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Written on: February 6, 2023
One thing on your winter to-do list you may not enjoy is clearing the driveway and walkways around your home. But it is essential, especially for your heating oil delivery and/or propane delivery.
Sadly, if our Hometowne Energy delivery driver can’t navigate your driveway or access your fuel tank safely, we won’t be able to provide you with the heating oil and propane necessary for ensuring the comfort and safety of your home.
To guarantee that our delivery drivers can securely bring your fuel, we ask that you make sure your driveway is cleared to at least 10 feet wide. To ensure a smooth delivery process, we kindly ask that you treat your sloped driveway with de-icer and/or sand. This will help us to safely make your delivery. Thanks for your cooperation!
Upon arriving at your home, our delivery driver will need to reach the propane tank or heating oil tank’s fill line. To ensure safe access to the fuel tank or fill line, a path of at least one foot in width must be maintained from the driveway. When you hire a snow removal contractor, make sure that they know exactly where the path to your storage tank or fill pipe is located in order to avoid piles of plowed snow obstructing it.
Place a tall pole topped with a brightly colored flag or ribbon next to your fuel tank or fill line to let our delivery driver know its location even if snow is piled around it.
If you’re planning a winter getaway, don’t forget to arrange for snow and ice removal ahead of time in the event that an emergency fuel delivery is needed while on vacation. To ensure we can provide fuel delivery during your holiday, please make sure to have someone available who can unlock the gate to your driveway or path to your fuel tank.
If you are an Automatic Delivery customer, it is important to notify Hometowne Energy if you are planning a winter vacation lasting longer than one week. This is because our calculations for when you will need a fuel delivery are partially based on your propane or heating oil usage. Letting us know your plans ahead of time could help us avoid sending an unnecessary delivery to you.
To clear away snow from your outdoor heat oil tank or aboveground propane tank, use a broom to sweep it away. Do not use a shovel as it may cause damage and harm to the components of the tanks.
It’s critical to take care of this task promptly, as a heavy buildup of snow can cause considerable pressure on your tank and possibly lead it to crack or be misaligned. Furthermore, if left unchecked, there could also be hazardous fuel leaks that occur.
If you’re using propane, it’s especially essential to ensure that your tank is free of snow. Propane contracts in the cold weather and if temperatures dip too low in, the pressure inside the tank could drop so much that it can’t reach your propane appliances. An accumulation of snow on top of the tank can prevent sunlight from warming the propane. Removing any snow or ice from your propane tank allows the sunlight to keep the propane in your tank warm, thereby maintaining the necessary pressure levels to heat your home.
If you’re looking for the most dependable fuel delivery in the Finger Lakes region, you found it! Become a Hometowne Energy customer today.