Written on: June 10, 2024
While May is lovely in Litchfield County, there are some nights still nippy enough to put on the heat. June is the month that you really probably are not giving much thought about heat or heating oil. But that’s one of the reasons that June is a smart month to order heating oil and fill up your tank.
There are many factors that affect the price of heating oil: Some are impossible to anticipate, like geopolitics. Others follow patterns that are more predictable. As the calendar moves toward winter and temperatures fall, demand for heating oil goes up—and prices follow. Likewise, as the weather warms, there’s less demand for heating oil and prices come down.
While you can’t know how much prices will rise or fall, you can be pretty confident that heating oil prices will be much lower in the spring and early summer. That makes it a great time to buy heating oil.
But there are some other benefits besides price.
Heating oil tanks are built better than ever, but they’ll last even longer if you take care of them. Keeping your fuel tank full over the summer is an easy way to extend its life. Here’s why:
When your heating oil tank sits empty, condensation can form—and that can result in all kinds of problems. For starters, when condensation forms on the interior walls of an empty tank, that water drips down and sinks to the bottom of the tank (because water is denser than heating oil). That water becomes an ideal environment for bacteria and other microorganisms. Over time, the bacteria forms sediment or sludge, which can get into your fuel lines and clog them up. This will cause your heating system to shut down, probably next winter, right in the middle of a deep freeze. Sludge can also corrode your tank from the inside out—a big problem that is difficult to detect early and costly to remediate.
In the winter, your tank doesn’t stay empty long, so these issues don’t come up. Plus, condensation is less likely to form in colder temps. But in summer, especially if your tank is outside, condensation will form quickly. Of course, if you’re signed up for automatic deliveries, we’ll make sure you’re topped off for the summer.
If your water heater runs on heating oil, you’ll need to have some oil in your tank to make sure you have hot water. The largest use of hot water in the summer months is for showers, but your dishwasher needs hot water to get your dishes clean too. If you wash your dishes by hand, you will certainly want some hot water—cold water doesn’t do the job on greasy, dirty pots and pans. You may also want hot water for doing at least some of your laundry.
Here’s one more reason: If you fill up now, you’ll be golden come fall, when everyone else is calling for a convenient heating oil delivery appointment. You’ll also be ready for an early cold snap. While you’re at it, spring and early summer is the perfect time to schedule your heating system tune-up—or update or upgrade your equipment, if it’s reached the end of its life and breakdowns are too common.
Whether you need a heating oil delivery, a tune-up or a new heating system, Marandola has you covered.
Ready for your fill-up? Contact us today.