New to Heating Oil

If you have recently moved into a property in East Anglia, Kent or Sussex with heating oil central heating or are going to convert to heating oil then you might have some questions. Below are answers to the questions we regularly get asked by people who are new to oil.

What heating oil do I need?

The vast majority of domestic heating oil boilers are fueled by Kerosene C2, and if you ask for heating oil from any distributor you will be quoted for Kerosene C2. Some oil boilers run on Gas Oil, however these are very few and far between. If you are unsure which type of heating oil your system uses then please call us and we will willingly assist you.

How much can I order?

The smallest delivery we can make is 500 litres. This minimum volume is controlled and set by Trading Standards Regulations. The maximum we can deliver is controlled by the size of the boiler fuel tank to which we are delivering. The smallest commonly used domestic tank is 1100 litres, whilst the largest commonly used is 2700 litres.

Does the amount I order influence the price I will pay?

The simple answer is yes, as the cost of making a delivery to you is roughly the same irrespective of the volume we deliver. So the larger the quantity ordered, the more litres the cost of the delivery is spread over. Please give us a call and we will be pleased to quote you for the different volumes we can deliver to you. The best way to getting heating oil at the best possible price is to monitor the market and time your purchase when demand is lowest, when the price of crude is low, and you have availability in your tank.

Should I used websites or buying groups?

We would be very careful about using buying groups or websites. We have recently seen a significant increase in the number of groups and sites claiming to get you the best possible price for heating oil. They are, for the most part, brokers, or middle men, seeking to make money for themselves out of you and your order. Unfortunately if you use a middleman then you will end up paying more and might possibly lose all your money for a delivery that never appears. A real heating fuel distributor will have fuel tankers, a depot, heating oil to sell, and people to talk to about any issues you may have. Finally and most importantly a proper fuel distributor must be a registered to sell and deliver oil with the Government as dealer in controlled oils (RDCO). If they are not registered then they are not real. Beware !

How can I pay for my delivery?

We offer a range of payment methods to cover the range of customers we serve. We accept card payments over the telephone, and for established customers can offer a monthly budget payment plan.

What else might help?

Knowing the size or capacity of your heating oil tank can help you calculate how much to order. Some tanks have the sizes recorded on them. Some manufacturers produce capacity guides which can be found on the manufacturers website using the model number. For metal tanks we have this handy guide.

Do I need to have my system serviced?

You should make sure your system is serviced at least annually by an OFTEC registered engineer.

Should you have any queries then please do not hesitate to call us.