Automatic heating oil delivery

[Stelcom66]

I got an unexpected bill in the mail due to an automatic delivery of heating oil. Sure don't need an almost $300 bill this time of year. I can't fault the oil co. (except maybe for their price), I'm by myself now. When my youngest moved out this year that meant 2 less showers per day. When I come home from work Friday before a typical weekend I set the thermostat at it's lowest through Sunday night since the wood stove is used that whole period.

I called the oil company today to take me off automatic delivery. I had more than half a tank when they came last week to fill it. I'll just periodically check the level, and maybe shop around when it's time for more oil. The trouble is I believe most heating oil companies require COD if you're not their customer, and there's a minimum amount they'll deliver which is understandable. I wouldn't typically be home when they deliver. I wonder what others on here that are 'Empty nesters' do for heating oil delivery?

 

[firefighterjake]

Monitor the oil level in the tank . . . and then call to order X number of gallons or more typically X number of dollars' worth of oil from whatever oil company I prefer to use. Most often I have them charge my credit card . . . although the one company I most often use (well all of three times in the past five or six years) often forgets to charge the card until I call.

 

[Stelcom66]

Monitor the oil level in the tank . . . and then call to order X number of gallons or more typically X number of dollars' worth of oil from whatever oil company I prefer to use. Most often I have them charge my credit card . . . although the one company I most often use (well all of three times in the past five or six years) often forgets to charge the card until I call.

The credit card is a good suggestion. One time after the oil co. did a furnace cleaning I had to call them because they never billed me.

 

[gzecc]

Find a local delivery company you can order from on line when you need it. Very easy and convenient. I get at least 150 gals. That amount comes with a discount.

 

[jerrieric]

I haven't been on keep fill for about 45 years. When I get down to about an eighth of a tank I just look online for the cheapest price and have them fill it up. Of course if they haven't been here before they want cash which is okay. After that I just leave a check signed in the door and they fill out the amount.

 

[Stelcom66]

Find a local delivery company you can order from on line when you need it. Very easy and convenient. I get at least 150 gals. That amount comes with a discount.

I think my tank is 275 gallons, so I guess that would be between 1/4 and 1/2 down. I'd easily be comfortable down to 1/4. that would probably fit 150 gals.

 

[Stelcom66]

I haven't been on keep fill for about 45 years. When I get down to about an eighth of a tank I just look online for the cheapest price and have them fill it up. Of course if they haven't been here before they want cash which is okay. After that I just leave a check signed in the door and they fill out the amount.

I'm sure you've saved significant money doing that. I guess various arrangements could be made for COD.

 

[johneh]

They stopped Automatic delivery many years ago
after a max of 30 $ on a bill said I was not worth there time
Don't under stand why
NOT

 

[Don2222]

I stopped auto fill when I got my pellet stove because they were putting in only 50 gallons at a time! LOL Then I went with a cheaper pay when fill company. Then last month I finished the Home Depot cheapo Eco Smartie 27 Kw On Demand Hot Water Panel and 125 amp sub panel installation with hookup to the indirect SuperStor boiler hot water tank, instead of pulling colder street water.
So now I just wave to the trucks as they go bye. ;-)
However I can open and close a valve and turn on the Buderus Oil boiler and use oil of the price is right. Maybe $2.00 per gallon

Pic 1 - EcoSmart 27kw using 3 - 40 amp breakers
Pic 2 - 90 amp draw when taking a shower
Pic 3 - Indirect tank temp in warm basement near pellet stove gets pellet heat to warm up from 6o to 80 Degs F overnight to save a lot of energy than heating cold street water at 45 degrees in winter time! ;-)

 

[jerrieric]

And how much did the instant hot water installation total cost you including equipment? I thought about getting an instant hot water system but from what I read I don't think I would recoup the expense for a long time. My oil furnace only goes on now when I need hot water 4 showers a cetera and I have to fill the tank twice a year was about 170 gallons each time.

 

[Don2222]

And how much did the instant hot water installation total cost you including equipment? I thought about getting an instant hot water system but from what I read I don't think I would recoup the expense for a long time. My oil furnace only goes on now when I need hot water 4 showers a cetera and I have to fill the tank twice a year was about 170 gallons each time.

