HOW DOES A FULL SERVICE OIL COMPANY COMPARE TO DISCOUNT OIL PROVIDERS?

A discount fuel provider usually sells their fuel at a lower rate, saving you money at the time of delivery. However, that money saved could come back to be a big expense by a lack of services provided by discounters. Discount providers don’t usually provide service that can keep small issues from becoming big ones and large bills in the thousands. Lack of heat in the most critical of times can disrupt your family and work life even more. When you consider everything, is that lower rate really worth it?


Instead of hiring a plumber or a heating service company you found on TV or online, consider the following:
Most plumbers lack the necessary training to work on oil burners. You could end up paying a service call fee only to find out that the plumber doesn't have an oil burner license when they arrive. This would require you to schedule another service call, assuming an oil burner technician is available, which would cost you more time and money.

Full Service Companies:

  • Offer automatic fuel oil delivery (monitoring so you won’t run out)Get an automatic fuel oil delivery service that estimates your fuel levels so you don't have to. This way, you'll always have a steady supply of heating oil to keep your home warm and cozy
  • Offer service plans to cover a variety of heating system types
  • Have a large staff of fully licensed and insured service staff
  • Fully stocked service vans, mobile and ready in an emergency
  • Heating system component cleaning, inspection, tune-up and preventative maintenance
  • Annual preventative maintenance offered to ensure your equipment is running efficiently
  • 24/7 customer support even after hours, on weekends, or holidays
  • Adequate staff, especially during emergency, no reliance on subcontractors or non-employees
  • Storage facilities and a large fleet of delivery vehicles to delivery all year round, no matter the weather or demand
  • Monthly payment options to stretch your heating dollars - affordable and predictable

Discount Oil Companies

  • Are “will call” - typically requiring 48 hours notice for delivery of fuel to your home
  • Heating system and burner service is most often by subcontractors, who are not employees, and “if and only when available”
  • May not have a fully licensed and insured staff to cover incidents in the field
  • Longer wait times, due to lack of control over non-employee service providers
  • Don’t disclose all of their fees, common when delivery amounts are not meant
  • Limited storage options, restricting their ability to maintain deliveries during high demand
  • No ability to offer monthly payment options