What To Do Before Autumn Hits

There are just weeks left to the summer season. And it’s been a scorcher. We’ve seen some of the hottest days on record in Connecticut! That means your AC has had to work really hard to keep your family cool and comfortable. And all that hard work may have taken a toll. How you treat your AC now will help determine what kind of shape it’s in when you need it again next summer.

Your End of Summer AC Checklist

Hot and humid summers like the one we’ve had in Connecticut this year put a big strain on cooling systems (especially if they’re older). Now is a good time to check for wear and tear and make sure your AC will be primed and ready to go when next summer rolls around.

Here are five things to do before the summer ends to care for your central air conditioning system:

1. Replace the air filter. Hopefully this is something you’ve been doing regularly throughout the summer. Changing your air filters on a consistent basis is an easy and cost-effective way to help your air conditioner perform better. Change them again now before the start of heating season. This is especially important if you have a combined heating/cooling HVAC system.
2. Clean around the outdoor unit. Make sure nothing is blocking the airflow. Clear away bushes, grass, nests, leaves etc.
3. Clean and clear the coils and condensate line. This is best done by a professional as part of a maintenance visit. Jennings Oil & Propane provides expert AC maintenance and repairs. We’ll make sure that your AC is in good working order so that there are no unpleasant surprises in the future. Regular professional maintenance is the best way to prevent breakdowns and keep your AC running as efficiently as possible. And having an efficient cooling system will lower your energy costs.
4. Check for problems. Look for any obvious frayed wires or rust. Listen for unusual sounds. If you see or hear anything out of the ordinary, contact Jennings Oil & Propane to request a service visit. Other things to look out for at the end of the summer season are refrigerant leaks and frozen coils.
5. Schedule a tune-up. Especially if you didn’t get maintenance for your AC during the spring or early summer, you should do it now. End of summer or early autumn is an ideal time to schedule maintenance for your AC. Getting a tune-up now puts you in great shape for next summer. There’s no advantage to doing it now, as tune-ups don’t expire. And if there is an issue with your AC, it’s best to discover and address it now versus next spring or summer. If your AC needs significant repairs or replacement, better to start the process now and have plenty of time to order parts even if supply chain issues slow things down.

Maintenance Matters

The best thing to do before autumn is to schedule a maintenance visit for your AC. Regular maintenance will extend the life of your home’s cooling system. It could also save you up to 10% on your energy bills. When you schedule a maintenance visit with Jennings Oil & Propane, one of our experts will test, assess, clean, and lubricate your central air conditioning system so that you won’t have to wonder if it will work for you next summer.

If your central air conditioning system is past a certain age and just isn’t able to efficiently cool your home anymore, one of our technicians will let you know it’s time for an upgrade. Don’t worry, you’re still in good hands. Jennings Oil & Propane also handles sales and installations. We can even help you find discounts and a financing solution that meets your needs.

So whether you’re AC needs to be replaced, repaired, or just maintained, Jennings Oil & Propane can handle it.

Get Comfortable with Jennings Oil & Propane

Jennings Oil & Propane has more than 80 years of experience providing excellent service to our customers in parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties in Connecticut.

Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a maintenance visit for your central air conditioning system

Important Reminders

At Jennings Oil & Propane, we care about the safety of our customers. Severe thunderstorms are an unfortunate part of the summer season. When extreme weather threatens, you want to do everything you can to prioritize the safety of everyone in your Connecticut household. Here are some important things you should know about thunderstorms and propane safety.

