Customer Tips

HELPFUL TIPS ABOUT CONSERVING FUEL, HOW TO PRIME A BOILER, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIGITAL THERMOSTATS AND REGULAR, ETC.

RI Low Income Home Energy Assistance/Weatherization Program

How to read your tank gauge

When your tank gauge reads as shown, your 275-gallon tank contains these approximate amounts:

1/8 = 40 gals.
1/4 = 70 gals.
3/8 = 100 gals.
1/2 = 130 gals.
6/8 = 160 gals.
3/4 = 200 gals.
7/8 = 240 gals.
Full = 265 gals.

Never let your tank go below the 1/8" reading on the tank gauge!

IF THE OIL BURNER FAILS TO OPERATE:

When your tank gauge reads as shown, your 275-gallon tank contains these approximate amounts:

Be sure that the oil burner switch is on-there is a switch on the front or side of the unit, and usually another switch either in the hallway above the unit or in the basement stairwell
Make sure the thermostat is set above the room temperature
Make sure that there is oil in the tank
Press the red reset button on the relay only once!
Check to see if the flame comes on in the firebox
If the burner does not run at all, check to make sure you haven’t blown a fuse or popped a breaker

If it still fails to operate- call (800) 696-2130 for service or click here to request service.

ENERGY SAVING TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR HEATING BILL:

Just because we sell heating oil doesn’t mean we want to see you, our customers, pay to heat the outside! We all need to work together to help protect our environment and conserve our natural resources.

Not all doors are used in the winter, nor are the windows, so plastic up the windows and doors that are going to go unused. There are window kits for sale for about $5 per window. These can help to eliminate drafts to keep in the heat!

Turn the heat down at night and when no one is home. This doesn’t mean turn the heat to 40 degrees, but turning it down to 60 overnight or while you’re away can make a big difference. Install a programmable thermostat and set it to lower the temperature at night and whenever the house is unoccupied. Lowering your thermostat by 10 degrees at night can reduce your heating bill by 10 to 20 percent.

MAKE SURE YOUR PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT IS:

Installed properly.
Programmed appropriately – a programmable thermostat only saves energy when it is programmed.
Not located in an unheated space, a poorly-sealed or seldom-used room, or in direct sunlight near a heat source. The thermostat should be able to sense the average temperature in your home. If it is not in the right place, contact a heating and air conditioning professional about having it moved.
If you have a forced air furnace, inspect your filters at the beginning of the heating season and monthly during the season. Clean or replace them if there is significant dust build up.
Use silicone to fill any cracks in doors, windows, etc, including the basement floor and walls. You would be surprised at how much heat is lost through cracks that seem insignificant. Putty-like "rope caulk" can help seal large cracks and save you up to 5 percent on your energy bill.

Put weather stripping around windows and doors. Weather stripping helps quite a bit, especially in older homes. You’d be surprised how the seals around your doors and windows can
Remember that heat rises cover up the attic entry with plastic, pieces of insulation, old blankets, weather stripping, saran wrap, painter drop cloth, or even a few old shirts. Any of it will help to slow, if not, stop, the drafts and warm air from floating away through your roof.

WATER HEATER

Make sure the water heater is set no higher than 125 degrees.

Drain off a bucket of hot water from your water heater annually to remove sediment that will interfere with the heater's long-term use.

Install a water heater blanket if your water heater is older than 5 years.

Insulate the pipes around the water heater with inexpensive, easy-to-install pipe insulation. This is particularly helpful if the water heater is in an unheated space.