1. Make sure that all doors, windows and other openings are securely closed to retain as much heat as possible until your heating oil delivery is made.
  2. If you have a supplemental source of heat (wood stove, fireplace, space heater, etc.) you can use that to maintain the heat in your home. Be sure to operate these appliances safely and in accordance with the manufacture’s instructions.
  3. Make sure you are actually out of oil as your no-heat situation could be due to another problem. For example, it is possible that there is a blockage somewhere in your fuel line between your tank and your oil burner. In systems that are not regularly maintained, it is common for a blockage to occur in the filter, the strainer or the nozzle. Other problems can also occur that will cause your oil burner to operate improperly. If you have oil, but are not getting heat, contact a local heating contractor as soon as possible.
  4. Place an order for delivery ASAP and select emergency delivery service, where available.

Normal weather refers to typical weather conditions expected for that time of the year. Unusual weather conditions that could cause delivery delays can include:

–       Inability for trucks to enter driveways or parking lots, typically due to snow and ice.

–       Poor road conditions caused by rain, snow, wind, ice, sleet, etc.

–       Weather conditions that slow deliveries such as snow, ice, wind, and temperatures.

–       Below average winter temperatures over several days which may occasionally cause an unusual increase in demand in a short period of time.

Normal operational conditions refer to the typical availability of supplies and equipment required to respond to a normal number of deliveries. Unusual operations conditions that could cause a delivery delays can include:

–       Limited availability of fuel, or other supplies, that could be caused by circumstances such as terminal closures or restricted access, unavailability of fuel at terminals, other situations that cause delays in securing fuel or other supplies.
– Mechanical breakdowns or malfunctions that limit the ability for a company to perform their normal functions.
– Labor actions, such as work stoppages, work slowdowns or strikes, that negatively impact the ability for a company to conduct their normal business activity.