Stay on the Road to Savings: 3 Practical Tips to Avoid Extra Fuel Charges

Are you tired of seeing your fuel expenses skyrocket every time you refill your gas bottles? It can be frustrating to watch your hard-earned money go up in smoke, especially for those who have to live on a tight budget. With fuel prices fluctuating constantly, it’s important to find ways to save on gas and avoid extra fuel charges whenever and wherever possible.

Luckily, there are some feasible ways to maximize your fuel efficiency, while also keeping your wallet happy. By making a few small changes to your habits, you can save money on gas and stay on the road to savings. In this blog, we’ll share 3 practical tips to help you avoid extra fuel charges and keep more money in your pocket.

1. Refill before your tank is fully empty

It’s crucial to keep an eye on your heating fuel tank and ensure that it doesn’t run empty before you order a refill. Allowing the fuel supply to run low could be one of the biggest mistakes you could make. If you’re using an oil tank, for instance, it’s inevitable that the dredges at the bottom will get kicked up, leading to the possibility of sludge formation that could clog your tank when the oil supply runs low. Moreover, if you let your gas bottles or oil tanks run empty, the service technicians might have to restart your heating system, which could add to the overall expense.

You must not treat heating fuel as you would a simple item like the battery for your remote control or coffee in your kitchen that you could merely replace when they run out. Instead, it should be considered akin to the diesel tanks in your car, which you would never allow to run out completely. Therefore, it’s crucial to keep your heating fuel tank adequately filled and ensure you don’t allow the supply to run low to avoid potential sludge build up and additional system restart expenses.

2. Beware of hidden charges

Don’t let hidden fees catch you off guard when it comes to getting oil or gas bottles delivered. Some companies may tack on extra charges, which can quickly add up and cancel out any savings you were hoping for. If you’re planning on having fuel delivered to your home, it’s important to ask the supplier about any fees they might charge and what they entail. Here are a few common fees to keep an eye out for:

Delivery fees: These are the charges associated with having the fuel poured into your tank by the delivery service. While it’s understandable to have this fee, it should always be included in the initial quote. Some companies may leave it out and only quote the price of the fuel itself.

Fuel surcharges: These are additional fees that may be added onto the fuel or the delivery itself. They are often unnecessary and not mentioned in the initial quote.

Premiums for after-hours, weekend, or bad-weather delivery: While some delivery services are available around the clock, you may be charged extra for deliveries outside of regular business hours, or during weekends or holidays. While it’s reasonable to have these premiums, it’s important that the delivery company is upfront and transparent about any additional fees.

3. Fill up during off season

By the universal law of demand, prices of a commodity tend to be lower when the demand for it is less. As such, the best time to purchase home heating oil and propane gas bottle at low prices is during the summer season when demand is generally low. Most homeowners tend to wait until October or November before refilling their tanks and reactivating their heaters, after a long period of dormancy. However, this could be risky for several reasons.

Firstly, if the propane gas bottle runs empty, you may end up paying significantly higher prices for oil than you would have just a few weeks earlier. Secondly, if your heating system malfunctions after being idle for so long, you may be faced with expensive repair costs. Therefore, it’s advisable to take advantage of the summer months when prices are lower and ensure that your heating system is in good working condition to avoid sudden expenses.

Final Thoughts

Fuel charges have the potential of burning a hole in the pockets of the best of people. However, by following these three practical tips, you can prevent avoidable fuel expenses from draining your budget.

Kenny Fuels can deliver a propane gas bottle of the highest quality at your homes in Wexford and Wicklow. Our gas bottles can be used in a range of applications, such as cooking, tumble drying, gas fires and mobile heating devices. Order now from the Kenny Fuels website.