If you’re not sure if your heating oil boiler will keep you warm through another winter, don’t worry, Westmore Fuel is always ready to help.
Westmore has heating system options for every home and budget. As one example, we install the System 2000 from Energy Kinetics, the most efficient and versatile integrated heat and hot water system. Some of our customers have enjoyed annual savings of up to 40% after they upgraded to the System 2000. Plus, their homes stayed warm and toasty no matter how low the outdoor temperatures fell.
Like any piece of equipment, your boiler will eventually have to be replaced one day. But is that day near, or still far off? If you need a repair, should you keep putting money into your current boiler? Or would you be better off investing your money in a new, high-efficiency boiler?
First, let’s look at age. While the average boiler will last about 20-25 years, there are many home boilers out there that are even older than that. And while they may still be keeping homes warm enough, their efficiency rate is much lower than a new hot water boiler, which means you are using more fuel to generate heat. Some people have upgraded to a super-efficient condensing boiler, which converts water vapor condensation into heat and recovers some of the lost heat from waste gases.
Boiler technology has improved dramatically over the years and the new hydronic heating systems we install are much more efficient than the systems we installed for our customers decades ago. When we say efficient, we mean that the boiler puts out more heat with less fuel, which translates to big savings on your annual home heating costs, along with improved home comfort.
Westmore partners with the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) to provide financing so our customers can take full advantage of the equipment upgrades we offer.
NEIF provides loan lengths of three, five or 10 years on its EnergyPlus financing for qualifying purchases with NEIF-approved contractors like Westmore Fuel. NEIF does not run credit reports, so your credit will not be affected in any way.
Read more about financing through NEIF.
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), homeowners can claim a federal tax credit of up to $600 for installing ENERGY STAR-certified heating oil systems that use renewable fuel blends of at least 20% biodiesel.
Since Westmore Fuel installs high-efficiency heating oil systems compatible with our B20 Bioheat Plus® fuel, our customers can save money with this tax credit!
Read more about a new boiler installation.
From Darien, Greenwich, Stamford and Port Chester to Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, White Plains and surrounding communities, Westmore Fuel has been taking care of our customers in New York and Connecticut since 1938.
Contact us today to become a customer and get all that you want and need for your home comfort.
While prices will always rise and fall, homeowners who rely on heating oil to keep warm will consistently get great value for their energy dollars. Here’s why.
Heating oil produces a tremendous amount of heating energy, providing both efficiency and comfort. For every gallon of heating oil consumed, nearly 140,000 Btu’s of heat are produced. That’s the equivalent of about 70,000 60-watt lightbulbs! It’s also far more heating energy than what natural gas, propane gas or electricity can generate. Here’s how we know this.
Energy or heat content can be used to compare energy sources or fuels on an equal basis. Fuels can be converted from physical units of measure (such as weight or volume) to a common unit of measurement of the energy or heat content of each fuel. For example, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) uses BTU as a unit of energy content, and has calculated these sample BTU conversion factors:
Technology has also brought great improvements in heating oil equipment efficiency, which has reduced annual fuel consumption by as much as 40%. Naturally, this has saved heating oil consumers a lot of money on fuel.
Plus, the B20 Bioheat Plus® fuel Westmore delivers is cleaner burning than conventional heating oil. This helps to increase system efficiency even more and reduces your home heating expenses, all while keeping your home warm and comfortable.
B20 Bioheat Plus fuel leaves fewer deposits on your system’s internal parts. That helps to reduce wear and tear, meaning you will likely have fewer breakdowns and a longer life expectancy for your heating oil boiler or heating oil furnace than compared to operating it with traditional heating oil.
And while B20 Bioheat Plus fuel can do all these things, it functions pretty much the same way conventional No. 2 heating oil does. That means you don’t need to modify your boiler or furnace in any way.
Many new heating oil boilers use energy-saving controls that greatly reduce fuel usage during mildly cold weather and provide more even heat with fewer temperature swings.
Plus, high-efficiency heating oil furnaces feature variable speed motors that use about 80% less electricity than older motors and provide more consistent airflow and temperatures.
