Home heating oil is essential to keeping your household comfortable in a four-season area. While discount oil companies may seem tempting, choosing a full-service, trusted provider with excellent tech services and convenient payment plans is best.
Full-service oil companies typically pair customers with a local dealer that calls for deliveries. These companies offer guaranteed oil delivery, a customer service department, and 24/7 tech support.
Look for a Full-Service Oil Supplier
Discount heating oil Oak Ridge, NJ offers cash-on-delivery, which lets you buy your oil whenever and as often as you want. They also allow buyers to change providers anytime without being tied down by a contract.
However, cheaper doesn’t always mean better. Discount oil companies may not have 24/7 tech service or after-hours delivery options. They can also have supply issues during peak demand seasons and extended severe winter weather. The best full-service, trusted heating oil company will have an affordable, steady supply of home heating fuel and flexible pricing and payment plans. They will also monitor global markets to pass savings on to their customers.
Compare Prices
The cost of heating oil can significantly burden your budget, especially in the Fall and Winter. However, you can help keep costs down by comparing prices before choosing your dealer.
Ensure they offer the service contract you need and can make after-hours deliveries. Additionally, look for a company that offers budget plans with fixed monthly payments. Statistically, these plans are the cheapest way to buy oil over the year, even during price spikes. Other options include variable and ceiling plans, which offer price protection but require a time commitment. These plans also tend to be more volatile.
Look for a COD Oil Company
Full-service oil companies offer various payment options and often have service and repair technicians on staff. COD companies, on the other hand, are usually one-person operations that only deliver oil to customers who pay in cash on delivery.
While these companies may have cheaper prices, the lower quality of service can cost you in the long run. For example, most full-service oil suppliers provide 24/7 services – even during holidays and after hours – while COD providers can only make deliveries based on the availability of their drivers. Full-service oil companies rarely run out of heating oil, while COD companies can be subject to unpredicted supply disruptions.
Look for a Heating Oil Group
If you prefer to have all your heating oil delivery, service, and equipment maintenance needs handled by one company, look for a full-service company that offers 24/7 tech service. They also offer multiple payment options to meet your budget.
Many reputable full-service oil companies have been around for years and know their local communities. They monitor global markets and can pass savings directly to you, their customers. They also offer market-priced or capped rates, which protect against rising prices by locking in a per-gallon rate for one heating season.
Some companies have online ordering so you can place your order quickly.
Look for an On-Demand COD Oil Company
Many entire service oil companies offer COD deliveries under a different brand. This is ideal for customers who like to monitor their tank levels and only need a delivery when they reach the bottom of the tank or earlier.
These COD oil suppliers usually update their current oil prices daily, making scheduling oil deliveries a simple three-step process. They can also offer budget programs and price protection to customers who want to avoid fluctuating oil prices throughout the year.
These companies must comply with stringent industry standards and have the same trucks, drivers, and licenses as their full-service counterparts. They also have to be able to provide after-hours tech service for heating equipment problems.
Look for a Full-Service Oil Supplier
The best discount heating oil companies offer reliable home heating and HVAC services for a convenient annual fee. These full-service providers usually offer a variety of ways to save, including pre-buy and price cap programs, automatic delivery, and 24/7 after-hours tech support to address equipment problems.
These full-service companies pair you with a local dealer who can order oil via phone as often as you like or set up automatic deliveries. They also offer flexible pricing plans and payment options to fit your budget. They also rarely run out of oil based on supply and demand, unlike discount oil providers, who may be unable to deliver after hours or on weekends.