Once there’s a storm in the forecast, you don’t need to panic, but it is time to act. Here’s what to do before, during, and after a thunderstorm:

1. Look for leaks. This is a good habit to have even when there’s no storm in the forecast. But especially before a storm hits, check for propane leaks. Even a small leak can lead to big problems. Now is also a good time to make sure everyone in your household knows how to identify a leak and what to do in the event of a leak.
2. Find your gas main. Every homeowner should know where their gas main is and know how to turn it off. If you need to evacuate your home because of a storm, you should turn off the gas main before leaving. A tank that’s damaged during a storm and begins to leak could cause a fire if the gas main is left on.
3. Stay away. Whenever there’s a storm, be mindful of and keep your distance from power lines and anything that is a conductor. That includes your propane tank!
4. Stay alert. Remain informed and follow all instructions from local emergency personnel and community leaders providing safety updates.
5. Remain observant. After the storm has passed and it’s safe to go outside, look for fallen trees and downed power lines that might affect your property. Make sure your propane tank and gas line are intact.
6. Inspect your appliances. Examine your appliances. Look for visible damage and run each appliance to make sure it’s working properly. If any of your propane appliances need to be repaired or replaced, the pros at Jennings Oil & Propane can help.
7. No candles! Even if the electricity is out, do not burn candles when you’re inspecting your propane appliances or your propane tank. You could start a fire!

For additional propane safety tips, click here.

Stay Safe & Comfortable

You can stay safe and get comfortable with Jennings Oil & Propane. We are a top-rated company with over 80 years of experience providing excellent service to our customers in parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties in Connecticut.

If you’re looking to switch propane companies, we make it easy to become a Jennings Oil & Propane customer. Contact us today!

Tips for Lowering Your Energy Costs

If you’re planning a trip this summer, almost every part of it is going to cost you more. Everything from gas to airline tickets to car rentals has gotten more expensive. At Jennings Oil & Propane, your comfort matters to us. But we don’t just want you to be comfortable in your Connecticut home, we want you to be comfortable with your energy bills as well.

Here are five tips for saving energy (and money on your energy bills) while you’re away on vacation this summer.

5 Money-Saving Tips

Before you take off on your next trip, add the following five items to your pre-vacation checklist and you could save a significant amount of money on energy costs while you’re away. That’s money you can put to enjoying your trip even more or save for your next getaway.

1. Raise the temp on your AC. If your Connecticut home will be empty while you’re away, then you don’t need to spend money keeping it as cool as you would when you’re there. You can set the temperature on your AC as high at 85 degrees Fahrenheit for the time you’re away. If you have a programmable thermostat with a calendar feature, you can change the settings for the dates you’ll be away and set your regular settings to resume a few hours before your return, so everything is just right temperature-wise when you get home. Don’t have a thermostat or want to upgrade to a programmable model? Jennings Oil & Propane sells and installs high-quality thermostats.
2. Lower the temp on your water heater. You don’t need to keep your home cool while you’re away, and you don’t need to keep your water as hot either. Consider this: heating water accounts for approximately 20% of your home’s energy costs. A lot of water heaters have a vacation setting. If yours doesn’t, you can set the temperature to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Unplug appliances. We call certain appliances “energy vampires,” because even when they’re not in use, they suck up energy. Unplug anything with a display or indicator light or that is usually on standby mode. Unplug your coffee maker, toaster, and other kitchen appliances. Unplug your electronic chargers. Unplug your TV, washer & dryer, computers, printers, and gaming consoles. Unless you’re planning to record shows on your DVR, you can unplug your modems, routers, and cable boxes too.
4. Install timers and motion sensors. Although you want to unplug as many appliances as possible to save on your energy bill, it’s best to utilize some of the lights in and around your house so that it isn’t completely dark every night you’re away. A home that stays dark day and night can attract burglars. Adding motion sensors to you outdoor lighting and putting a few indoor lights on timers are two cost-effective security measures you can take.
5. Close your blinds and/or curtains. This habit will save you money when you’re home and when you’re away. Close your home’s blinds and curtains to the sun to help it stay cooler without demanding as much of your AC system. It’s also a safety measure while you’re away because outsiders won’t be able to see into your home.

As a heating oil customer, you can also save money all year long by signing up for price protection.

Get Comfortable with Jennings Oil & Propane

Jennings Oil & Propane has more than 40 years of experience providing excellent service to our customers in parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties in Connecticut. We also care about helping our customers save money and budget their energy costs.

