Press Releases

Heating Oil Industry Offers Tips to Consumers for Dealing with Winter Weather

Washington, D.C., January 12, 2012 Given that the National Weather Service is forecasting a wintery mix of rain, ice and snow as well as below freezing temperatures for much of the Northeast over the next few days, the heating oil industry’s Energy Communications Council (ECC) wants to help prepare its consumers with some simple steps to stay warm and safe during such extreme winter weather.

“The top priority for oilheat retailers is keeping their customers warm,” ECC Spokesman Kevin Rooney said. “The last thing any driver wants is to be unable to deliver oil to a home or business because of a lack of access to the tank and fill pipe. Working together against the cold, ice and snow, we can ensure that delivery trucks and drivers have safe, easy access to tanks.”


• Make sure you have an adequate heating oil supply. During and after a winter storm, roads may be inaccessible for delivery. Consider automatic delivery, which allows retailers to use computerized systems signaling them when tank volumes are low and need to be refilled.

• If consumers have an in-ground tank, they should ensure that fill pipes are clearly marked and readily accessible for oilheat delivery drivers. A thin wire stake with a colored flag inserted into the ground next to fill pipes can work well. The marker should be higher than the average snow cover depth for your area.

• Keep heating vents clear of snow and ice, and make sure that carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are installed in your home. If a vent is obstructed, an appliance may malfunction and create a dangerous build-up of carbon monoxide.

• If oilheat tanks are located behind a home or business, consumers should ensure that fence gates can be opened and there is a clear path for deliveries. A hundred foot heating oil hose can weigh more than 100 pounds. Clearing excess snow and ice before the delivery driver arrives can help ensure safety as well as a timely delivery.

• For above-ground outdoor tanks, large amounts of snow or ice sliding from roofs have the potential to damage heating fuel lines. Consumers should try to safely clear snow or ice buildup from the areas above their fuel lines, before such damage occurs.

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Oilheat Winter Safety Tips
January 12, 2011
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• For a permanent solution to potential winter weather hazards, many oilheat retailers sell weatherproof enclosures for outdoor tanks to protect them from snow and ice. This option could save consumers considerable time, effort and money.

• After a winter storm passes and it is safe to do so, check the entire area for any damage to an outdoor oilheat tank. Immediately call your local heating oil dealer if you suspect that any hazards exist. Do not attempt repairs yourself.

The ECC is comprised of the New England Fuel Institute, the Delaware Valley Fuel Dealers’ Association, the Empire State Petroleum Association, the Massachusetts Oilheat Council, the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey, Oil Heat Comfort of Long Island, the New York Oil Heating Association, Inc., and the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association, and is funded by NORA.

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