Modern heating oil systems are also much smaller than older ones. The average boilers and furnaces today are compact yet powerful, and similar in size to a three-drawer filing cabinet.
Did you know that heating oil cannot explode? The fuel that sits in your tank is as likely to explode as the water in your backyard swimming pool. It’s that safe.
Plus, with a heating oil tank on your property, you can always count on having a secure, on-site supply. Heating oil is easily transported and handled by highly trained professionals, who use equipment and techniques that keep safety at the forefront.
Additionally, a heating oil system poses a very low risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. If an oil burner malfunctions (most often due to a lack of maintenance), the safety devices in the unit will typically shut the heating oil furnace or heating oil boiler off.
A secure supply, ultra clean-burning B20 Bioheat Plus fuel and a superior service department are among the attributes that make Westmore Fuel stand out.
We provide heating fuel and equipment service to Darien, Greenwich, Stamford, and nearby communities in Connecticut. We also deliver fuel and service to New York communities, including Port Chester, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, and White Plains.
Contact us to learn more about Westmore Fuel, a company built around its customers.
During a time when everything—and we mean everything—seems to be getting more expensive, we have been able to hold the line on our service plan coverage. In fact, we haven’t increased the annual cost of our service plans since 2015. Instead, we’ve been able to refine our service plans and lower their prices. How was that possible?
It all comes down to the cutting-edge heating oil that we deliver. The evolution of our fuel has significantly improved how clean it burns in boilers and furnaces.
The combination of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil and renewable biofuel generates less than a tablespoon of soot per year and reduces the number of gallons most customers consume. The result: most people don’t need to get their systems tuned up every year, as they did in the past. That’s why the tune-up cost is no longer built into our service plans. This has allowed us to hold the line on our service plan costs.
Of course, we still perform tune-ups as needed for customers who wish to have this service done during the off-peak season, which runs from March 1 through October 15. But this way, only customers who really need tune-ups pay for them. We generally recommend tune-ups every three years for most customers, and we charge a discounted rate for this maintenance service.
Our renewable B20 Bioheat fuel dramatically reduces emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The overall use of Bioheat fuel eliminates thousands of metric tons of carbon dioxide each year in Connecticut and New York!
Bioheat fuel also produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas. Methane—the main component of natural gas—has the capacity to trap so much heat in the atmosphere that, over one century, one ton of this gas causes 32 times as much warming as one ton of carbon dioxide.*
Bioheat fuel also reduces energy consumption by providing a cleaner and more complete energy-efficient burn. As a result, there is less wear and tear on heating equipment.
The carbon emissions from biofuel are considered recycled carbon since that carbon becomes fully absorbed by the plant materials contained in biofuel.
In contrast, when traditional fossil fuels that do not contain biofuel are burned, they take carbon that was originally stored in the ground and release 100% of that carbon into the atmosphere, where it will remain for decades. The endgame is to transition to B100 Bioheat fuel (100% renewable biofuel).
That’s why you’ll be hearing a lot about net-zero carbon emissions in the years ahead.
As a bonus, our New York customers can apply for a 20¢-per-gallon tax credit for using our B20 Bioheat fuel. That translates into a $200 savings for every 1,000 gallons delivered!
So, why not save money on fuel, equipment maintenance and repairs with Westmore Fuel? We’re the leader in providing a new generation of clean-burning heating fuel for your New York or Connecticut home.
A secure supply, ultra clean-burning B20 Bioheat fuel and a superior service department are among the attributes that make Westmore Fuel stand out.
We provide fuel and equipment service to Darien, Greenwich, Stamford, and nearby communities in Connecticut. We also deliver fuel and service to New York communities, including Port Chester, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, and White Plains.
Contact us to learn more about Westmore Fuel, a company built around its customers.
*Source: Los Angeles Times, 3-2-2019.
While there are a lot of treats to savor during the autumn season in New York and Connecticut, there is still the trick of making sure you stay warm and comfortable when temperatures drop and the fall chill sets in.
With that in mind, here is a review of what to look for in case your heating oil boiler or heating oil furnace stops generating heat.
