According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 15% of Pennsylvanians use fuel oil to heat their homes. An oil heat flame burns a few hundred degrees hotter than natural gas, which ensures a warm, cozy home. Oil heat is also efficient, which results in lower heating bills.

While heating oil offers many benefits, it differs from other heating methods, such as natural gas and electricity, in one important way — you must purchase the fuel from a supplier. As a homeowner, you’ll need to do some research to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money when buying home heating oil. To help, we’ve created a guide on when and how to order oil for home heating.

Getting Your Tank, Furnace and Home Ready for the Winter

Before filling your tank for the winter, ask a qualified heating oil service provider to inspect the tank for leaks and other signs of damage. The tech should also check the furnace or boiler inside your home to verify it’s in peak working condition. The inspection is an essential safety precaution to ensure your tank will operate efficiently throughout the winter.

Late autumn is a good time to conduct an energy audit to ensure your home is as energy-efficient as possible. Check the doors and windows for drafts, and use caulking or weather stripping to seal any cracks. If your windows are older, upgrading to double-glazed models can keep the warm air in and the cold air out.

Keep in mind that factors such as weather, availability and regulatory changes have a significant impact on home heating oil prices. Pennsylvania residents who require income assistance to meet their home heating costs may be eligible for financial aid via the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). 

Heating Oil Trends

Save on costs by finding the best time of year to buy heating oil based on seasonal trends, such as:

• Off-peak summer prices: Because oil is mostly used in the colder months, demand is low during summer, and you can often find heating oil at great prices. Although the best month to buy home heating oil will vary from year to year, you can almost always expect a good price while it’s hot out. A big summer purchase is especially helpful for those buying in bulk.
• Peak demand: When demand is high and people need heating oil the most, it becomes much harder to find. For example, prices could spike if a big winter storm is coming. Keep your costs low by stocking up when prices and demand are both low.
• Plan ahead: To avoid running out or needing to make emergency purchases, take the time to calculate how much oil you need. Even a rough ballpark estimate is good enough. Look at how much you used the previous winter, buy enough to replace what you used, and add a little more to that number. Running out is never fun and can be avoided with proper planning.
• Pennsylvania pricing: Heating oil prices can be tough to predict, especially with economic changes like inflation and overseas conflict. Prices dropped in 2020, spiked in 2022 and now seem to be leveling out. In 2024, analysts expect the average expenditure on home heating oil to drop by about 2% from 2023.

When Is the Best Time to Buy Heating Oil?

The best time to buy home heating oil is in the summer. Based on these seasonal trends, we see that demand is lower when people don’t need to heat their homes, making oil cheaper and easier to find and helping you prepare far ahead of winter weather. Choose a supplier that can buy in bulk quantities, resulting in a lower price per gallon.

How to Order Oil for Home Heating Online

Finding heating oil at good prices can be tricky, but Marstellar Oil and Concrete’s online store makes it easier than ever to stock up on heating oil. Homeowners in Harrisburg and Central Pennsylvania can head to our online store for a simple, straightforward process.

Buying oil online with us is secure, convenient and easy. Enjoy a hassle-free experience from adding something to your cart to when it’s delivered.

The Benefits of Buying Home Heating Oil Online

You can purchase just about anything online, and heating oil is no exception. The advantages of buying heating oil online include:

• Convenience: Purchasing online offers flexibility by allowing you to place orders 24/7 from any device. If you realize your tank is running low, you don’t have to wait until the next business day to set up a service call for a refill.
• Up-to-date pricing: You can check the current heating oil prices in your town or region before placing your order.
• Speed: As you’ve likely discovered when purchasing other products, buying heating oil online is often much faster than over the phone. You don’t have to worry about reaching a live person — you can place your order in a few clicks.
• Savings: Many suppliers offer a significant discount to homeowners when buying heating oil online. The price is cheaper because the process reduces paperwork, labor and other overhead and administrative costs. The company then passes on these savings to the consumer.
• No long-term contracts: We don’t lock you into a long contract. You can order oil when you need it.

Why Choose Marstellar Oil and Concrete as Your Heating Oil Supplier?

Duncannon-based Marstellar Oil and Concrete can meet all your home heating oil needs in the Central Pennsylvania region. We are a local family-owned company that is large enough to handle the biggest jobs while still offering a personal, community feel.

We leverage our bulk buying power and low overhead to offer affordable heating oil prices to homeowners in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and beyond. We also provide the flexibility to purchase in small quantities. Our minimum order requirement is only 50 gallons, which is ideal when your tank runs low during the winter and you need a quick, affordable refill.

Our online ordering process makes buying heating oil fast, easy and convenient. We can deliver your oil the next day, and same-day express delivery is available for a small fee. Contact us to learn more about the benefits of buying home heating oil in Central Pennsylvania and our online ordering process.