Heating Oil – new homeowner

[sacatosh]

Hey all,

Just bought a house in Westwood (not new to the area, been renting for years in WS) and it has an oil tank and oil heat. The tank is full, so we should be ok through the winter, but I want to be prepared and top it off periodically.

We’ve gotten advertisements for at least 15 different heating oil suppliers, and I know who the previous owners used.

Important to me: reliable, good accounting practices, decent price for services, non-skeevy employees (one company slid a flyer under our door into our home AND put their stickers on the oil tank cap and on the pipes – all without permission. This earned a major NO WAY from me!)

I certainly don’t want to over-pay, but if there’s a good reason a particular higher-priced company is substantially better than the competition, I’m willing to part with a few extra bucks.

Also, what about the insurance/warranty on the tank that they all seem to offer for around $100/year, as well as the various other perks they advertise (free 100 gallons, free furnace inspection, etc.) Having never used an oil furnace before, I don’t know what’s useful or extraneous, and I don’t want to be taken for a ride.

Who do you use, how do you like them, who’ve you stopped using and why, and what advice do you have? Lay it on me. I’ve got 15+ companies to pick from and I’d love to have somewhere to start.

Thanks!

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[shihtzu]

Timely question as I’ve been thinking of shopping around.

In our old house, we used Sound Oil and were happy with them.

Now we use Genessee Fuel (for about 8 years) and while I am very happy with their service (their service is always above and beyond expectation), I didn’t put much thought into it when we signed up.

Our tank is original with the house and tests fine so far. We do pay the tank insurance as it came in handy at our last house when our tank sprung a leak. However, after having paid about the cost of a new tank in insurance, I wonder if we should have just had the tank replaced when we bought the house. Don’t want to stop paying now though since it is so old.

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[hammerhead]

depends on how warm you like your house. I prefer mine warm. so I usually have to fill half way during winter. also depends if you have older or newer windows and how sealed door are ect.

Price on depends on the cost of a barrel of oil so it can get pricey.

I have cascade they were reasonable they came out and cleaned everything and told me the thing was in excellent shape. I guess the oil furances last forever.

good luck

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[B-squared]

I second the good review of Genesee. I have an autofill program and i do spend more for oil because i am burning B25, but you don’t need to do that. I left Rossoe in disgust when they horribly overbid the job to replace my furnace – almost as if they were trying to chase me away. Been with Genesee for around 12 years and they have been very responsive to anything i have asked. i also have a furnace maintenance contract with them. can’t say i have ever been without heat unless the power is out.

Also, the state offers free Pollution liability insurance for oil tanks for free. ask your dealer about signing on to that.

http://www.pnwoilheat.com/plia.html

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[sacatosh]

Yes, the inspector told us the furnace itself was brand new, installed in Spring. He said it will outlive us. :)

House is VERY well-insulated, in fact he said it was slightly over-insulated, and all of the windows are new and double paned.

Thanks for the comments so far. I’m definitely interested in hearing opinions.

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[oddreality]

I heartily recommend Ballard Oil. Low prices, great service. Do not top off though..it will cost you as the fewer gallons of oil you buy the more it costs. Get yourself a measuring stick and when you get down to about 1/3 tank then order oil.Prices go down when you order 175 gallons at a time .

Love Ballard Oil.

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[MousePotato]

We’ve used AAA oil for 14 years and are very happy with them. I believe it’s always the owner that comes out to fill up for us. Many times we have run out without knowing it and they always make the time to come fill us up right away. Even on weekends. We had to replace our tank a few years back and they recommended a service guy that gave us a screaming deal. Not sure how they work on topping off but I have checked their prices over the years and I’ve never found a better deal.

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[islander]

Seelig Fuel – 206-789-6434

totally happy with them, great service, lower rates than most. they have a website, google it.

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[WSB]

Just a note if you are interested in giving a WSB sponsor a look-see:

We have a heating-oil sponsor for the first time this year, SC Fuels.

http://www.scfuelsnorthwest.com

(A general note, in addition to seeking WSB’ers’ recommendations – the reason the forums were opened 4 years ago in the first place! – our sponsors are listed on the page you get by clicking the SPONSORS! tab, categorized by type of service they provide, if you ever have the question, “Is there a WSB sponsor in the (whatever) field.”

Advertising provides 100 percent of the revenue that keeps WSB going. We have no investors, no grants, no rich relatives, no other jobs (no time for that, this one is 24/7!). Thanks for supporting our sponsors when you can. (And please thank them!)

Anyway, stay warm, everyone, and good luck to the OP in finding the right provider for them … TR

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[sacatosh]

Thanks, all. The tip about not topping off is a GREAT one — I really appreciate it!!

As we’ve never used heating oil before, that type of tip is priceless. If anyone has other tips, please add them.

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