Eventually, we will say good riddance to heating season 2019-20, and your heating system will finally be able to take a breather for a few months. But if you have an oil-fired furnace or boiler, there are two things you should do before turning your attention to warmer weather: get a tune-up, and schedule a heating oil delivery.
You’re probably thinking, “the heating tune-up makes sense, but why the fuel delivery?”
Good question!
In the months between heating system uses, condensation is more likely to form inside an empty heating oil tank than inside of a tank that contains more fuel than air. That’s great news for bacteria – who thrive in the damp environment that this condensation creates – but bad news for your heating system.
You see, bacteria will break down whatever heating oil is in your tank, turning it into a thick sludge that jams your fuel lines and burner nozzle and could even shut down your system. But that’s not the only problem condensation can create for your heating oil tank: since water is heavier than gasoline, it will sink to the bottom of your tank and eventually corrode it from the inside out – a big problem that could be difficult to see coming and costly to remediate.
The bottom line is that you want to avoid a build-up of condensation in your heating oil tank, and keeping it at least half-filled with fuel as the weather changes is one of the easiest and best ways to do it. Topping off your tank now could also be a good way to save some money, since heating oil prices are often at their lowest during the offseason.
Need reliable heating oil delivery in the Hudson Valley? Bottini Fuel can help!
Contact us today to schedule a heating oil delivery or switch to automatic delivery – and while you’re at it, why not sign up for our fee-free EZ Pay budget plan for more predictable fuel bills next fall and winter?