If your heater isn’t turning on, check to see if the power switches to your oil boiler or oil furnace have been accidentally turned off.
If you find that the power switches for your heating system have been turned off by mistake, simply turn the electrical switches back to the “on” position and your problem may be solved.
If your power switches are not the problem, check your circuit breaker box to see if all circuit switches are still in the “on” position. Flipping the proper switch to “on” again may be all you need to get your system running again.
However, please keep this in mind: a circuit breaker rarely ever trips for no reason. If this happens once and never happens again, it may be just a fluke. But if this happens more than once, call us for service, as this could indicate a serious problem.
Many instances of heating systems not working can be traced to the thermostat, which sends a signal to your boiler or furnace to call for heat. But this signal may be interrupted if the wiring of the thermostat has begun to deteriorate. A build-up of dust inside your thermostat is another common reason why your thermostat is not operating correctly. Another thing to look for are weak or dead batteries in the thermostat.
Obviously, if this is the problem, you need to contact us asap for a heating oil delivery and when you call make sure we have your home on automatic delivery and tell us if you are using more oil than usual for domestic hot water or heat.
If you haven’t found the problem yet, press the reset button on the oil burner only once. Pushing it more than once could flood your system with oil, resulting in a costly repair. If the burner starts but stops again after a few minutes, you should call for service.
Our emergency operators are always on call to dispatch a service technician at any time for our customers. Westmore offers true 24/7 emergency service with an average response time of under two hours.
With countless years of experience in repairing heating systems of all models and types, our service team is ready for any challenge—backed by fully-stocked service vehicles that are filled with the parts and tools needed to get your heat up and running again.
Whether you need a quick fix or a long-term replacement system, you can trust your friends at Westmore Fuel to provide professional, reliable and speedy service that will restore your heat and your peace of mind.
From Darien, Greenwich, Stamford and Port Chester to Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, White Plains and surrounding communities, Westmore Fuel has been taking care of our customers in New York and Connecticut since 1938.
Contact us today to become a customer.
Next to heating and cooling, heating your water is the next largest use of energy in the home. It can account for nearly 20% of your energy costs. That’s no surprise, since the average household uses 65 gallons of hot water a day for showers, dishwashing, laundry and other normal chores.
If you’re relying on an old, inefficient electric water heater, you can do better by switching to a much more efficient oil-powered water heater. Heating oil uses a lot less energy than electric for heating water and it’s better for the environment.
First, an oil-fired water heater heats water much faster and for less money, compared to an electric water heater. Second, electricity made at a coal-fired or natural power plant generates significantly more carbon dioxide emissions than heating oil. Make the switch to an oil-powered water heating unit, and you’ll not only save money, but you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint!
Be aware that the performance of any water heater diminishes over time, leading to wasted energy, higher costs than necessary and diminished hot water production.
If your water heater is 10 years old or older, it’ probably time to look into upgrading to a new unit. The average life span of a water heater varies from 7 to 13 years, depending on your town’s water quality, frequency of maintenance and various other factors. Today’s oil-fired water heater technology is far superior to older models, which will translate to energy savings for years to come.
Indirect-fired water heaters use the burner inside your oil boiler to heat your tap water. Anytime your boiler is heating your home, your indirect water heater works free. An indirect-fired water heater is one of the most efficient water heating options available, and Westmore Fuel offers professional installation of these units from top manufacturers.
A direct-fired water heater is the kind of heater that most people know well. It’s the most common type of water heater, with a dedicated burner inside to heat water that is stored in a tank. As you use the water in the tank, the supply of hot water is constantly replenished. This is a good choice if you heat your home with a warm-air furnace, instead of a hydronic system (boiler) that uses hot water or steam to heat your home.
You can have confidence that the certified and experienced Westmore Fuel technician who arrives at your home to install your new water heater has been thoroughly trained to do the job. Every water heater we install is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, and we stand behind our installations with a 100%-satisfaction guarantee.
Westmore Fuel installs and repairs water heaters in Darien, Greenwich, Stamford and nearby communities in Connecticut. We do the same for New York communities, including Port Chester, Mount Kisco, New Rochelle and White Plains.
