The P. Gagnon & Son Blog

Important Information About Your Fuel Deliveries

Fuel delivery truck

Posted: February 25, 2016

Do you get automatic deliveries from P. Gagnon & Son? If you do, then you probably know that we compile important information that allows us to schedule your deliveries accurately and always keep enough oil or propane in your tank. This information includes: the size of your home and its insulation, your heating system’s efficiency level, the size of your fuel tank and the number of people who live in your home.

Having this information allows us to calculate your “burn rate,” or the number of gallons you historically use. We supplement this further by keeping track of degree-days—which indicate how cold the weather has been—because this affects fuel use too.

That’s why it’s important to let us know if something changes in your household. We can then adjust your burn rate accordingly to prevent the risk of a run-out. Here are examples of lifestyle changes that can make you use more (or less) fuel.

  • Keeping the house warmer than usual (because of a new baby or family illness).
  • Children moving into or out of the home.
  • Parent or other relative moving in.
  • Leaving for a long vacation. (If your house will be empty for an extended period during the winter, please set the thermostat no lower than 60°F to prevent frozen pipes. You should also have someone check on your home frequently.)
  • Remodeling.
  • Guests staying for an extended period (during the holidays, for example).
  • Skipping an annual extended winter vacation.

Please contact us if any of these situations applies (or may soon apply) to your household. When you communicate with us, we can make sure that you and your family keep warm all winter long.