If you have recently moved into a new house with a furnace that uses heating oil as its fuel instead of gas or electricity, you may be getting ready to have the tank filled up for the first time. However, if this is your first time using oil, you may have some questions about its delivery and pricing. Below are answers to a couple of questions that you may have about using a home heating oil delivery service for the first time.
1. How Does the Service Determine When You Need to Have Heating Oil Delivered after the Initial Tank Fill-up?
One question you may have about having heating oil delivered to your house by the service has to do with how they determine their delivery schedule. After the initial fill-up of the oil tank, how does the service know when your home will need more oil delivered?
While determining the first year's oil usage of your household, you and the service will need to keep an eye on the level gauge to see when you need another delivery. However, during this time, the service will also be keeping track of degree days, which are calculated by finding the differences between the highs and lows for each day.
These numbers are then divided by the total gallons of your tank to give the k-factor, which will give an accurate usage overview. Eventually, these numbers will even out, giving the service an idea of when your oil deliveries will be scheduled.
2. What Factors Can Impact How Much the Heating Oil's Price Fluctuates and Can You Lock in a Price for the Season?
Another question you may have about having heating oil delivered has to do with the price. What factors can impact how much the oil will cost each delivery, and can you lock in a price for the season?
For your initial fill-up, the price of the oil will be determined by its current market value, which is impacted by such factors as worldwide oil prices, inflation rates, area temperatures, and demand. After data is collected and the oil usage of your home evens out to where you can schedule deliveries in advance, you can speak with the service about locking in the price for the season.
After you order heating oil delivery for your home for the first time, the service will keep track of its consumption by calculating the degree days and dividing the number by the size of your property's tank. The initial price is often determined by the current market value. After the first year, the consumption of the oil may start to level out, and you may be able to lock in a price for the season that is not subject to fluctuations by external factors.
For more answers to questions you may have or to set up initial delivery, contact a home heating oil delivery service near you.
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