Contact us today to learn more.

Get More Out of Your Backyard

Propane is a tremendously versatile fuel. It can do so much more than heat your home, heat your home’s water, or run indoor appliances like the clothes dryer. Propane can help you get even more out of your great outdoors—your backyard. You can upgrade your outdoor space with any number of amazing propane products that will add function and fun to your summer.

Using Propane Outdoors

Here are four products that can make your backyard the best place to be this summer and beyond:

1. Propane Grills: Cook like a pro with the precision temperature control of a propane gas grill. Depending on whether you’re more burgers and hot dogs or short ribs and steaks, you can keep it simple or add fun features like rotisseries, side burners, smoker boxes, and more.
2. Propane Fire Pits: Sit around the fire telling stories, singing songs, or making smores. A propane firepit is a great alternative to a traditional wood firepit. They’re easy to use (you can have fire at the flip of a switch), and you won’t have to worry about ash, smoke, or soot—or keeping enough wood on hand.
3. Propane Pool Heaters: A propane pool heater can keep your pool’s temperature comfortable all summer long and well into the fall.
4. Propane Outdoor Lighting: Add function and ambiance to your outdoor space with propane lighting.

Whichever propane product(s) you choose to add to your backyard, Jennings Oil & Propane is here to make sure you always have the propane you need to keep everything running. We provide propane at a competitive price and with stellar service.

Choose Jennings Oil & Propane

Get comfortable with Jennings Oil & Propane. Make the most out of your great outdoors with any of the above propane products, and then leave the propane delivery to us.

Jennings Oil & Propane is a top-rated company with over 80 years of experience providing excellent service to our customers in parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties in Connecticut.

Contact us today to request a propane delivery, sign up for automatic delivery, or to learn more about what Jennings Oil & Propane can do for you.

Important Prep Steps to Take This Spring

Spring has sprung in Connecticut! As the temperatures warm-up, it’s a good time to make sure your AC will be able to keep you and your family cool no matter how hot it gets this summer.

Age Matters

The first thing you need to do is determine how old your AC system is. If it’s 15 years or older, it’s time to think about upgrading—even if you’re confident your AC system is still doing the job. Consider this: Older ACs can have a SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating as low as 6. Current models have a SEER rating of 15 or higher. Having an AC with a high SEER rating could save your money on your cooling bills in just one season. So, if your unit is on the older side, consider upgrading now to save money in the long run.

If you need to upgrade your central AC system, the sales and technical staff at Jennings Oil & Propane can help you choose the best central AC system for your family’s needs. They are knowledgeable about the equipment options available as well as any discounts you can take advantage of. The installation will be scheduled at your convenience. And we’ll remove your old unit!

Before You Turn Your A/C On…

Here are some things you should check and do before you run your AC for the first time:

1. Check the thermostat. If it’s not working well, neither will your HVAC system. Now is a good time to replace your thermostat’s batteries. And if you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, you should consider investing in one. Programmable thermostats are a simple and cost-effective ways to gain control over energy bills all year long.
2. Check your vents. Makes sure nothing will block the cool air coming out of your vents (e.g., drapes, curtains, furniture, etc.).
3. Check your ductwork. If you have a duct leak, you could lose up to 15% of the air your unit has cooled. Seal up any obvious leaks and fix out-of-place duct joints in exposed ductwork areas.
4. Clear the drain line. This will ensure that water won’t get diverted back into your home or toward your foundation and cause problems.
5. Check your AC filter. Blockages will reduce your system’s efficiency, and a chronically blocked AC filter could cause your cooling system to fail. Make a habit of checking your air filter monthly. Replace it (or clean it if you have a model that can be cleaned) as needed.
6. Check your electrical lines. Wiring problems could cause you to lose power to your AC. Check all electrical connections and circuit breakers.
7. Clean the outdoor condenser unit. Check for and remove any debris like leaves, twigs, and nests to make sure there’s adequate airflow throughout the entire home cooling system chain.

