Frequently Asked Questions
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Account Information
Am I required to establish an account?
Yes, you are required to establish an account. We are a full-service energy supply company, so whether you pay cash at the time of delivery or want 30 days to pay your bill, credit information is required and credit must be approved.
How do I establish an account?
Simply contact our office by telephone and one of our office staff will be happy to walk you through opening an account.
What questions will I be asked when I call to open an account?
- Name
- Mailing and delivery address
- Telephone number
- Social Security number
- Employment information
- Banking information
- Tank information: size / fill location / quantity currently in tank
Billing Information
How am I billed for my fuel?
You receive a bill at the time of your delivery. The driver will leave a yellow and white delivery slip on which you will find the number of gallons, the price per gallon, the total of the bill, and a cash discount amount which you may deduct if you pay your bill within 10 days. Simply return the yellow portion of the bill with your payment and retain the white portion for your records.
When is my bill due?
Residential accounts have a policy of balance due within 30 days.
Is there any type of discount if I pay early?
Residential accounts are entitled to a $.02 per gallon discount if paid within 10 days. This discount applies to Heating Oil, Diesel Fuels, Gasoline and Propane Gas.
What types of payments are accepted?
We accept cash, checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard and online payments.
Can I arrange to have my bill automatically charged to my credit card?
Yes. Please call our office for further details.
Will I receive a statement on my account?
The only time that you will receive a statement on your account is if your account should become past due. If that happens, you will notice that your statement will include a finance charge for late payment.
Do you offer a Budget Plan?
Yes, we do offer a budget plan which is based on a 12-month cycle beginning in June.
How does the Budget Plan work?
At the beginning of the Budget Season (June) we determine your average monthly payment, which it is based on your estimated annual consumption of fuel. Each month you will receive a monthly Budget Statement. It will indicate your regular monthly payment as well as any other charges not covered by your Budget Plan. To help you make sure that your Budget Plan remains on track, we will review your account halfway through the season and adjust your monthly payment if necessary. This way if the weather is warmer or colder than anticipated, we can adjust your Budget accordingly and prevent you from having a large debit or credit balance at the end of the Budget Season.
Do you offer a pre-pay or lock-in pricing program?
Yes, annually we offer a pre-pay program for Heating Oil, Kerosene and Propane Gas. What this means is that a price per gallon is established for the upcoming heating season, which you may lock in if you pay prior to the expiration date of the current available program.
EXAMPLE: Let’s say that the established price per gallon for heating oil is $1.50. You know that during the last heating season you used 650 gallons of heating oil, so you may pre-pay those 650 gallons at the $1.50 per gallon if you pre-pay in the amount of $975.00 prior to the established expiration date.
Delivery Information
What fuels do you deliver?
We delivery Heating Oil, Kerosene, Propane Gas, Low-Sulfur Diesel Fuel, High-Sulfur Diesel Fuels, and 87, 89 and 93 Octane Gasolines.
What type of delivery options do you offer?
We offer Automatic and Will-Call Deliveries.
What is Automatic Delivery?
Automatic delivery means that you can put your mind at ease and be assured we will deliver to you automatically according to heating degree days. This is the easiest way to assure that you do not run out of fuel. You do not need to monitor your own tank or call us for delivery.
What is Will-Call Delivery?
Will-call delivery means that you will continue to monitor your own tank and call us when your tank reaches the ¼ mark. With will-call, you accept responsibility for monitoring your own tank and calling to schedule a delivery. Please note that it may take up to five business days for delivery, depending on truck routing. For example, if a customer orders fuel on a Wednesday and our driver had just been in that area on Tuesday, we reserve the right to complete the delivery the next time we send the driver into that area which may not be until the following week. We recommend that will-call customers call us on Mondays so that we can plan routes accordingly and deliver fuel to them more quickly. If you run out of fuel and need a special delivery to be made, we will be happy to accommodate. However, you will incur an additional delivery fee.
What are Heating Degree Days?
Heating degree days are indications of how cold it is on any given day and how much fuel you will require. The National Weather Service provides us with this information daily. After we fill your tank, we keep track of the degree days to ensure we deliver oil when you need it.
The easiest way to explain this concept is using your car and how it uses gasoline as an example. Your car uses gasoline as you drive. How much gas your car uses is measured in Miles per Gallon (MPG). By knowing how many gallons your car’s gasoline tank holds, and how many miles per gallon your car provides, you can estimate when you will need to refuel your tank.
Automatic Delivery uses the same concept. We know how much fuel your tank holds when it is full, and we multiply it by the K-Factor (similar to Miles per Gallon) of your house. This tells us “how far” your house can go before you will need more fuel.
Heating Oil Information
Is oil heat clean?
Yes, oil heat is clean to burn. When oil heat is properly installed and maintained, no observable soot, dirt or odors are evident in the home.
Is oil heat economical?
Yes, today’s furnaces are more efficient than ever before.
Is oil heat safe?
Unlike gaseous fuels, heating oil will not support combustion (flame) unless the temperature is about 140 degrees Fahrenheit. There is not enough fuel vapor to cause an explosion or fire.
Do I need Heating Oil or Kerosene?
If you have an outside tank you will require Kerosene. Kerosene is required so that during the cold winter your fuel lines will not freeze. If you have an inside tank, you will use Heating Oil.