Whether you want to replace your old water heater now or simply want to learn more for future reference, contact Westmore Fuel and one of our water heater equipment experts will be happy to give you advice and a free estimate.
While Westmore Fuel cannot control what happens with oil prices that are tied to the global market, we can give you some understanding about why heating oil prices rise and fall on a steady basis.
We need to start by looking at the price of crude oil, which is usually the most important factor in the price that consumers will pay for their heating oil. Like gasoline and jet fuel, heating oil is just one of the many products refined from crude oil.
Crude oil is a globally traded commodity, which means that it is subject to many forces that drive its value up or down. So, when crude oil prices are on the high end, so too are heating oil prices—along with gasoline, diesel fuel and many other products.
Even the possibility of a big disruption in the vital energy supply chain heavily influences the buying and selling done by commodities traders. Here’s a recent example: a Wall Street burst of trading activity took place in the months before Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. This caused energy prices to rise based on speculation in the stock market about what could happen in the near future if sanctions were imposed on Russia. This is often referred to as the fear factor.
After Russia eventually invaded, the U.S. and other countries placed bans on Russian imported oil and other energy products. It left a big void to fill. And as you know by now, energy prices soared even higher as a result.
Before the uncertainty created by the Russia-Ukraine war, oil prices had fluctuated because of COVID-19. In spring 2020, crude oil prices actually plummeted to historic lows when economies locked down across the globe. Oil production essentially ground to a halt.
Another supply-demand issue has centered on diminished oil refinery production. Some refineries closed or scaled back because of the collapse in energy demand in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a number of refineries were shut down because they were inefficient, and their profits weren’t large enough for Wall Street investors. Other refineries were closed so that their owners, seeing the proverbial writing on the wall, could convert them to produce biofuels*.
We own and operate a 1.2-million-gallon marine storage terminal in Port Chester. This gives us the power to buy in quantities that let us guarantee supply to our customers. This also puts us in a position to provide a range of pricing and payment plans that help protect our customers from big price spikes. This is part of what we call the Westmore Advantage.
For instance, Westmore’s EvenPay plan uses an estimate of your annual heating oil bill (based on your past fuel use) to calculate 11 equal monthly payments. The result: your heating oil payment will always be the same, no matter how much fuel you use in a given month.
Imagine knowing there will be no surprise winter heating bills – or being able to plan your finances knowing what your energy bill will be. There are no fees for this program. In fact, we’ll give you a 1% rebate, calculated annually, in any month that you have a credit balance.
For more convenience, many customers combine our monthly payment plan with our AutoPay option to pay their bills automatically, either through their bank or credit card.
For further peace of mind, we also have the resources to offer pricing contracts, which give customers the security of knowing that their heating oil price will never go higher than the established capped or fixed price.
Contact us today to learn more about reliable heating oil delivery, protected heating oil prices and everything else Westmore Fuel can offer you.
From Darien, Greenwich, Stamford and Port Chester to Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, White Plains and surrounding communities, Westmore Fuel has been taking care of our customers in New York and Connecticut since 1938.
*Source: NY Times, 11-10-22
While heating oil tanks can be replaced any time of year, the warm weather months are the ideal time to upgrade since it will cause as little as disruption as possible. And since this is the off-season for heating equipment service, it will be much easier to get an appointment that is most convenient for you.
Besides getting periodic professional tank inspections to examine the integrity of your tank, you should also do your own visual inspections because some trouble signs can actually be seen, including:
Westmore Fuel has eight decades of experience in installing heating oil tanks for homes and businesses in New York and Connecticut. Our installation crews work quickly and efficiently, and always show respect for your property.
The same Westmore Fuel crews can remove your existing aboveground or underground tank. We will then replace it with a new storage unit, in the same or a different location. As with any of our installation services, we will clean up the area before we consider the job fully completed.
We use a backhoe for underground tank installations and removals. We will coordinate with you in advance to make sure we have access to the tank install location and that the area is free of obstructions. Once the tank is installed and the backhoe is off your property, we manicure the area to return it to its normal state.
