Oilheat-The Real Deal for Realtors
What makes selling Oilheated homes such a successful enterprise? Well, like so many other things, it comes down to money. But it's not just the money a homebuyer spends on a new home; it's the kind they'll be saving as well. They know that Oilheat has consistently cost less than other heating options over the past decade. Add that fact to the superb customer service that an Oilheat company provides, and a homebuyer becomes even more interested in making the deal.

Here are some of the benefits your residential, commercial and industrial customers will enjoy with Oilheat:

High efficiency oil system installations
Option of automatic or on-call delivery
Certified fuel oil tank readings
Certified efficiency tests
Oil tank repair, removal, testing and abandonment
Emergency fuel oil deliveries
Emergency equipment service
Faster, more reliable heating
• 33% higher efficiency than propane, and 65% higher efficiency than electric!
• Hot water made up to twice as fast as natural gas or propane, and five times faster than electric!
• With an indirect oil-fired water heater, you enjoy virtually free hot water; in the fall, winter and spring the water is heated by your current heating boiler
• Environmental friendliness; Oilheat emissions are so low that they are not subject to federal air or EPA regulations
• Freedom to choose your own oil supplier, unlike designated natural gas or electricity utilities

Personalized service from the industry's top technicians By promoting oil heated homes, you're giving customers a comfort choice that combines efficiency, safety, dependability and cleanliness. And with so many concerns going into a new home, homebuyers will love knowing that they have a private oil supplier keeping an eye on their comfort. Now more than ever, it's smart to recommend homes featuring oil heat.

The more you know about oil, the more homes you'll sell!

Over the years, real estate agents have been faced with many different questions from clients about oil heat.

With the following information to prepare you, you'll be able to serve your clients better in Washington. By eliminating unnecessary concerns for potential buys of oil-heated homes, you'll improve your hit ratio, create more impressive listing presentations and close more sales!

Oil dealers in Washington understand and respect how hard you work to support your clients. Please look to our oil heat dealers in your market area as a resource for information and help. It would be their pleasure to answer any questions you may have.

The truth about tanks.
"I love the house, but what about the oil tank?"

There are lots of misconceptions about oil tanks. Tanks can last for decades without needing replacement. When the time comes for replacement, there are many new options that can benefit the homeowner.

• With an oil storage tank on the property, the homeowner always has supply on hand.
• With a tank, homeowners pay for the fuel they are delivered - no estimates, no questions.
• According to a major national study, the chance of a leak from an underground heating oil tank is less than ¼ of 1%.
• There are no state or federal regulations requiring residential underground oil tanks to be removed if there is no leak.
• Advances in technology have resulted in the manufacture of tanks made from corrosion-resistant materials such as fiberglass. If properly installed and maintained, today's average oil tank can last as long as 50 years.

Homeowner Pollution Liability Insurance - FREE!

The Heating Oil Pollution Liability Insurance Program (PLIA) became effective in 1996 in recognition that liability for contamination resulting from a heating oil tank spill or leak can pose a serious potential financial hardship for homeowners and other heating oil users.

Recognizing the problem, heating oil dealers in Washington State crafted a program by which they have imposed a fee on themselves in order to provide pollution liability insurance coverage for every registered active heating oil tank in the state.

Here's how it works.

• Residential heating oil tanks are exempted from Washington State Department of Ecology regulations. However, even though heating oil is non-toxic, has no carcinogens, and is biodegradable, if a spill or leak is extensive, Ecology may require clean-up. The Heating Oil Pollution Liability Insurance Program would then cover clean-up costs.
• Coverage includes up to $60,000 per occurrence, per site, per year. (Costs covered by homeowners or other insurance are not included.)
• Covered are clean-up costs for your property, plus a third party's property. (Tank replacement is not covered.)
• Also provided is property damage restoration up to $1,500 each for your property, and a third party's property.

All active heating oil tanks in Washington state that have been registered with the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency, the administrator of the program, are eligible. And the best part is - IT'S FREE!

Want to know more about this one-of-a-kind insurance program for homeowners?
Call the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) at 800/822-3905.

Q: Is oilheat an efficient way to heat a home?

A: Yes. Oilheat has always provided efficient and affordable warmth and it's gotten even better in recent years. Many oil-fired systems now display the prestigious Energy Star label, which signifies that they are technologically advanced and clean burning. Some oilheat systems have efficiency ratings that exceed 90%.

Q: What's behind this success?

A: "Clearburn Science" has produced dramatic improvements in oilheat technology, with advances like the high static pressure flame retention burners, solid-state microprocessor electronic controls and cleaner burning fuel.

Q: Some clients may be concerned that oilheat isn't clean. What's the truth?

A: Just like old cars, older heating systems produced undesirable levels of combustion emissions. But today's oilheat technology has been tested by the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, and it has been found to be virtually soot-free! That's because the technology of Clearburn Science has increased the overall cleanliness of oilheat systems by 95% and made oilheat 99.9% clean.

That's one reason oilheat emissions aren't even regulated by the Federal Clean Air Act. Even with old systems, excess soot and dirt can be substantially reduced with regular, professional tune-ups.

Q: Is heating oil a good value?

Yes. Heating oil, like other forms of energy, is a commodity traded on the open market, so you can expect occasional blips - both up and down - in the price. But overall, the price of heating oil has remained exceptionally low. In fact, a few years ago, heating oil prices dropped to an historic 25-year low. Competition among local oilheat companies also plays a big role in giving homeowners more choices and better values.

Want more information on oil heat for your clients? Contact the Pacific Northwest Oil Heat Council to receive brochure information including the following:

• How Oilheat systems work
• Should homeowners be concerned about heating oil supplies?
• What's the easiest way for a homeowner to get a delivery?
• What if a buyer is faced with an old system?
• How does a homeowner know if a system should be replaced?
• Besides a total replacement, are there low-cost ways to improve an oilheat system's efficiency?
• Service and Safety
• Selling Tips, Facts and Tips for your home buyers

Give us a call at: 206/548-1500.

Email me at: lea@pnwoilheat.com

Write to me at: 3820 Stone Way N. - Seattle, WA 98103