2021-2022 Fixed Price Fuel Plans Now Available

2021-2022 Fixed Price Fuel Plans Now Available for Oil and Propane

Prepare for the heating season by enrolling in a fixed-price protection program for oil or propane! This plan performs well with stable or increasing market conditions, but remember, should the prices fall, you will remain ‘locked’ into your agreement price.

OPTION 1: EASYPAY FIXED-PRICE AGREEMENT

• You determine the number of gallons to purchase (up to 100% of your annual usage)

• Six equal payments – the first payment is due with the return of your 2021 price agreement

• Agreements available online at Quinoco.com

• Downside protection available for a fee of 25¢ per gallon

OPTION 2: SINGLEPAY FIXED-PRICE AGREEMENT

• You determine the number of gallons to purchase (up to 100% of your annual usage)

• Full payment due with return of 2021 price agreement

• Agreements available online at Quinoco.com

• Downside protection available for a fee of 25¢ per gallon

2021-2022 Fixed Price Fuel Plans are available from May 1st to October 31st on a first-come, first served basis.

To learn more about our Fixed Price Plans and sign up, visit Quinoco.com/fixedprice or call 860-583-4609.

*Fixed Price Fuel Plans available for automatic delivery and auto-pay customers only.

*12 month budget program available for oil and propane customers on a variable rate.

Delivering Biofuel for a Better Future

Delivering Biofuel for a Better Future

SMARTBIOFUEL

For the past decade, Quinoco has been delivering a product called SmartBiofuel, a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating oil with a bio component called biodiesel. Biodiesel is a heating oil replacement that is produced from a variety of renewable resources, such as plant oils, animal fats, and even algae, making it one of the most sustainable fuels on the planet.

What does this mean for you?

• It’s Clean! In fact, emissions of greenhouse gases from SmartBiofuel are lower than those from natural gas.

• It’s Cleansing! SmartBiofuel is a smoother fuel with a high lubricity which means that it cleans your tank and heating system as it burns and helps to extend the life of your equipment.

ULTRA-LOW SULFUR

Ten years ago, trucks were spewing black soot out of their stacks as they drove down the highway – have you noticed that doesn’t happen anymore? This is the result of reduced sulfur in the fuel. Just like the auto industry, the heating oil industry has been drastically reducing the sulfur content in our fuel. In fact, since 2018, all heating oil in CT has been mandated to be ultra-low sulfur.

What does this mean for you?

• It’s Clean! The lower the sulfur content, the less sulfur dioxide your system emits – sulfur dioxide contributes to acid rain and haze.

• It’s Efficient! Your heating system runs more efficiently which reduces the amount of fuel you use and helps lower the amount of equipment maintenance needed.

ADDITIVES

Fuel additives are where many heating oil companies differ when it comes to the quality of the fuel they deliver. Before delivering to your home, we mix an additive into our fuel called Heating Oil Plus, one of the most advanced additives on the market. Heating Oil Plus complements SmartBiofuel to reduce sulfur buildup, boost system performance and help to stabilize the fuel and protect the system’s components, especially in cold weather.

What does this mean for you?

• It’s Cleansing! Heating Oil Plus acts as a detergent that cleans your tank and heating system. It also prevents corrosion and degradation of the fuel which helps to extend the lifetime of your equipment.

Learn more about our SmartBiofuel at Quinoco.com/heating-oil and if you’re interested in our Fixed Price Fuel Plans, please visit Quinoco.com/fixedprice.

Around the Oil Tank

Around the Oil Tank

It’s been a whirlwind 18 months here at Quinoco! From pandemic practices to exciting enhancements to the Quinoco experience, we’ve compiled a few highlights to share ‘Around the Oil Tank’:

Have you checked out the all new Quinoco.com?

Our new website launched in February with easier to navigate menus, an updated online scheduler for tune ups, lots of new pictures, promotions and a blog! Explore the new Quinoco.com!

The HVAC side of our business has seen all new levels of appreciation due to COVID-19.

Beyond safely repairing, replacing and maintaining your equipment, our team increasingly fields questions on Indoor Air Quality products and how they can reduce the presence of coronavirus in the home. To learn about our indoor air quality products and how they can help you breathe easier, visit Quinoco.com/home-air-quality.

During times of social distancing, it’s been important for the Quinoco team to keep our spirit!

So how have we stayed connected? BINGO! We hosted a virtual bingo night for Quinoco families and have had special themed days like wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness month or don your favorite cap for National Hat Day. To follow along with the latest from Quinoco and stay connected, follow us on Facebook! @QuinocoEnergyServicesInc

The Quinoco family continues to grow!

If you’ve got experience in the HVAC industry or hold a valid CDL/Hazmat/Tanker/TWIC license, we’re always looking for great new additions to our team. Visit our Careers page or send your resume to HR@quinoco.com.

Happy Anniversary Jim!

Our ‘new’ General Manager Jim Hickey is coming up on his one-year anniversary as GM at Quinoco. We know most of you haven’t met him yet due to COVID so let us introduce you:

Jim has been with the company since 2007 and has over 37 years of experience in the heating and cooling industry. Having started his career as a service technician and holding numerous positions since then, Jim has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to lend our customers.

Home SWEAT Home

Home SWEAT Home

It’s now been a year since the EPA finished phasing out Freon/R-22 as a refrigerant in air conditioning units. While we saw many customers replace their units in 2020, we encourage those who haven’t to be proactive and start taking steps now for replacement.

Remember that Freon is no longer available for purchase so it will become increasingly difficult to repair these units as they age. While some units might have the option to be retrofitted to utilize a different refrigerant, it’s important to evaluate the recurring costs of servicing older units compared to installing a new efficient model that will lower your energy costs.

