Dear Friends,
Your comfort and safety are top priorities for us! As we get closer to winter, we want you to remember that you can trust us to be there when heating emergencies arise — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you have a service plan, you get the fastest service and the relief of knowing that the cost of most repairs is covered. A service plan also includes the seasonal maintenance that can keep many problems from turning into emergencies.
Of course, knowing you can count on us when you need emergency repairs gives you peace of mind when temperatures plummet. But great service is so much more than that.
We offer many different ways to make your life easier every day, with products and services that help you save money without sacrificing comfort. To put it another way, we provide you with service, quality and value — guaranteed.
Since our founding, we’ve helped thousands of customers through the worst winters. So no matter when you need us, we are on call and at your service — and our expert technicians will be there to help keep your family warm and safe.
Warmly,
Craig Mancini
Service Manager
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No purchase necessary. A purchase will not increase chance of winning. Visit our contest page for details.
Over the years, the oil heat industry has made major breakthroughs in fuel cleanliness and heating system technology. Homeowners today need an average of 500 fewer gallons of oil to heat their homes each year than they did 25 years ago. That’s because heating oil systems are much more efficient than they were in the past.
The recent advent of ultra-low-sulfur fuel marks another major advance in making oil heat more environmentally friendly.
Looking ahead, it’s expected that heating oil will eventually become a carbon-neutral fuel, which means it will have a minimal carbon footprint and minimum greenhouse gas emissions.
The long-term environmental impact of natural gas is not as bright. Methane — the main component of natural gas — has the capacity to trap so much heat in the atmosphere that one ton of it causes 32 times as much warming as one ton of carbon dioxide over the course of a century.*
There has also been an alarming increase in natural gas explosions, some of which have been the result of overpressurization in aging natural gas pipelines.
The bottom line: If you’re looking for a safe, clean-burning heating fuel, you already have that with heating oil.
*Source: Los Angeles Times, 3/2/19.
The journey to seek out better comfort can bring you much wisdom. We hope you will find more peace after reading these answers from our home comfort wizard.
While many types of malfunctions can cause your system to operate poorly (or not operate at all), the problems outlined below are not only quite common, but relatively easy and inexpensive to fix.
Power switches turned off
If your heat stops working, these are among the first things you should check. First, it often happens that the power switches for the heating system have been turned off by mistake. Simply turn the electrical switches back to the “on” position and your problem may be solved.
Unchecked air filters or water level
If you have a furnace, change or clean the filters about once a month; a dirty filter compromises efficiency and can even result in a shutdown. If you have a steam boiler, check the water gauge periodically. Low water levels are a leading cause of boiler shutdowns. Steam boilers should also be “flushed” when the water in the sight glass looks rusty.
Tripped circuit breaker
Going to the circuit breaker box and flipping the proper switch may be all you need to get running again. However, a circuit breaker rarely ever trips for no reason. If this happens once and never happens again, consider it a fluke. But if this happens more often, arrange for service, as this could be a sign of a serious problem.
Faulty thermostat
Many instances of heating systems not working can be traced to the thermostat, which sends a signal to your boiler or furnace to generate heat. If the wiring is deteriorating, these signals may get erratic. A buildup of dust inside your thermostat is another common culprit. You may also need to change the batteries in your thermostat.
Your heating system doesn’t work like a car — there is no gas pedal to step on to make it go faster. Your furnace or boiler will produce heat at the same rate regardless of whether your thermostat is set to 68 degrees or 85 degrees. (Setting the thermostat higher just makes your system work longer.)
Hot Tip #1: For better temperature control, trade in your old manual thermostat for a digital, programmable one. This allows you to automate your home temperature settings and can help you reduce your energy use and save as much as 10%.
Hot Tip #2: Never program your thermostat below 60 degrees, even if you’ll be away from home for a period of time. When your thermostat setting is too low, you risk frozen pipes. Water pipes near outside walls or in unheated spaces are especially prone to freeze-ups. The risk increases if cracks in your foundation allow cold air to seep into your home.
Sure, you wants to save money on heating your home, but you don’t want to cause problems while you’re at it. One common mistake we see is when people drastically reduce or completely shut off the heat in different zones of their home.
While you might think you’ll save a little on heating costs, shutting off radiators or closing vents creates the possibility that pipes will freeze — especially in rooms that tend to be colder anyway. That’s a really costly problem.
If you have a furnace, closing some vents disrupts normal air flow, causing an imbalance that will just make your furnace work harder and strain your ductwork.
It’s best to keep heat flowing to all the rooms in your home.
A better idea is to keep the temperature at a comfortable level throughout your home and program your system to energy-saving settings when the house is empty or everyone is asleep.
If you have a zoned system, you can vary the temperature in different rooms, eliminating the temptation of shutting the heat off completely in some parts of your home.
A study of over 1,000 homes across the country showed that consumers are getting short-changed on energy efficiency because of a combination of poor equipment installation and lax maintenance.*
After adjustments were made to correct problems, however, efficiency improved, on average, by a phenomenal 36%! This was accomplished through the following methods:
As you can see, a few fixes could save you a lot of money on heat and keep you more comfortable.
*Source: National Comfort Institute
It’s important that we be able to reach you fast in the event of an emergency or to confirm appointments. To do this, we need to have your current landline phone number (if you still have one), mobile phone number and email address.
Just call our office or contact us through our website with your updated info. Don’t worry, we will not share your information with any third parties. It’s just between us!
Q: What’s the difference between Auto Pay and Smart Pay?
A: Both programs make it easier to manage and pay your fuel bills, and they work great together. Smart Pay averages out your fuel costs across as many as 12 months, so you have regular, predictable payments rather than a couple of big ones in the winter.
With Auto Pay, you pay your bill automatically from your checking account or via your credit card. Customers really love it, because it saves time, saves money on stamps, and eliminates paperwork. Combine it with e-billing, and you’ll really enjoy the reduced paper clutter and the convenience of having all your statements and payment records in one secure digital space.
It’s quick and easy to get set up. Contact us today.
Melissa Bailey
Office Manager
Modernizing your home with new heating oil equipment is always a smart idea — and it’s even smarter right now because of Rhode Island rebates that can save you hundreds of dollars on each purchase.
Today’s heating equipment operates with improved efficiency, so you burn less fuel to keep your home warm. When properly installed, a new system will distribute heat more evenly and consistently.
You’ll also see savings on maintenance and repairs when you update your system. And a service plan will mean that it keeps working efficiently with few problems.
Here are your rebate opportunities:
Don’t wait! These rebates are first-come, firstserved, for a limited time. Call us or visit our website for more details — and ask us about our financing programs too!
The pros at Vaughn Oil will help you make the right choice for your needs and your budget. And our expert technicians will get your new system installed the right way, to ensure maximum savings and optimum performance.
*Minimum AFUE 83.
You can now download our app (available for IOS and Android) to have 24-hour access to your account, so you can pay bills, look up information and schedule service when it’s convenient for you. Just search for Vaughn Oil in the App store or Google Play Store to get started.
