The Co-op has interviewed many fuel oil distributors, who wished to service Co-op members. Over the past few years, we have learned a lot about fuel oil and its distribution. There was much to learn, but what stood out was that all #2 fuel oil is not of the same quality. There is inferior fuel oil being sold by area distributors under the guise of premium home heating oil. There is no law that requires an oil distributor to disclose the quality of their fuel. Many fuel oil users would be surprised to learn that even some well established fuel oil distributors purchase sub-standard fuel oil to resell. Some fuel oil distributors go as far as suggesting that their fuel oil has an additive that cleans your furnace as you use it.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE PURCHASING SUB-STANDARD FUEL?
Because sub-standard fuel oil is less pure than premium oil, you may detect an odor coming from your furnace. This odor typically is a result of poor combustion, due to impurities in the fuel oil. Not only is the odor unpleasant, it can be unhealthy. Furthermore, because of the level of impurities in the fuel oil, your furnace will not generate the BTU’s it would with a superior fuel oil. You’ll be burning more oil to get the same amount of heat that the superior heating oil would generate. Sub-standard fuel oil also creates more wear on your furnace reducing its service life.
When we interview a fuel oil distributor, we check the B.B.B. and the NYS Attorney’s General Office for a record of complaints. We also verify the source of their fuel oil. We periodically do the same at different intervals of their contract with us.