What a difference a month makes. As if someone flipped a switch, our warm September days have turned into cold evenings and chilly days, and with it, the realization that air conditioning will be giving way to the whirr of furnaces and the crackle of fireplaces.
October is not only the first full month of fall in HRM, but also a time for witches and goblins, black cats, and pumpkins. It is also a time for homeowners to ensure that oil tanks are filled and that heating equipment works optimally in preparation for the colder temperatures.
If you are one of the many HRM homes that use oil as one of the safest, and most efficient ways of heating your home, you will know there are two distinct kinds of oil heating suppliers to choose from – full-service providers and discounters.
Discount heating oil suppliers offer oil at a lower price than full-service companies. While it might be tempting to buy at the cheapest price, homeowners should also consider other costs that may be involved with running a furnace and supporting heating system. Here are some of the differences between discounters and full-service providers:
+ Most discounters are oil delivery businesses. They will fill your tank or sell to you in small quantities. They will take over the phone or on-line orders and will accept cash or credit card payments at the door or on a prepaid basis.
+ If you require a furnace cleaning or tune-up, discounters may refer you to an independent burner company with which they have a relationship that can complete the service at an additional cost. If the independent can also provide service on an emergency basis, you may be able to have repairs done if they can fit you in.
+ As an on-demand service, discounters will take orders from anyone on a first-come, first-served basis. This may be problematic during cold snaps and high demand periods, especially if you’ve run out or if there are oil supply problems.
+ On the other hand, full-service providers are much more than oil deliverers. Most of their customers are on automatic delivery and budget payment plans. They have annual service contracts with a price that is set at the beginning of the year, along with 24/7 emergency burner service, equipment installations, financing, and oil delivery in the event your furnace breaks down or you run out, even on holidays. The services that full-service providers deliver end up costing a few cents more than discounters, but that peace of mind pretty well ensures you won’t run out of oil or spend a freezing night with a furnace that won’t work.
Scotia Fuels is a local heating oil business that takes full service to another level. For more than 50 years, we have been providing the highest level of customer service to a loyal base. Our annual cleaning service and 24/7 emergency is also an anomaly in the business – travel and labour are included in the price of our oil, and you only pay for parts if needed.
If you’re not a Scotia Fuels customer, please drop us a line at https://scotiafuels.com/contact-us/, or better still, call us at 902-453-2121. We’d love to talk to you.