Home Heating Oil Terms You Must Know 1 Of 2
by John Bogdanski on 2007-09-22
Home Heating Oil terminology that can save you money
1. Budget Plans
Scheduled payments by the consumer to the heating oil company that is based on a calculated gross usage volume of oil used based on history. Normally it runs over an 11 month period. Some more progressive oil companies offer it over a full 12 months. This is good for the oil company since it spreads out their cash flow.
PRO: It's good for the home owner since it also spreads out their cash flow over the year so they don't have big payments 2 or 3 times a year.
CON: If the oil company isn't in good financial health they can spend that money and when heating season comes around, they don't have the money so they can't buy oil and the home owner is out the cash and out the oil. This has become a big problem all around the country.
2. Will Call
This is the term the heating oil companies use for consumers that call in when they want a delivery. According to the companies this type of customer is the lowest on the totem pole. They figure a will call, calls around for the best price and has no loyalty to any company or they have no money.
PRO : You can shop around and if the market is cooperating you can make choices for who to buy from and what to pay for your oil. This can hurt you or help you depending on the swing in the oil market.
CON: You don't get a chance to establish a relationship with an oil company. Like any other business if they know you or if you're a long time customer they usually treat you better, respond to you faster and work to make you happy and keep you a satisfied customer.
3. Additives to Fuel
This is a combination of petroleum distillates that keeps the fuel fresher longer. The current heating oil is a lower quality fuel then the fuel from years past and the lower quality creates havoc on your heating system. (the new fuel goes through a cracking process that destabilizes it)
It will also reduce the amount of sludge that builds up in your tank, conditions the fuel to burn better (more efficiently) reduces the chances for the oil to freeze and gel at low temperatures and reduces the corrosion in your oil tank.
PRO : The right combination of petroleum distillates works wonders on the quality of the fuel and the wear and tear on your equipment. Service issues, tank problems, fuel efficiency, gelling and fouling issues are all reduced and almost a thing of the past.
CON: Some people call it snake oil and in many cases they are right. Unless you are using a top grade, certified and tested product (really tested) it's easy to pay a lot of money for essentially nothing but marketing magic. You need to know which ones work and which ones don't. OR you end up wasting your money and putting your entire heating system at risk.
NOTE: If you're using the right stuff it works like magic and the additive is worth it's weight in gold. I've seen lot's of smoke and mirrors from using the US navy as a reference to beautiful packaging that surrounds a substance that doesn't do a darn thing.
1. Budget Plans
Scheduled payments by the consumer to the heating oil company that is based on a calculated gross usage volume of oil used based on history. Normally it runs over an 11 month period. Some more progressive oil companies offer it over a full 12 months. This is good for the oil company since it spreads out their cash flow.
PRO: It's good for the home owner since it also spreads out their cash flow over the year so they don't have big payments 2 or 3 times a year.
CON: If the oil company isn't in good financial health they can spend that money and when heating season comes around, they don't have the money so they can't buy oil and the home owner is out the cash and out the oil. This has become a big problem all around the country.
2. Will Call
This is the term the heating oil companies use for consumers that call in when they want a delivery. According to the companies this type of customer is the lowest on the totem pole. They figure a will call, calls around for the best price and has no loyalty to any company or they have no money.
PRO : You can shop around and if the market is cooperating you can make choices for who to buy from and what to pay for your oil. This can hurt you or help you depending on the swing in the oil market.
CON: You don't get a chance to establish a relationship with an oil company. Like any other business if they know you or if you're a long time customer they usually treat you better, respond to you faster and work to make you happy and keep you a satisfied customer.
3. Additives to Fuel
This is a combination of petroleum distillates that keeps the fuel fresher longer. The current heating oil is a lower quality fuel then the fuel from years past and the lower quality creates havoc on your heating system. (the new fuel goes through a cracking process that destabilizes it)
It will also reduce the amount of sludge that builds up in your tank, conditions the fuel to burn better (more efficiently) reduces the chances for the oil to freeze and gel at low temperatures and reduces the corrosion in your oil tank.
PRO : The right combination of petroleum distillates works wonders on the quality of the fuel and the wear and tear on your equipment. Service issues, tank problems, fuel efficiency, gelling and fouling issues are all reduced and almost a thing of the past.
CON: Some people call it snake oil and in many cases they are right. Unless you are using a top grade, certified and tested product (really tested) it's easy to pay a lot of money for essentially nothing but marketing magic. You need to know which ones work and which ones don't. OR you end up wasting your money and putting your entire heating system at risk.
NOTE: If you're using the right stuff it works like magic and the additive is worth it's weight in gold. I've seen lot's of smoke and mirrors from using the US navy as a reference to beautiful packaging that surrounds a substance that doesn't do a darn thing.
About The Author: For more information on Home Heating Oil Prices and energy solutions, visit Home Heating Oil Prices Do your research,save yourself some money. John Bogdanski a renegade Oil Heat marketing executive, rips open the curtain.