Summer nights are slowly drawing in and temperatures are dropping, this means for many of us, we will be turning on our heating within the next few weeks. We advise all our customers to prepare ahead of the cold weather, ensuring that there are no problems with your heating system at the time you need it the most.

Monitor Your Fuel Levels

Keeping an eye on your fuel levels is important throughout the year but especially during winter when temperatures have dropped and delivery schedules are much busier. Not Knowing how much heating oil is left in your tank is one of the main reasons people require an urgent delivery after running dry.

It’s recommended not to let the levels of your heating oil tank drop below 12 inches from the bottom. We Recommend placing an order when your tank has around a 1/4 tank of fuel left. This will allow plenty of time for a delivery to be made during the busier winter months. Our 20-litre heating oil fuel box is handy in the event that you run out as they will be able to see you by until your fuel delivery is made ensuring you don’t run out completely. You can pick up one of these from our main depot in Croftamie.

It is good practice to check your oil levels once a week during autumn and winter. Our RMS system allows us to monitor your fuel levels and automatically arrange delivery when your fuel levels fall below 25%. Alternatively to this, we sell Apollo Sonic watchmen which allow you to monitor your fuel levels from the comfort of your home.

Order In Plenty Of time

Delivery Times may increase due to the increase in heating oil orders, at Bilslands we encourage all of our customers to fill their tank as early as possible. The earlier you order, the more likely you are to experience lower prices as the demand for heating oil usually peaks between October-December. Ordering earlier also means there is no need to worry if weather conditions worsen, which can increase delivery times. Read more on the benefits of ordering your heating oil early here

Allow Access For Drivers During Bad Weather

Adverse weather conditions such as heavy snow or ice can affect the ability of our drivers to complete a delivery. Ordering early when weather conditions are not as bad is advisable to see you through until delivery can be made.

At Bilslands we would like to assure our customers that we do everything possible to get their deliveries out to them during adverse weather conditions, especially prioritising the vulnerable and elderly. However, safety of our customers and drivers comes first, if a delivery is deemed as unsafe, our driver will not be able to complete the delivery. It’s best to keep our depot updated on conditions and keeping all access points clear to avoid any problems.

Our cold weather priority scheme allows us to identify customers over the age of 75 to prioritise them during colder weather. Click here to sign up.

Service Your Boiler

During winter is when your boiler will be working it’s hardest, that is why we advise having your boiler serviced before the colder weather, ensuring that it is working safely and efficiently. Failing to do so could mean you are left without heating or hot water during the coldest months of the year.

It’s recommended to have your boiler serviced at least once a year. This detects any problems, reducing the chance of a breakdown. Winter is one of the busiest times for boiler engineers so it is important to keep this in mind when booking your service.

Ensure Your Heating Oil Tank Is Fit For Purpose

When Preparing for the winter months it’s good practice to inspect your oil storage tank at least once a month. Just as you would with a boiler, our tank health service involves our registered OFTEC engineer completing service on your tank to check for signs of damage and to remove any water, if present in the tank. Signs you can look for yourself include:

• Cracks- Check for any small or large cracks in the Body of your tank.

• Discolouration - if the tank is turning white or fading due to sun exposure it may be time to replace your tank

• Bulges- check for any bowing where the tank is bulging.

• Smell - If you are able to smell kerosene strongly you may have a tank leak.

• Stains - If there are any stains or wet patches around your tank this would suggest a leak.

• Corrosion- Check all pipework for any rust or damage.

During the winter you should also remove any snow sitting on the top of your tank and have it situated away from any trees where branches can fall causing damage to the tank. If you find that there is a leak coming from your tank contact the national Incident/pollution hotline on 0800 80 70 60 which is available 24/7. Collect any oil drips in a bucket and stop oil from entering drains by using absorbent materials or soil. Read more on what to do if you find a crack in your tank here.

Budgeting For Your Winter Heating Oil

We understand that winter can be one of the most expensive seasons of the year and an unexpected oil bill on top of other costs may cause financial strain. Joining our Budget Payment Plan can help spread the cost of your fuel making it easier to manage your bills. Preparing for your winter oil needs early also gives you time to budget for an increase in oil consumption.

If you think you may struggle to pay for your winter heating oil, give our office phone on 01360 660264 to discuss any options available to you.

If you have any suggestions or would like to discuss any of the points above don’t hesitate to contact our live chat or office on 01360 660264. If you have any tips or information you would like to share, comment below!