Once you start using your AC, check for signs of a refrigerant leak. To do this, keep an eye out for poor cooling, ice on the evaporator coils, and fluid spots near your AC condenser.

Professional A/C Maintenance

The best thing to do before you turn your AC on is to schedule a maintenance visit. Regular maintenance will extend the life of your home’s cooling system. It could also save you up to 10% on your energy bills this summer. When you schedule a maintenance visit with Jennings Oil & Propane, one of our experts will test, assess, clean, and lubricate your central air conditioning system.

Get Comfortable with Jennings Oil & Propane

Jennings Oil & Propane has more than 40 years of experience providing excellent service to our customers in parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties in Connecticut. We also care about helping our customers save money and budget their energy costs.

Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a maintenance visit for your central air conditioning system

Find Out How to Make Your Fuel Payments More Manageable

Thanks to current events around the world, there is a lot of anxiety about heating costs right. You’ve probably already experienced some price increases that have affected the budget for your Connecticut home. Here at Jennings Oil & Propane, we know only too well that this is causing hardship and concern for many of our customers.

One option we hope our heating oil and propane customers will take advantage of, is our EZ Pay monthly payment plan. As an EZ Pay customer, you’ll see the total of your annual fuel bills spread out throughout the year into 12 even installments. That way, you won’t get hit with three or four giant bills during the winter months, and you won’t need to worry that a much-needed delivery is due to arrive when prices are at their highest or your budget is particularly strapped. Our EZ Pay plan starts in August and runs thru to July.

Perhaps best of all, you don’t pay any more to be participate in this program. Enrollment costs you absolutely nothing.

EZ Pay Plan Benefits

With our EZ Pay Plan:

1. You don’t use more fuel than you normally would.
2. We only charge you for the fuel you receive, and we charge you the market price on the day of your delivery.
3. You can make your bills more predictable and manageable at a time when heating fuel prices are fluctuating like crazy.
4. You’ll have more cash on hand during the winter months.
5. Even if you need two deliveries during a particularly cold month, your monthly payment won’t change.
6. If you have a growing balance, you’ll never pay any finance charges.

How We Calculate Monthly Payments

We start by estimating your annual payments based on your past fuel use. Then:

• We multiply your annual fuel use by this year’s projected price
• We then divide that yearly total into 12 lower, even monthly payments.]

So instead of paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars for each delivery, you cut your winter bills by more than half.

If your actual bills are a little higher or lower than we estimated, we will make the necessary adjustments during the winter.

Thousands of customers have already enrolled in our EZ Pay plan because they have found this program to be an effective way to make a tough situation a little bit easier.

Many people pay for 80% of their fuel in just four or five months. This naturally results in big winter fuel payments. By signing up for the EZ Pay plan, you’ll eliminate that seasonal spike in your heating fuel costs.

We’re on Your Side

Jennings Oil & Propane wants to offer you the most competitive price we can while providing you with the dependable service and quality fuel that keeps your family safe and warm.

Many of you have been our customers for years. We appreciate your loyalty to Jennings and rest assured; we are doing our best to help you navigate through these difficult times.

We greatly appreciate your understanding and remain committed to taking the best care of your family, no matter what happens with the price of heating fuel.

Get comfortable

So why not get comfortable with Jennings Oil & Propane? We are a top-rated company with over 80 years of experience providing excellent service to our customers in parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties in Connecticut. We also care about helping our customers save money and budget their energy costs.

Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of being a Jennings Oil & Propane EZ Pay customer.

Is There a Difference?

A thermostat is a great way to gain greater control over your family’s comfort and save money. By installing a smart or programmable thermostat in your Connecticut home, you’ll help your HVAC system run more efficiently.

During the winter months, using a thermostat properly can help you save money on your heating costs. You’ll also save money on cooling costs during the summer.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), the lower the interior temperature, the slower the heat loss. The longer your house remains at the lower temperature, the more energy you save because your house has lost less energy than it would have at the higher temperature.