Reduce Virus Spread with Indoor Air Quality

YOU ARE WHAT YOU BREATHE

As we continue to live with COVID-19 this winter, it's important to think about the quality of the air you breathe inside your home and how it could potentially affect you and your family. Indoor air is up to 8 times more polluted than outdoor air which is why Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is one of the EPA's top 5 health threats!

Many large corporations, specifically sports teams, have recognized the importance of air quality and have looked to improving IAQ in their office buildings and locker rooms to reduce sickness and improve productivity. At our own office, we have had an air purification system installed in our HVAC system for years and we’re excited to announce that it is available for home installation.

The system is called AtmosAir and it uses ionization to restore air to its natural state - no pollution or contaminants. Air ions are nature’s method of cleaning the air, the higher the level of ions, the more pristine the air quality. AtmosAir is designed to increase air ions in an indoor space to similar levels to that of a mountaintop.

BENEFITS OF IONIZATION:

• Reduces Mold, Bacteria, Viruses, Germs: the reproductive cycle is interrupted and colony forming units decrease.

• Reduces Particles: particles are neutralized and literally fall to the floor to be vacuumed up the next time you clean.

• Controls Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): gets rid of all odors including cooking odors.

• Neutralizes Static: neutralizes all charges in the air and eliminates static electricity.

What is a Heat Pump?

What's a Heat Pump?
And How can it Cool your Home?

Most would automatically assume that a piece of equipment called a ‘Heat Pump’ would have a function related to heating. While this is true, the name is deceiving as a heat pump actually has duel functionality and can be used to both heat and cool a home.

In the summer time, a heat pump and an air conditioner are essentially the same thing, they both take heat from inside the house, transfer it through a refrigerant and deposit it outside, leaving the inside cool. What makes the heat pump different is that it can be reversed so that instead of depositing the hot air outside, it pushes it inside to heat your home (hence the name!).

Another great feature of heat pumps is that they don’t require ductwork which adds to their versatility. And while they are typically not used as the single heat source for a home, they are a great way to offset your energy bill in late fall and early spring when the days are cooler.

The 4 more common uses for ductless heat pumps:

• As a supplement to a central AC system/heating system: for spaces that were added on to a house or are located at the furthest end of the existing ductwork

• For rooms that need additional heating & cooling: such as a sunroom or for a space that requires independent temperature control such as a home office

• As a cost efficient alternative for an additional living space: such as bonus rooms, studios, cottages & barns, garages, finished attics & basements

• For homes/spaces that cannot accommodate conventional ductwork: older homes and antique homes typically do not have space to install ductwork

Bioheat Heating Oil: Q&A

Bioheat Heating Oil: Q&A

What is Bioheat?

Bioheat is a blend of ultra-low sulfur heating fuel with biodiesel, a domestic, sustainable heating oil replacement.

What is Biodiesel?

Biodiesel is a heating oil replacement that is produced from a variety of renewable resources, such as plant oils, animal fats, recycled grease, and even algae, making it one of the most sustainable fuels on the planet. Annually, it generates approximately $16.8 billion dollars for the U.S. economy and creates more than 62,000 jobs.

Where is Bioheat made?

The crops used to create Bioheat are grown in the United States and it is blended right here in Connecticut. The blends currently range from B5 fuel containing 5% plant content to B20, which contains 20%.

Is Bioheat cleaner than natural gas?

Yes! Bioheat is cleaner than natural gas. In a 20 year atmospheric life cycle analysis conducted by Brookhaven National Laboratories, emissions of greenhouse gases from Bioheat blends as low as 1.8% have been proven to be lower than those from natural gas.

Does Bioheat cost more?

No, in fact Bioheat can save you money because it helps your heating equipment run more efficiently, which extends the life of the equipment and can lead to fewer tune-ups.

Do I have Bioheat?

Yes! Quinoco has been delivering Bioheat for the past 5 years, branded as SmartBiofuel. In fact, almost every gallon of heating fuel delivered in Connecticut is Bioheat with more than 600 companies delivering it locally in the state.

What is the future of Bioheat?

The industry is committed to continually improving the product that we deliver; in fact, today’s heating oil burns 95% cleaner than it did 50 years ago and with drastically reduced sulfur content as well as alternative solutions like biodiesel blends, the product will continue to burn cleaner thus cutting greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, if the U.S. followed Connecticut’s lead and switched to a 5% Bioheat blend, the country would burn approximately 187 million gallons less of regular heating oil. If that were a 20% blend, that number quadruples!

Replacing your Oil Tank

When to Replace your Oil Tank

When we talk about the products and services we provide to homeowners, they are all extremely important and affect our lives every day – heat for our homes, hot water, protection from power outages, etc.

But they aren’t considered fun or exciting things that anyone WANTS to buy. When was the last time you caught yourself wanting to purchase a new Bioheat tank!? For this reason, homeowners often let their equipment, and especially their tanks, go way past their life expectancy.

When to replace your Oil tank:

While there are a couple signs on the outside of the tank that will indicate that it should be replaced (corrosion and wet marks), most damage is unseen. Older tanks often have moisture and sediment that have built up over time which can cause corrosion and create holes. If not replaced in time, the tank could start to leak. If you have any question about your tank, reach out to us to come take a look.

Benefits of a new Oil tank:

With the cleanliness of fuel today, the biggest benefit of putting a new tank in is that it will last a long time and will never see the problems of tanks from many years ago. The bio component in todays oil acts as a cleanser that actively cleans the inside of the tank and prevents buildup. With the percentage of bio planned to increase over the next several years, installing a new tank now is a great investment. Also, having a new tank helps your heating equipment run more efficiently.

So don’t forget about the tank in your basement, replacing it is quick and easy – we are in and out in one day.