Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about HeatPrice and shopping for heating oil — how the prices work, how to compare dealers, and what we cover.
About HeatPrice
Who's behind HeatPrice, how it stays neutral, and why the price you see is the dealer's own — not a markup or paid placement.
Is HeatPrice affiliated with any oil dealer, and who's behind it?
HeatPrice is independent — not owned by or affiliated with any fuel dealer, and we don't sell, broker, or take payment. The editorial content is AI-assisted and human-reviewed under editor Nick Bruzzi, but the prices themselves aren't AI-generated — they're collected from dealers' own public listings.
Is HeatPrice a broker or a dealer?
HeatPrice is not a fuel dealer and does not deliver fuel, and we're not a broker either — we don't take a cut of any sale. Because no margin of ours sits inside the price, what you see is the dealer's own listed price, not a markup.
Do dealers pay to be listed or ranked higher on HeatPrice?
No — there's no paid placement, and we do not currently charge commissions or listing fees. Dealers are sorted by their own publicly-listed price, lowest first by default, not by what they pay us; a dealer's optional paid subscription unlocks dashboard features like analytics and editing tools, never ranking or inclusion.
Does HeatPrice pick a 'best' dealer for me?
No — we never rank, rate, or endorse any dealer. We simply sort listings by each dealer's own publicly-listed price, lowest first by default so you can spot the best local rate, or by name if you prefer — dealers set their own prices, and you decide.
Why doesn't HeatPrice just sell or broker the oil?
A broker's markup and routing incentive are exactly what we exist to strip out — the moment we take a cut or steer your call, the price stops being neutral. HeatPrice just shows you dealers' own published prices so you can decide for yourself.
Do I order or pay through HeatPrice?
You don't order or pay through HeatPrice — there are no lead forms and no call routing. You find a dealer's listing, then contact that dealer directly, by phone or their own site, to place your order and pay them.
Does HeatPrice send my details to dealers or sell my information?
There's nothing of yours to hand over to a dealer, and we don't sell your information. That's because there are no lead forms or call routing — you contact dealers yourself, so we never collect your contact details in the first place.
Prices & accuracy
How current the listed prices are, why they're a starting point rather than a verified quote, and how to read them.
Are the heating oil prices here verified?
No — prices are collected from dealers' public listings, not independently verified by us. A dealer can claim their listing to correct it, some listings may still be unclaimed, and you should confirm the price directly with the dealer before you order.
Why should I trust a price you haven't verified?
Think of it as a starting point that shrinks your call list, not a guaranteed quote — instead of phoning every dealer in your area, you see published prices up front and only call the ones worth calling. Confirm the current price with the dealer before you order.
How current are these prices?
Prices reflect the most recent public listings we collected and may be days or weeks out of date. Each listing shows its own date, so confirm the current price with the dealer before you order.
Why is the price a dealer quotes me different from the listed price?
The listing is a published price we collected, not a personal quote for your delivery. What you actually pay can vary with order size, payment method, your address, and how recently the dealer changed prices, so confirm the number directly with the dealer.
Is the area average enough, or should I use the per-dealer prices?
The area average is useful context, but it isn't a quote — it can hide a wide spread between individual dealers. When that spread is wide, the per-dealer prices in the table are the real numbers to shop from.
What does heating oil cost right now?
There's no single answer — prices differ by dealer and change over time, so we show the current range for your area rather than one blended average. See the live page for your area for the current listings.
Comparing & buying oil
How to compare dealers, weigh service models and contracts, and time a heating-oil purchase.
How do I start comparing dealers?
Start by entering your zip code — that narrows everything down to your area. From there, browse the listings and contact whichever dealers interest you directly to confirm the price and place an order.
What is heating oil, and how is it delivered?
Heating oil is a petroleum fuel burned in a home furnace or boiler for heat, unlike natural gas or electricity, which arrive through a utility line. A local dealer delivers it by truck and pumps it into a tank stored on your property.
Is the lowest price here automatically my best deal?
Not automatically — a high delivery minimum or a missing service you need can flip which dealer actually costs less for you. Weigh the minimum and the service model alongside the listed price before you decide.
What's a delivery minimum, and why does it matter to me?
Many dealers require a minimum number of gallons per delivery, and if your tank can't hold enough to hit it, the lowest per-gallon price on the page doesn't actually apply to you. Check the minimum alongside the price before you choose a dealer.
COD or full-service — which is actually cheaper for me?
It depends on your system. A reliable, modern furnace or boiler usually comes out ahead on COD plus a self-arranged tune-up, while an older, breakdown-prone system can make the full-service premium buy real protection.
Should I lock in with a pre-buy or price-cap?
Only if you expect prices to rise — a pre-buy or price-cap protects you against a spike, not against prices falling. And a pre-buy ties up your money with one dealer ahead of delivery, so read the contract terms and make sure you're comfortable with the dealer before you lock in.
When's the cheapest time of year to buy?
Summer is the common assumption, but it isn't a guarantee every year — off-season buying tends to help on average, not always. Check the price-history view for your area before you time a purchase.
Should I switch heating oil dealers, or stay with the one I have?
Dealers set their own prices, so staying loyal doesn't guarantee you the best rate. Comparing shows you whether your current price sits above or below the local range — though reliability and exit terms matter too, not price alone.
How do I confirm a dealer actually delivers to my street?
Coverage can vary inside a single zip code, so a listing there isn't a guarantee for your specific street. Call the dealer, give your address, and confirm before you count on that price.
Coverage & your area
Where HeatPrice covers today, which dealers serve your zip, and why prices vary from one area to the next.
What areas and fuels does HeatPrice cover?
HeatPrice covers heating oil today, across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Propane and natural gas are planned but not yet live.
Which dealers deliver to my zip code?
Enter your zip and you'll see every dealer we track serving that area, each with its most recent published price, sorted by price lowest first by default or by name if you prefer. Confirm with the dealer that they deliver to your exact address before you order.
Are these all the dealers who serve my zip?
Just the ones we've collected listings for — there may be dealers serving your area that aren't listed yet, and some listings may be unclaimed or out of date. Treat it as a shortlist to start from, not the whole market.
My zip isn't listed — why, and what now?
We may not have collected dealers there yet — we're still expanding coverage across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Try a neighboring zip in the meantime, or check back as coverage grows.
How do prices differ across the state?
Prices vary by region, so the best way to see the picture is to browse the regions rather than look for one statewide number. The bigger swings are often within a single region — see that region's page for the full picture.
Is heating oil more expensive in one state than the other?
The dealer-to-dealer spread within a single area usually exceeds any gap between Rhode Island and Massachusetts as a whole. What differences do exist trace back to local competition and delivery distance rather than the state line itself — compare the live region pages to see it directly.
How much do heating oil prices vary across this area?
The gap between the cheapest and priciest dealer inside one area is usually bigger than the difference between neighboring towns — and that in-area spread is exactly where your shop-around savings live. See the live regional pages for the current gap.
Why is the average here different from the next area over?
Cross-area gaps usually come down to dealer density, delivery distance, and local supply. It's also worth knowing that a thinner area has fewer collected listings behind its average, so that number is less robust than one built from more listings.
Prices are scraped from public sources and may not reflect current rates. All listings are unverified.