170 x 2 = 340 gal x $2.70 per gal is today’s price is
$918 per year for Hot Water unless oil goes up.
That is $76.50 per month for 12 months.
I was using and paying about the same. Yes it did cost about $2000 including the $500 Eco Smart Hot Water Panel. I could have done it cheaper if I did more myself, I just mounted the panel and wired the electricity. The subpanel we put on for this panel was part of the workshop build but did cost.
I know it may take a few years to break even but if I retire and oil goes way up in price, I may be sitting pretty.

 

[Stelcom66]

That is a nice setup. I also have a Buderus furnace. To maintain the hot water temp, it turns on as required. I wish it was just on demand. Trouble with the same setup in my house is the 90 amp draw while taking a shower is almost the total capacity that I have!

 

[Don2222]

That is a nice setup. I also have a Buderus furnace. To maintain the hot water temp, it turns on as required. I wish it was just on demand. Trouble with the same setup in my house is the 90 amp draw while taking a shower is almost the total capacity that I have!

Interesting about the 90 amp draw is:
I upgraded from 100 amp to a 200 amp panel and then I added the 125 amp subpanel on my boiler room for the EcoSmrtie.
I also put a 30 amp sub panel in the workshop off the 125 amp panel and
I had a 30 amp subpanel in the shed off the 200 amp main panel.
They had to put in a higher telephone pole for the new standard so I got brand new 300 amp TriPlex wires from the telephone pole to my house.
Therefore if you add up all my panels
200
125
30
30
385 amps
So I asked my electrician since it was all inspected and passed the local electrical codes, why can I have 385 amps in panels on 300 amp TriPlex wires. He said no problem since everything is never on at the same time LOL

 

[Stelcom66]

Or interpreted as 385 amps is the capacity of each panel added up. Twenty years ago in this house my total capacity would not be enough for the heater drawing 90 amps, all I had was 60! There were 4 15 amp fuses. After awhile I started buying resettable breakers, They screwed in like the fuses, but had a button in the middle that would pop out of tripped.

I remember that day the electricians did the work in the summer of 1999. No video games for the kids that afternoon. They played board games on the living room floor, and seemed to enjoy that just as much as Nintendo and Sega.

 

[Dix]

I got an unexpected bill in the mail due to an automatic delivery of heating oil. Sure don't need an almost $300 bill this time of year. I can't fault the oil co. (except maybe for their price), I'm by myself now. When my youngest moved out this year that meant 2 less showers per day. When I come home from work Friday before a typical weekend I set the thermostat at it's lowest through Sunday night since the wood stove is used that whole period.

I called the oil company today to take me off automatic delivery. I had more than half a tank when they came last week to fill it. I'll just periodically check the level, and maybe shop around when it's time for more oil. The trouble is I believe most heating oil companies require COD if you're not their customer, and there's a minimum amount they'll deliver which is understandable. I wouldn't typically be home when they deliver. I wonder what others on here that are 'Empty nesters' do for heating oil delivery?

Same climate, same issues

I run the PE 24/7 when it's cold. The 13 is in an apartment, off to the side of the house. Since the Dixette moved out, apt is rented, and tenant using stove is a big No NO. I heat that zone with the oil baseboard.

I shop the jobbers, and get the best price for oil. Today it is $2.13 for 150 gallons cash. $2.06 for 200n gallons. Pa y on line usually, and don't have to be home for the delivery. Debit VS cash payment works out to about $5 - $10 .... I'd rather be at work, than save the $$'s.

Just installed a 275 tank, replacing my 550 in ground. I'd fill the 550 over the summer / fall, and get through the winter into the next summer. Adjusting to the 275 tank is a challenge.

I use a local burner guy for tune ups & repairs.

 

[Stelcom66]

Same climate, same issues

I run the PE 24/7 when it's cold. The 13 is in an apartment, off to the side of the house. Since the Dixette moved out, apt is rented, and tenant using stove is a big No NO. I heat that zone with the oil baseboard.

