the Cost of Heating Oil Refills

We paid about $350 for 250 gallons, the minimum delivery. Also, along with the delivery, the company flushed out the lines and replaced a filter free of charge.

The service was pretty good. Of course, while we would all like gas and oil to be less expensive, there are certain ways to keep an eye on the prices and save some extra money. The service I used seem pretty on par with other services available. The only thing that seemed to change at all was the minimum number of gallons a company was willing to deliver. When they arrived, the delivery man informed me that along with the delivery of oil, it was common practice to flush out the lines and replace the filter so as to start off fresh every time. I think it would have been better practice to not only let me know this ahead of time, but also to let me know that it was a complimentary service. Instead, they told me they were going to do it, but never told me how much (if anything) it would cost. Most of all, I was very impressed with the fact that they were willing to take a personal check. However, I discovered that this was not common practice and so if you need to use a check, be sure to ask if the individual company accepts them.

While talking to other people about choosing what companies to go with for heating oil, most people don't really shop around, but go with whatever company they know. Through my search, however, I realized that the larger companies that most people are familiar with are much more expensive than smaller local companies. Also, I would suggest beginning to shop around for winter deliveries during the summer. Often times, companies offer a deal where you can "lock in" lower summer prices for winter heating oil with a small deposit. If you have the means, I highly suggest choosing this option, as it will save you a lot of money in the long run. As far as bleeding the lines and replacing the filter, I know it is a common practice to do with every delivery, but I'm not sure if it is common practice for it to be complimentary. I would be sure to check and make sure that the service will not be charged to the customer and, if it will be, how much it will cost. I guess the best tip I can give is to do your homework, call a few different places, and don't just go with the company whose trucks you see driving around all the time. The more trucks they have, the more money they have. The more money they have, odds are the more money they charge.