Today’s fuel storage tanks are light-years ahead of old models, because they are virtually leakproof and have features that include:
We will help you make your choice based on your fuel usage volume, the installation location terrain and any municipal or commercial regulations in your area.
The heating oil tanks we install are strong and well made. However, since they are exposed to the elements or to underground moisture, it’s a good idea to have a Westmore Fuel expert inspect your oil tank at least once a year. This inspection is particularly important once your tank is five or more years old or is in a very exposed location.
Once your tank is installed, you can rest easy: Westmore Fuel provides reliable heating oil deliveries, and offers service plan coverage that includes 24/7 emergency service.
Request a FREE estimate on a new heating oil tank today! Westmore also offers financing for your new heating oil tank.
If you’re not sure if your heating oil or heating oil furnace will make it through another winter, don’t worry, Westmore Fuel is always ready to help.
In fact, now would be the best time to make the leap to a heating system replacement. If your furnace or boiler is more than 15-20 years old, you are missing out on highly efficient new technologies that can really save you a lot of money! Plus, convenient appointments with our expert installers are easier to come by right now because it’s the off-season for heating.
Westmore has heating system options for every home and budget – including high-efficiency boilers and furnaces that can save you 20% or more on your annual heating expenses. We install the System 2000 from Energy Kinetics, the most efficient and versatile integrated heat and hot water system. Some of our customers have actually enjoyed annual savings of up to 40% after they upgraded to the System 2000.
As always, your heating oil boiler or furnace installation will be done quickly and cleanly, with minimal disruption to your home and family. Most importantly, it will be done right the first time– and always at a fair price.
We partner with the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) to provide financing so our customers can take full advantage of the equipment upgrades we offer.
NEIF provides loan lengths of three, five or 10 years on its EnergyPlus financing for qualifying purchases with NEIF-approved contractors like Westmore Fuel. NEIF does not run credit reports, so your credit will not be affected in any way.
Read more about financing through NEIF.
Congress recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), perhaps the most important environmental legislation since the Clean Air Act of 1970.
Thanks to the IRA, homeowners can now claim a federal tax credit of up to $600 for installing ENERGY STAR-certified heating oil systems that use renewable fuel blends of at least 20% biodiesel.
Since Westmore Fuel installs high-efficiency heating oil systems compatible with our B20 Bioheat Plus® fuel, our customers can save money with this tax credit!
The inclusion of tax credits for heating equipment powered by liquid renewable fuels provides validation by Congress that advanced biofuel (biodiesel) can reliably eliminate carbon emissions from homes — but we knew that all along!
From Darien, Greenwich, Stamford and Port Chester to Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, White Plains and surrounding communities, Westmore Fuel has been taking care of our customers in New York and Connecticut since 1938.
We have a dedicated staff of caring employees who are always ready to help you. They live in the communities they love to serve, and they understand the needs you have. Their knowledge and commitment help us to deliver not only B20 Bioheat Plus fuel but quality and value—all backed by many decades of heating oil experience.
Contact us today to become a customer and get all that you want and need for your home comfort.
Every household runs better with a steady and reliable supply of hot water. And just about everyone loves a long, hot shower! But the question is: how long can you expect that to last before trouble arrives?
The life span of the most common water heater—units with a storage tank—can vary greatly, anywhere from 7 to 13 years. How long your tank water heater lasts depends on a number of factors, including the temperature of the water you set for the tank, the volume of water used, the overall quality of water heater model, and perhaps most importantly, the water quality. How hard is it? Does it have a high amount of mineral content?
To head off any problems, especially if you have hard water, it’s a wise idea to have a service technician flush out your hot water tank once a year. This procedure will remove sediment that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank. This sediment is caused by the build-up of minerals. The technician can also check the condition of the anode rod, which generally lasts from 3-5 years.
Tank water heaters contain many parts and components, including in most cases a long metal anode rod, which extends the life of your water heater by preventing corrosion from building up inside your tank. This is the unsung “hero” of your water heater.