I shop the jobbers, and get the best price for oil. Today it is $2.13 for 150 gallons cash. $2.06 for 200n gallons. Pa y on line usually, and don't have to be home for the delivery. Debit VS cash payment works out to about $5 - $10 .... I'd rather be at work, than save the $$'s.

Just installed a 275 tank, replacing my 550 in ground. I'd fill the 550 over the summer / fall, and get through the winter into the next summer. Adjusting to the 275 tank is a challenge.

I use a local burner guy for tune ups & repairs.

Those are really good prices IMO. Seems there are options where I wouldn't have to be home for a non-automatic delivery.

 

[Dix]

Those are really good prices IMO. Seems there are options where I wouldn't have to be home for a non-automatic delivery.

Oil is dropping in price .... keep it as full as you can. I use about 500 gallons a year for heat & HW, the rest is the PE Insert.

 

[Stelcom66]

What is a PE Insert? Sorry if it was mentioned in the thread, couldn't find it.

 

[Dix]

What is a PE Insert? Sorry if it was mentioned in the thread, couldn't find it.

The PE insert is the one I have in my masonary fireplace. It's a rock star

 

[peakbagger]

Years ago I installed a second oil tank. It meant that I only needed to fill up once a year. Made it a lot simpler to buy oil. Of course with my wood boiler and storage I have not filled either one of them for five years and still have some left in them for backup.

The problem these days is hard to find CDL rated seasonal truck drivers so most companies have them running steady to deal with autofill customers as they can schedule the stops to maximize the drivers they do have.

 

[CaptSpiff]

I think my tank is 275 gallons, so I guess that would be between 1/4 and 1/2 down. I'd easily be comfortable down to 1/4. that would probably fit 150 gals.

If you are able to "stick" your tank, like a dip stick, you can get the exact number of inches in the tank. Here's a chart showing inches of oil to gallons:

http://www.adamspetro.com/residential-heating-tank-chart

Alternatively, you can estimate when you are at 1/4 tank, visit the company office and pay in advance for 150 gal. If you read the gauge wrong and the tank is too full, the delivery guy will stop before the 150 gal because there is a safety whistle a/w the filler pipe. Then you'll have a small credit for next time.

 

[Stelcom66]

If you are able to "stick" your tank, like a dip stick, you can get the exact number of inches in the tank. Here's a chart showing inches of oil to gallons:

http://www.adamspetro.com/residential-heating-tank-chart

Alternatively, you can estimate when you are at 1/4 tank, visit the company office and pay in advance for 150 gal. If you read the gauge wrong and the tank is too full, the delivery guy will stop before the 150 gal because there is a safety whistle a/w the filler pipe. Then you'll have a small credit for next time.

Thanks for the reference chart. I always wondered if there was an auto shutoff like in a typical fuel pump.

 

[sportbikerider78]

I have a 550 tank I fill every 3 years!

 

[maple1]

170 x 2 = 340 gal x $2.70 per gal is today’s price is
$918 per year for Hot Water unless oil goes up.
That is $76.50 per month for 12 months.
I was using and paying about the same. Yes it did cost about $2000 including the $500 Eco Smart Hot Water Panel. I could have done it cheaper if I did more myself, I just mounted the panel and wired the electricity. The subpanel we put on for this panel was part of the workshop build but did cost.
I know it may take a few years to break even but if I retire and oil goes way up in price, I may be sitting pretty.

Our 80 gallon electric tank heater only takes up 25a of panel space, cost around $500, was an easy install, and keeps us in DHW for around $25/mo (at 0.18/kwh). Pretty hard to beat.

Whenever it goes south, I will just replace it with another one but not as big.

 

[peakbagger]

Thanks for the reference chart. I always wondered if there was an auto shutoff like in a typical fuel pump.

As far as I know, there is not an automatic shutoff. Its a really bad idea to run a tank out of oil as it can suck in some debris. Its not that hard to bleed a pump with a standard gravity line from the base of the tank to the pump but plan on changing the filter. If the boiler is fed from an overhead line I think it requires a different procedure to get the air out of the lines.