get lower and lower, we’re going to slowly start turning on our systems. Winter is around the corner, which means we’ll need to be warm for the cold months to come! Do not be un-prepared for what’s to come!

Happy Heating!

Hunter

How Long Does a Tank of Heating Oil Last

July 29, 2026July 21, 2026

It’s currently late July, which means that we’re in an awkward spot where you’re not burning heating oil. However, heating oil season is just over the horizon! During this time of year, you’ll likely only be using heating oil for hot water, if at all! But even though it’s currently summertime, it’s important to understand that heating oil season is getting closer and closer. So it’s time to start preparing! There are a lot of different factors in how long your heating oil tank will last you. Here’s what you need to know!

The Size of the Tank

It seems like a no-brainer, but the size of your tank will determine how long a full tank will last you! In the modern age, the most common tank sizes are the 275, 330, and Roth 1000L tanks. Now, something to note with these tanks is that while their maximum capacity is 275 and 330, their true capacity tends to be 250 & 300 gallons. The reason for this is that the oil companies will leave the top couple of inches of the tank open for airflow. This prevents the tank from leaking and overflowing when you receive a fill-up. It’s also important that your tank has a working vent alarm. This’ll help indicate when the driver will need to stop pumping.

An uncommon but effective way to store heating oil is with a dual tank system. Dual-tank systems utilize two tanks in tandem. One tank receives the fill, and oil pushes into the tank that’s vented. This pushes air out of the system that builds up when the tank is being filled. The benefit to these systems is that your capacity is twice the size and you don’t have to order oil as frequently. However, you’ll have to order in larger amounts. These tanks will also always be level with each other! The tanks will drain in tandem and then equalize with each other to ensure both tanks have the same amount of oil.

These are the different Roth tanks. They have an array of different sizes. Commonly, anywhere from 110-400 gallon tanks!

But if you have an underground tank, the capacity tends to be 500 gallons. Although they can get to sizes up to 2000 gallons in some cases! However, that’s very rare, especially nowadays! Underground tanks that are older than thirty years tend to be removed often. This is because underground tanks can now be environmental hazards!

How Your Home Effects Usage

Your home plays a major role in how long a full tank of heating oil is going to last you. I’ve compiled a list of all the major effects that your home has on your oil consumption.

Size of the House: Homes with an average square footage of 1500ft, you can see themselves burning around 500 gallons of oil annually. On larger homes, say 3500 square feet, they will easily burn around 1500 gallons every year!

Your Home’s Insulation: Homes that are well insulated will burn significantly less oil than those that aren’t. For example, a 2500 square foot home that has good insulation might only burn 600 gallons annually. However, if that same-sized home isn’t well insulated, you could see that home burning up to 1200 gallons of oil a year!

System Age: A home that has a system that is up-to-date and well-maintained will use less oil than a system that isn’t. Systems that are well taken care of and maintained can last upwards of thirty years! The newer the system, the less overall oil you’ll have to burn! This means the full oil tank you have will last you much longer! You might see your oil usage reduce by upwards of 30%!

Inside and Outside Temperatures: Both the temperature in the home and outside the home will determine how much oil you’re using. During the summer, you likely won’t burn much oil because it’s hot out. Meanwhile, during the winter, it’ll be much colder out. So you’ll tend to burn more oil during this time!

Daily Usage

Daily usage is an important part of your overall consumption! I mentioned this briefly in the previous section, but usage, at its core, is based on temperature. Both indoors and outdoors!

On a warm summer day, you’re likely not going to turn on your heat! So during this time of year, you’ll only use heat for hot water. That is, if you don’t have electric heat! During the summer, you’ll likely be burning less than a gallon a day. So during this time, your usage is at a minimum.

However, during the winter it’s different. This time of year is much colder than the summer, so you’ll often have your furnace turned on to burn oil to heat the home. If you don’t have a secondary form of heating, then you can see yourself burning anywhere from 5-7 gallons a day, at least!

Average daily usage for CT in the winter can change drastically. But this is a rough average.

When Do I need to order Oil?

A lot of homeowners ask themselves this question. Now, while everyone has a different system and consumption, I have an answer. At FuelSnap, we recommend ordering oil at around a quarter tank. On a 275-gallon tank, that’s about when there are only 75 gallons of oil in the tank. This is the perfect time to order oil! When you’re at a quarter, you’ll have enough oil to hold you over until your next delivery. But this will also allow you to order oil at a reasonable price for a fill-up! Most dealers will offer a lower price per gallon once you order a certain amount.

However, if you let your heating oil tank run out, then you’re going to want to order as soon as possible! Running out of oil can be dangerous for your system. When the tank runs out of oil, this can cause sludge to get caught in the feed lines. When sludge gets in the feed lines, it can clog your system and prevent oil from being drawn into the boiler or furnace! If you run out, you’ll have to have an HVAC technician prime your system.

Checking Your Tank Gauge

It’s important to check your heating oil tank gauge often! Checking your tank gauge will help you get a better idea of what your current tank level is. Checking it frequently also helps you monitor your usage and helps you estimate how much you’re using daily. But two different types of tank gauges are commonly seen today.

The float gauge is the most common. It comes with all heating oil tanks, and while some might look different from others, they function the same way. In short, they function based on a cork bobber on the end of a metal rod. That metal rod connects to a colorful disc in a plastic cylinder. The disc lines up with writing on the cylinder, with level displays. The disc will display 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, and more.

