At Andrew Grays Fuels we advise all of our customers to start thinking about their winter fuel arrangements during autumn. This reduces the risk of running out or breaking down during the time you need it the most.

We’ve put together some essential tips to be mindful of when heating your home this winter.

Monitor Your Fuel Levels

It’s good practice to monitor your fuel levels, especially during winter when it is crucial that your home is heated. We recommend to not let your tank fall below 12 inches of fuel from the bottom and to place an order when you notice that your tank is around a 1/4 full. This allows plenty of time for the delivery to be made during the busy winter period.

It is also good practice to check your oil monitor/dip your tank once every week during the winter when you may be using more fuel than anticipated.

Order Your Home Heating Oil Early

At Grays Fuels, we strongly encourage our customers to purchase their heating oil early to avoid the winter rush. By ordering your heating oil in the run-up to winter you are more likely to experience a lower cost due to the lower demand for oil. Delivery times are also shorter as the increase in demand in winter can slow things down as well as the typical British winter weather.

Allow Access for drivers

Winter weather conditions such as snow and ice can often impair the driver’s ability to complete a delivery. Ordering early when weather conditions are not as bad will ensure that you are prepared for the colder weather.

Our drivers will do everything possible to make sure your home is heated during adverse weather conditions, especially prioritising the vulnerable and the elderly. However, the safety of our customers and drivers comes first, if our driver considers a delivery unsafe he will not be able to complete the delivery. It’s important to keep our office up to date on road conditions and keeping all access points clear to avoid any delays.

Check Your Boiler

Winter is the season your boiler will be working it’s hardest. This is why we strongly suggest having your boiler serviced before the colder weather ensuring our it is working efficiently and safely. Failing to do so could result in being left without heating or hot water at the coldest time of the year.

Having your boiler serviced at least once a year detects any problems, reducing the chance of a breakdown. Boiler engineers are usually at their busiest during the Christmas period which is important to keep in mind when choosing a suitable time.

Is Your Tank Winter Ready?

When Preparing for the winter months it’s good practice to inspect your oil storage tank at least once a month. Just as you would with a boiler, our tank health service involves our registered OFTEC engineer completing service on your tank to check for signs of damage and to remove any water, if present in the tank. Signs you can look for yourself include:

• Cracks- Check for any small or large cracks in the Body of your tank.

• Discolouration - if the tank is turning white or fading due to sun exposure it may be time to replace your tank

• Bulges- check for any bowing where the tank is bulging.

• Smell - If you are able to smell kerosene strongly you may have a tank leak.

• Stains - If there are any stains or wet patches around your tank this would suggest a leak.

• Corrosion- Check all pipework for any rust or damage.

During the winter you should also remove any snow sitting on the top of your tank and have it situated away from any trees where branches can fall causing damage to the tank. If you find that there is a leak coming from your tank contact the national Incident/pollution hotline on 0800 80 70 60 which is available 24/7. Collect any oil drips in a bucket and stop oil from entering drains by using absorbent materials or soil. Read more on what to do if you find a crack in your tank here.

Paying Your Winter Fuel

If you’re struggling to afford your energy bills, you may be able to take advantage of benefits, grants and help offered by the government and energy suppliers.

Winter Fuel Payment- This is a one-off payment that helps you pay for heating during the winter. You can get a winter fuel payment if you were born on or before 5th of April 1954 you could get between £100 and £300 to help pay for your heating bill however these dates change every year as the pension age is slowly going up until it reaches 67 for men and women. This usually happens automatically if you qualify, if you are eligible for this and do not get paid automatically then you can make a claim.

Cold Weather Payments - These are one-off payments to help you pay for extra heating costs when it is very cold. You will receive a payment each time the temperature drops below a specific number for a set period of time. This is only available if you already receive:

• Pension credit

• Income Support

• Income-based jobseekers allowance

• income-related employment and support allowance

• universal credit

Warm Home Discount Scheme -You may be able to get £140 off your electricity bill under the Warm Home Discount Scheme if you already receive the guarantee credit part of pension credit or on a low income.

Grants To Help Pay Off Energy Debts- If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant from a charitable trust to help pay it off. The Energy Savings Trust also has information to help you search for grants and offers to make improvements to energy efficiency relevant to the country you live in the UK.

If you have any suggestions or would like to discuss any of the points above don’t hesitate to contact our live chat or office on 01563 525215. If you have any tips or information you would like to share, comment below!