The Energy Department concludes that you can save as much as 10% a year on annual energy costs by simply adjusting your thermostat 7°-10°F for eight hours a day from its normal setting.

Jennings Oil & Propane Can Help You Save

We can help you take full advantage of this comfort-increasing and cost-saving technology.

The manual mercury switch thermostat is quickly becoming a relic. Modern thermostats are technologically advanced. There are programmable thermostats and smart thermostats. What’s the difference? Let’s explore the features of each.

Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats offer digital displays and can store data. You can set a programmable thermostat so that it adjusts the temperature in your home according to the time of day.

For example, set a programmable thermostat to lower the temperature in your home during the nighttime hours that you and your family will be sleeping and during the daytime hours that you and your family will be away at work or school.

Set it to raise the temperature in your home in the morning before everyone wakes up and again in the afternoon or evening before your family returns home. A programmable thermostat is capable of multiple settings. You can have a weekend setting and a vacation setting as well.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats give you even more control than programmable thermostats. They connect to your electronic devices. That means you can check and control your smart thermostat from wherever you have a wireless signal.

Smart thermostats will learn your family’s heating and cooling habits and create a schedule that complements them. You may even be able to connect your smart thermostat to your home’s virtual assistant and use voice commands to control it. Some will also adjust your home’s temperature based on the weather outside!

Please go here to see an example of a smart thermostat that we can install for you.

Connect with Us

Get comfortable with Jennings Oil & Propane! Our top-rated company has more than 80 years of experience providing heating and cooling services to our customers in Danbury, Kent, New Milford, Newtown, Ridgefield, Southbury, and surrounding towns in parts of Connecticut’s Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties.

Contact us today to learn more about your thermostat options. Don’t be intimidated by this technology. When you buy your thermostat from Jennings Oil & Propane, we’ll also show you how to use it.

Why Your Bills Are Going Up

Dear Valued Customer,

Once again, we’re seeing energy prices surge across the board. We know how painful that can be for our customers. It’s painful for us, as well.

What’s Going On?

Gasoline has risen more than a dollar more per gallon vs. a year ago. Natural gas prices have skyrocketed more than 150%. Crude oil prices have climbed above $100 per barrel, a level we haven’t seen in seven years. Wholesale propane prices have hit their highest weekly average levels since February 2014.

The cost of electricity has not been spared either. Higher natural gas prices result in price hikes for wholesale electricity because of heavy reliance on natural gas-fired power plants.

Read more about the factors that are driving today’s energy market.

What We’re Doing

People sometimes misunderstand how negatively this impacts businesses as well. Businesses usually don’t make more money when prices rise – we have to pay more to get the same fuel. It’s not the local businesses that are profiting. (That’s left to the Wall Street investors.) The sooner energy prices drop, the happier we’ll be.

In the meantime, please talk to us about things we can offer to help you reduce your energy costs, or handle payments more easily. And if you are having trouble with your bills, please call us. We can generally work with you if you reach out before you fall behind.

Trust Us to Come Through for You

We’ve been in business for over 40 years and have deep roots in the communities we serve. We have secure access to supply and storage at both of our facilities. We are doing everything possible to ensure we can deliver — even if other companies cannot.

We thank you for your understanding and we appreciate your loyalty. As we’ve done quite a few times in the past, we will get through these tough times by all working together.

Important reminders for the season

At Jennings Oil & Propane, we want our customers to stay safe and warm in their Connecticut homes this winter. So let’s review some of the important things you should do and know to protect your family, keep them comfortable, and help our team serve you safely.

General reminders

• Make sure our delivery crew can safely access your property. Remove snow and ice from your walkway and driveway.
• If you’re not one of our automatic delivery customers, keep a close eye on your fuel levels and call us for a delivery before your tank is less than ¼ full.
• If you’d rather leave the calculating and scheduling to us, become an automatic delivery customer. It’s a service we offer all our heating oil customers and our propane customers in parts of Fairfield and Litchfield.