Why should I heat my house with Heating Oil?
The truth about oil heat is that it is the best energy source available. The majority of home heating oil is sold by local dealers such as Bernville Quality Fuels, who live and work in your community and believe that customer service is as important as the products we sell.
Home heating oil is clean burning. Modern oil burners produce negligible amounts of smoke and soot. Oil heating equipment has always been more advanced and many equipment innovations have been developed that are revolutionizing oil heat technology.
When deciding on how to heat your home, learn about efficiency factors. Oil furnaces can exceed 90% efficiency, gas furnaces are 77% efficient, while electric heat furnaces are only about 31% efficient. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
Learn why oil heat is better by visiting www.oilheat.com.
Propane Gas Information
Is propane gas clean and efficient?
Yes, Propane is both clean and efficient. Propane has long been recognized as the “green” energy. By using this energy, homeowners can help cut emissions and protect the environment. Propane, on average, costs about half as much per BTU as electricity. It burns hotter and more evenly than many other fuels. Also, Propane appliances have a shorter energy savings payback period than other types of appliances.
Is Propane toxic?
No, Propane is a non-toxic gas. Propane is released as a gas and will not contaminate soil or groundwater supplies. Propane won’t ignite when combined with air unless under extreme temperatures.
Is Propane safe?
Propane has a remarkable safety record, due in large part to the stringent codes and regulations developed by the propane industry and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
What has the Industry done to safeguard Propane use?
GAS Check® (Gas Appliance System Check) is an award-winning preventive maintenance program developed by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) and funded by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) that trains technicians and educates homeowners on the safe handling of propane and the maintenance of propane appliances.
The Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) developed by NPGA and funded by PERC is a training program used extensively throughout the country by people involved in the handling of propane, equipment and appliances.
How much does it cost to have propane gas installed at my home?
Propane gas installation prices vary depending on what needs to be completed at the home as well as what size tank will be needed. Please call our office for information on all propane pricing.
How close can a propane tank be placed to my home?
There are numerous regulations on tank placement. Please call our office for more information.
Can my propane tank be overfilled?
No. Since 1984, all new propane tanks are required to have an overfill protection device that shuts the filling process off when the tank reaches 80% of its liquid capacity. This allows for changes in fuel volume caused by variations in temperature.
How do I read the gauge on my propane tank?
Most tanks of 47 gallon capacity or higher have a gauge. If your tank does have a gauge it will be located on the top of the tank, under the liftable “green” hood. The tank gauge reads in percentages from 0% to 100% with greater than 85% being full.
Service Information
Do you offer service contracts?
Yes. Click here for detailed information on service contracts.
How often should my furnace be cleaned?
It is highly recommended that Oil and Kerosene furnaces be cleaned and serviced annually. Our service technicians check your furnace for complete combustion of the fuel by your unit and perform an efficiency test on your entire system.
Is there anything I can do to troubleshoot my furnace before calling for a technician?
Yes. Follow the suggestions below.
Burner does not run:
- Check the thermostat. The temperature might be set too low. Turn the thermostat five degrees higher than usual
- Check the main switch and make sure it is not turned off
- Check to see if the circuit breaker or fuse is blown
- Unit might be off on safety. Press the reset button ONE time.
Unit seems to run too often:
- Check the filter and replace if clogged
What should be done if my chimney smokes?
A cold chimney flue can cause this when the unit first fires; however, if it persists this can indicate incomplete combustion or another problem. Do not attempt to troubleshoot or fix on your own. Call for service.
Carbon Monoxide Information
Can my heating system produce carbon monoxide?
Yes. Carbon Monoxide is a natural byproduct of combustion. During normal combustion, each atom of carbon in the burning fuel joins with two atoms of oxygen, forming a harmless gas called carbon dioxide (CO2). When there is a lack of oxygen to ensure complete combustion of the fuel, each atom of carbon links up with only one atom of oxygen, forming carbon monoxide (CO) gas, a colorless, odorless and toxic gas. Any fuel-burning appliance that is not adequately vented and maintained can be a potential source of carbon monoxide (CO).
The most important safeguard against CO risks is a properly working carbon monoxide detector. Battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. They may be purchased at almost any store that sells home supplies.
What do I do if my carbon monoxide alarm sounds?
Contact your local fire department and evacuate your home. Our service technicians are not trained to test the air quality in your home, nor do they have the proper equipment to do so.
Safety Information
What happens if I smell gas?
No Flames or sparks: immediately put out all smoking materials and other open flames. Do not operate lights, appliances, telephones, or cell phones. Flames or sparks from these sources can trigger an explosion or fire.
Leave area immediately: get everyone out of the building or area where you suspect gas is leaking.
Shut off the gas: turn off the main gas supply valve on your propane tank if it is safe to do so. To close the valve, turn it to the right (clockwise).
Report the leak: from a neighbor’s home or other nearby building away from the gas leak. Call your propane retailer right away. If you can’t reach your propane retailer, call 911 or your local fire department.
Do not return to the building or area: until your propane retailer, emergency responder, or qualified service technician determines that it is safe to do so.
Get your system checked: before you attempt to use any of your propane appliances, your propane retailer or a qualified service technician must check your entire system to ensure that it is leak-free.