Usually made of magnesium or aluminum, the anode rod does its job through a process called electrolysis. The metals in the anode rod attract ions that normally would cause rust in iron and steel. But instead, these ions latch on to the anode rod and as a result, cause it to degrade over time. Without the anode rod, your water heater could rust out in just a few years. That’s why it’s so important to replace the anode rod after it degrades.
Note: A water heater only needs an anode rod if it has a tank that’s made of a material that is vulnerable to corrosion. For example, because water heaters made of stainless steel do not corrode over time, these type of models do not need an anode rod.
Next to heating and cooling, heating your water is the next largest use of energy in the home. It accounts for about 20% of your energy bill. The average household uses 65 gallons of hot water a day for showers, dishwashing, laundry and other normal chores.
Heating oil uses less energy than electric for heating water and it’s better for the environment. Electricity generated from a power plant can create more carbon dioxide emissions than heating oil.
With an oil-fired water heater, you’ll not only save money, but you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint. An oil-fired water heater heats water much faster and for less money when compared to an electric water heater.
Westmore Fuel installs two types of oil-powered water heaters
This is the most common type of water heater, with a dedicated burner inside to heat water that is stored in a tank. As you use the water in the tank, the supply of hot water is constantly replenished.
Indirect-fired water heaters use the burner inside your boiler to heat your tap water. (The boiler water never mixes with the contents of your water heater). Because of this configuration, an indirect-fired water heater is one of the most efficient water heating options available.
Benefits of this type of unit include:
If you think your water heater is failing. please reach out to us about a water heater replacement or if you have questions about water heater maintenance.
Westmore Fuel is your best choice for hot water heater installation in CT and NY. We have decades of experience in evaluating our customers’ hot water needs. We will be happy to review your usage and provide a free estimate for the cost of a new hot water heater, along with the expected savings you will experience with your new unit. Please contact us today.
If your water heater is fueled by electricity—and not heating oil—you may be running out of hot water more times than you would like. (Growing families often have this problem). Well, that’s just annoying—especially if it happens to you when you’re in the middle of taking a hot shower!
Why not make the switch to an oil-fired water heater replacement and you’ll not only save money, but you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint? The process of generating electricity creates many more emissions than the B20 Bioheat Plus fuel that we deliver to all of our customers. Here’s another benefit: an oil-fired water heater heats water much faster and for less money, compared to an electric water heater. You should never run out of hot water when you rely on an oil-powered water heater.
Today’s oil-fired water heater technology is also far superior to older models, which will guarantee you water heating savings for years to come.
Indirect-fired water heaters use the burner inside your oil boiler to heat your tap water. Anytime your boiler is heating your home, your indirect water heater works free. An indirect-fired water heater is one of the most efficient water heating options available, and Westmore Fuel offers professional installation of these units from top manufacturers.
A direct-fired water heater is the kind of water heating that most people know well. It’s the most common type of water heater, with a dedicated burner inside to heat water that is stored in a tank. As you use the water in the tank, the supply of hot water is constantly replenished. This is a good choice if you heat your New York or Connecticut home with a warm-air furnace, instead of a hydronic system (boiler) that uses hot water or steam to heat your home.
You can have confidence that the certified and experienced Westmore Fuel technicians who arrive at your home to install your new water heater have been thoroughly trained to do the job. Plus, every water heater we install is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, and we stand behind our installations with a 100%-satisfaction guarantee.
Whether you want to replace your old water heater now or simply want to learn more for future reference, one of our water heater equipment experts will be happy to give you advice.
Westmore Fuel is your best choice for hot water heater installation in CT and NY. We have decades of experience in evaluating our customers’ hot water needs. We will be happy to review your usage and provide a free estimate for the cost of a new hot water heater, along with the expected savings you will experience with your new unit. You can trust the professionals at Westmore Fuel to provide friendly, reliable and speedy service that will restore your hot water and your peace of mind.
From Darien, Greenwich, Stamford and Port Chester to Mount Kisco, New Rochelle, White Plains and surrounding communities, Westmore Fuel has been taking care of our customers in New York and Connecticut since 1938.
Please contact us today to request a free estimate on a new water heater installation.