Reminders for our propane customers

• Fasten a brightly-colored flag to the top of your tank. This will help our delivery drivers find it in the snow and on low visibility days.
• Always maintain a clear path to your tank. 
• Never use a shovel when clearing off the tank itself. You could damage your tank and end up with a leak.
• Check your vents and flues for obstructions on a regular basis. This is an important safety step because it helps prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide in your house. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious medical emergency that can be fatal. 
• Test your carbon monoxide detectors monthly and replace their batteries twice a year. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for replacing the whole unit (on average, every 5 to 7 years).
• Make sure everyone in your home knows how to identify and respond to a propane leak. Click here for a refresher.

Reminders for our heating oil customers

• Maintain a clear a path to your fill pipe. And keep the fill pipe free of snow and ice.

No heat? Follow these steps

The best way to keep your system running well is to schedule regular preventative service visits, however, here’s how to troubleshoot your oil heating system when your heat is out:

1. Check how much heating oil you have. If you have less than 1/8 of a tank, call Jennings for a delivery. If you have more than 1/8 of a tank, go to step 2.
2. Raise your thermostat’s temperature to at least five degrees. (Also check that your thermostat is set to “auto” or “heat” and your fan is set to “on” or “auto.”) If your heating system doesn’t start up after a few minutes, go to step 3.
3. Are all your system’s power switches set to the “on” position? If yes, go to step
4. Check your fuses and circuit breakers. If everything looks right, go to step 5 if you have a boiler and step 6 if you have a furnace.
5. If you have a hot water boiler, go to step 7. If you have a steam boiler, check the water level in the gauge glass. Is it at least ½ full? If yes, go to step 7.
6. If you have a furnace, make sure your filters are clean and all your vents are open and unobstructed. Important: Before you check the filters, make sure to turn off the power to your system. Confirm that the gas control valve to the furnace is open. If everything is as it should be, go to step 7.
7. Press and hold the “reset” button on the burner for 3 seconds. Important: Do not push this button more than once. If your heat still doesn’t come on, it’s time to contact Jennings Oil & Propane for service.

For a step-by-step trouble-shooting guide, click here.

Get comfortable with Jennings Oil & Propane. We are a top-rated company with over 80 years of experience providing excellent service to our customers in parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties in Connecticut. Whether you need service or a fuel delivery, you’ll get comfortable with us.

Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your next fuel delivery or service visit.

You’ll be comfortable with us

If you use propane in and around your Connecticut home, there are many benefits to being a Jennings Oil & Propane customer.

Jennings Oil & Propane makes the following guarantees to our customers:

• We offer competitive propane prices.
• You’ll have peace of mind when you enroll for services like automatic delivery and propane tank monitoring because you’ll no longer have to worry about having a run-out.
• Our professional drivers make reliable fuel deliveries.
• We offer a free gas check.
• You’ll enjoy having no lease fees for your first year.
• We provide fast and safe installations of propane heating systems, tanks and appliances, including boilers, furnaces, and water heaters.
• We can help you make the decision of whether or not to convert your oil furnace or boiler to propane.
• We provide expert repair and maintenance services for propane equipment as well as propane tank maintenance.
• We’re available 24 hours a day for emergency service.
• Our employees are responsive and courteous. Excellent customer service is one of our priorities.

We make switching easy

There are so many benefits to being a Jennings Oil & Propane customer. If you’re ready to make the switch, we will make it as easy as possible and offer a number of great incentives.

When you join the Jennings family of propane customers, we’ll give you a free tank swap and system leak test if you lease your tank. We can also install a wireless tank monitor at no additional charge to keep track of your propane levels and help prevent a run-out. Finally, new customers have their tank lease fees waived for the first year. That’s a savings you’ll notice!

So why not get comfortable with Jennings Oil & Propane? We are a top-rated company with over 80 years of experience providing excellent service to our customers in parts of Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties in Connecticut. We also care about helping our customers save money and budget their energy costs.

Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of being a Jennings Oil & Propane customer. Then make the switch.