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Q: What’s the difference between Anderson Fuel and companies that advertise in the paper at a lesser price?
A: Service!!!!! Anderson Fuel has seven state certified technicians that all live here on the South Shore. We offer 24-hour service 365 days a year. Each service technician’s service van is fully stocked and our parts warehouse and bulk fuel storage are right here in Scituate. Check out our service plan, which is one of the most comprehensive available.
Discount cash and carry operators offer no service or recommend subcontractors. This often results in unacceptable response time when you need dependable quality service the most.
Installation: Anderson Fuel has a fully staffed, in-house installation department. This is extremely valuable should you need emergency replacement of your furnace, boiler, or oil-fired water heater. Our North Scituate headquarters is stocked with replacement systems, storage tanks and specialized equipment to minimize any inconvenience to our customers.
Supply: We have over 100,000 gallons of bulk oil storage in Scituate. This location is invaluable when harsh winter conditions affect transportation for all companies. Cash and carry operators once again have to travel to Quincy or Boston to fill their trucks.
Insurance: As a full service company we maintain insurance coverage which protects both the customer and ourselves against a wide variety of conditions. All our employees are covered under worker’s compensation insurance. Additionally, we insure against environmental issues as well as public liability. Many cash and carry companies carry little or no coverage.
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Q: Why should I have a service contract: (Anderson Plan)
A: Our service plan protects covered parts of your heating system against premature failure. In fact we cover over $3000 worth of parts and labor associated with your burner, controls, and filters. Or, you may opt to pay for service on a parts and labor basis. Details of the Anderson Plan and a copy of our service brochure are located in the service section of our web site.
Service plans are available only to customers on automatic fuel delivery and who maintain their account in good credit standing. Our service plan is billed on the anniversary date of the plans inception and is offered at $199 per year.
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Q: How does Anderson Fuel Budget Plan work?
A: Our budget plan is a simple way to take the higher costs associated with mid-winter heating and spreading them over a longer period. When budget payments are made as agreed there are no finance charges on your account for heating oil or the service contract (Anderson Plan). We pay a budget bonus (interest) on your account when you have a credit balance. By taking your estimated annual fuel usage, the cost of your service plan and dividing the total into 11 equal payments. The budget amount for each year is based on the forecasted price for the coming heating season. We will send out adjusted figures if conditions warrant. Budget payments start in August and end in June, with July as the settlement month for any remaining balance.
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Q: How do you know when to fill my oil tank?
A: We use a system called “degree-day forecasting.” This industry standard uses a formula based on the previous 24-hour average temperature. We compute the number of “degree days” that have elapsed since your last delivery and schedule automatic deliveries based on your usage patterns for heat and/or hot water. A private weather forecasting service provides daily updates to help us stay on top of current and impending weather conditions.
It is very important to let us know of any major changes at your home.
A new addition, relatives staying for extended periods, new baby, anything that would change your heat or hot water consumption. This helps us in being able to adjust your delivery schedule.
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Q: I plan on going away in the winter. What steps can I take to protect my home?
A: Listed below are some suggestions for piece of mind when you’re going to be away from home for an extended period of time. Remember, in the coldest part of the winter a house can freeze-up in a very short period of time. This applies whether you’re away for the weekend or the whole season.
- Have a friend or relative check the house daily in cold weather.
- Notify Anderson Fuel who has a key in case of an emergency.
- Set your thermostat back 10 degrees lower than normal (but not below 50º to conserve energy.
- Notify police and ask if they offer home surveillance while you’re away.
- Put lights on timers to give the house the appearance of being occupied.
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Q: May I pay my bills with a credit card?
A: Yes, we accept Master Card and Visa. Call our office for details at 781-545-0123
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Q: Should I have my chimney inspected?
A: Yes, particularly if you burn a lot of wood in your fireplace. The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) recommends a chimney be inspected annually and cleaned every other year. Spring and summer offer the best opportunity to have this done.
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Q: How does Oil Heat efficiency compare to Natural Gas?
A: A properly maintained oil fired heating system is up to 15% more efficient than natural gas.
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Q: Which fuel is more expensive, Natural Gas or Oil heat?
A: Oil heat has been consistently less expensive than natural gas and this has been the case for 10 of the past 12 years. Natural gas has been up to 30% more expensive.
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Q: Which is Safer, Oil Heat or Natural Gas.
A: The risk of an explosion from a gas leak is well known and a check of newspaper headlines over the last few years documents the risk associated with gas heat. Oil heat is much more stable, and lacks the explosiveness of natural gas. Additionally, the danger from carbon monoxide poisoning is far greater with natural gas than safe oil heat.
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