The Smart Oil Gauge is a wireless tank gauge that reads off an ultrasonic signal. This gauge sends its signal down to the oil level, where it then reports back to the app. You’ll then be able to see what it transmits on your phone! All you need is your smartphone and a WIFI connection! Once you have the Smart Oil Gauge set up and linked to the app, you’ll get usage data and level readings at the touch of your fingertips!

The Smart Oil Gauge is the perfect tool to be able to monitor oil level and use data! Simply connect it to your WIFI, get the app set up, and you’re good to go!

Conclusion

There are a lot of factors when it comes to how long your oil will last. This is combined with usage, level data, tank size, and house size. All of these contribute to how much oil you’re going to be burning daily. Your daily usage is the major contributor that determines how long a tank of oil will last you.

Ensuring your home has good insulation will determine how much oil your system is burning. If your home is well insulated, then you won’t have to worry about burning a lot of oil! Plus, the larger the tank, the larger the oil capacity is. The more tanks you have and the larger they are, will make or break how often you’ll need to order oil.

Happy Heating!

Hunter

Service Contracts: The Untold Truths

July 22, 2026July 21, 2026

Today, service contracts are a common thing with oil companies. Sometimes they’ll even sign you up for automatic delivery as part of your service contract. However, what they don’t end up telling you is that there are a lot of strings attached to these contracts. There’s a saying that if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. So what are some of these “untold truths”?

Claiming it’s Automatic Delivery Only

When signing up for automatic delivery, you’ll often get the option to sign up for a service contract alongside it. They might try to scare you by saying, “Ordering from another dealer will put bad or waste oil into your tank. Placing an Order through us is the safest option”. But in reality, that’s false. There are thousands of dealers that are honest and reliable that you can order from! But if you’re still hesitant, feel free to check their reviews! That’s a good habit to get into before purchasing anything, not just oil! Additionally, DO NOT order from anonymous online dealers.

Something that you should definitely keep in mind is that there are a lot of dealers who offer service plans without the requirement of ordering oil from them! Dollarwise, for example, provides an annual maintenance plan that you can sign up for that doesn’t require you to order oil from them! They offer a lot with their service plan; this includes annual system cleanings, tune-ups, and even more! If you’re interested, I suggest contacting Dollarwise to get more information!

Dollarwise’s maintenance plan offers the above. For information on specifics, you’ll want to contact them directly!

Out on Long Island, Ryan Anthony’s Heating Service is another popular one. Amongst their customers, they’re very highly rated. They’ll also offer service contracts without the need to order oil from them! As the months go by, you’ll have to pay a small monthly fee if you’ve signed up for their maintenance plan. However, similar to Dollarwise, you can shop around and aren’t required to order from them! This’ll end up saving you more money in the long-term!

The Truth Behind “Free Service Contracts”

Have you ever heard the phrase “There are no Free Lunches?” It means that everything comes with a cost, even if you don’t think so! The same can be said about “Free Service Contracts”. Which can sometimes have hidden fees! Automatic delivery, for example, tends to cost .50 cents extra per gallon! In Connecticut, we’ve seen automatic delivery prices be increased by as much as a dollar! Although this is not very common. However, at the time of writing, oil prices are through the roof right now! I’m going to do a quick little math equation for you below!

Say your home uses around 800 gallons of oil yearly.
Let’s say that for automatic delivery, you’re paying an additional .60 per gallon.
That so-called “Free Service Contract” might cost you 800 X .60 = $480

If you’re spending that much money a year on a “Free Service Contract”, then you might as well put that money towards system maintenance!

24/7 Support is Only Available with a Service Contract

Annual maintenance for your HVAC system is crucial for a well-functioning system. Getting an annual tune-up is a good thing to ensure your system is functioning as intended. However, you might want to do a quick search on Google to find the best-qualified dealers in your area. This is to make sure that the providers in your area are reliable and trustworthy. Checking their reviews is a good way to weed out the good and the bad providers. If you think that they seem reputable and have good reviews, it’s not a bad idea to reach out and see if you can sign up for a service contract! This’ll not only help create a relationship between you and the dealer, but it’ll put you on good terms with them!

Making sure that you keep up with your system is crucial for it to function. It’s important to make sure that your system is working as intended so that you don’t have any unforeseeable problems!

However, you might be wondering if emergency services are expensive. In short, it is expensive! But, you do a little bit of quick math, spending around $500 every couple of years instead of an extra $480 annually, is much better. For that reason, you might just be better off not having a service plan. Although if your heating system is a bit on the older side, then signing up for a service plan might just be beneficial to prevent your system from regularly breaking down. But, you might as well just upgrade to a newer system at that rate!

Concluding Thoughts

At the end of the day, ensuring that your family is warm during the winter months should be your top priority! The best way to do this is to ensure that your system is well-maintained! Getting a service plan will help you stay on top of your system’s maintenance! Just make sure to do your research and go with a reliable and reputable company!

Just make sure that you don’t fall into the Automatic Delivery trap! You’ll want to find a company that you’re able to speak with freely and that’ll allow you to look around for a delivery. Especially if it’s an emergency and they cannot get to you quickly. In the long-term, you’ll save so much money by doing call-by only delivery. Plus, using the combination of a Smart Oil Gauge and FuelSnap will put you at an advantage compared to others!

Happy Heating,

Hunter