warm cool
warm thoughts cool ideas Winter 2014 personally speaking
Delivering fuel and peace of mind Dear Friends,
T
here are many companies that just drop fuel in your tank and collect your hard-earned money. But they don’t offer much else — and that’s a big problem if your heating system shuts down on a cold winter night.
Steve, Brenda and Brad Ohl
That’s why we always travel the extra mile to provide real value through incomparable customer service and the peace of mind that comes with a full-service, family-owned company. If you ever have a heat emergency, we are here — with a live person answering the phone 24 hours a day, prompt service
no matter what time it is, and skilled, well‑trained and courteous technicians always on call. We also help our customers avoid heat emergencies with service plans that include annual precision tune-ups, as well as prompt heating oil delivery service within 24 hours when you call during business hours, backed by a $125 no-run-out guarantee for our automatic delivery customers, and within 10 days for propane. If you call for propane when your propane tank reaches the 30% level, we promise we won’t let you run out! We also don’t charge our propane customers fees the way other companies do. The bottom line is that we don’t just deliver fuel. We make your family’s comfort our number one priority. That’s how we’ve done business for 30 years, and that’s how we intend to keep doing it. Warmly,
Steve, Brenda and Brad Ohl
O/PWIN14-13232
WIN a Weber grill! Make next summer’s backyard barbecues spectacular ones with this high-end Weber propane grill. Read this newsletter and answer the questions on the enclosed reply card. All entries received by 5/14/14 with the correct answers will be entered into a drawing for the prize. No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve chance of winning. See enclosed card for details.
The Weber Summit S-420 features 650 square inches of primary cooking area and four stainless-steel burners that generate 48,000 Btu’s per hour of intense cooking heat. Can’t you hear those steaks sizzling already?
Total prize value:
$1,500!
Y
Understanding your delivery ticket
our delivery ticket includes all the information about your fuel delivery, from the driver and truck number to the gallon amount and other details. For your convenience, we’ve posted an itemized explanation on our website. Just go to rfohl.com/deliveryticket to view a sample. Of course, if you ever have questions about your delivery ticket, you can call us during business hours at (610) 377-1098.
Call us anytime You can call us anytime — day or night, seven days a week — and you’ll speak to someone in our office. Our staff is trained to help determine the problem and can help troubleshoot — and perhaps prevent an emergency service call. If necessary, one of our technicians will be dispatched to make repairs. If you are on one of our service plans, you’ll be covered for after-hours service and, depending on your plan, parts and labor costs as well. If you have an emergency after business hours, call (610) 377-1098 and press “1” to be transferred to our call center.
© Copyright 2014 Warm Thoughts Communications, Inc. Reproduced with permission of Warm Thoughts Communications.
Our service technicians are like private investigators, solving cases from simple to complex. During the winter, they’re on the job day and night, using their skills and diagnostic tools to fix comfort problems. As you read about their investigations, look for clues to see if you can shine a light on the case before they do.
the case of the missing hot water Victor T. contacts our investigator because his family keeps running out of hot water. He is also concerned about his electric bills, which keep getting higher. Can you guess what the problem is?
the case of the lost heat Grace D. calls to report a loss of heat. Our investigator begins by interviewing the only witness. He asks Grace: ➤ How was your system running before it stopped? ➤ Was it making any odd noises or emitting unusual odors? ➤H ave you done anything to the system?
heat loss. He finds that: ✔p ower switches and circuit breakers are in the “on” position. ✔ t he thermostat is functioning properly and its setting is above room temperature.
Clue #1: The system had been serviced a few months before. A properly maintained system should always burn cleanly. Our investigator needs more information from Grace. “Have you made any changes in your home recently?” he asks her.
✔ t here is fuel in the storage tank.
Solving the case Combustion gases exit the home through a chimney or exhaust vent. But normal draft can be reversed by negative pressures. The exhaust fans drew combustion gases back into Grace’s system, causing it to clog and shut down. Our investigator installs a part to eliminate this problem. Case solved!
Clue #2: Grace remembers that she Now he gives the system a thorough recently had exhaust fans installed in the TIP: If you make renovations to your home, let us examination and discovers a dirty kitchen and bathroom. Our investigator emergency switch Grace confesses she know. We may be able to prevent these changes from flame sensor (see Exhibit A). After now has the solution to the problem. pressed the system’s reset having a negative impact on your heating system. cleaning the sensor, he gets the Can you guess what it was? button twice, but each system running again. time the system ran for Amateur investigators might stop only a few minutes before at this point, but not our expert! Exhibit A: reset button shutting off. He knows if he doesn’t learn The reset button is a safety The reset button should never be After explaining why the reset typical propane typical oil why the sensor became dirty reset button reset button control that shuts the system pushed more than once. You may button should not be pushed more in the first place, the same down if a problem is detected. In damage your system if you keep than once (see Exhibit A), our investigator problem will happen again. this case, the flame sensor could pushing it. If your system shuts then rules out the “usual suspects” for no longer “see” the burner’s flame, which tripped the reset.
solving the
down again after you push the reset button, call us for service.
“repair or replace” mystery
Our investigator arrived and did a complete analysis. He spoke with Victor and his family about their pattern of hot water use. He explained that this was especially important when a new water heater is being considered. He gathered information by asking questions like these: ➤ How many people live in the home? ➤ When are showers taken and for how long? ➤ What time of day is most of the laundry and cooking done? This information made it easier for our investigator to recommend the right Propane water heating options equipment — a water heater that include tankless units and hybrid tank-tankless systems. would satisfy the family’s hot water needs. Based on his fact-finding, our investigator estimated the family’s daily use of hot water and how it breaks down:
four showers
80 gallons
one dishwasher cycle
14 gallons
one washing machine cycle
30 gallons
meal prep/rinsing dishes
15 gallons
cleaning/miscellaneous
Use these guidelines if you’re wondering whether you should repair or replace your central heating system.
✔ If your system is well maintained, less than 10 years old and still under warranty, repairing is usually the better option in most cases. ✔ If the repair involves replacing major expensive parts, your system is 15 years old or older and you’re using more fuel than in the past, investing in a new system may be the better choice.
Stay with oil or switch to propane? If you’re ready to replace your old oil heating system, talk to us about converting it to propane. As a company that installs and services both oil and propane heating equipment, we’ll give you an honest, objective opinion about which fuel may best suit your family’s needs. We can discuss:
◆ a payback analysis that tells you the amount of time it will take to recover your installation costs based on your annual energy savings.
◆ t he relative efficiency of oil versus propane. ◆ y our total expenditure should you decide to switch. No matter whether you decide to repair or replace, or convert from oil to propane, we want to remain your trusted home comfort company. We have the knowledge, resources and experience to provide you with excellent service and great value for many years to come.
TOTAL
6 gallons 145 gallons
Solving the case To ensure that the family’s water heating requirements would be met, our investigator recommended replacing their old, inefficient electric water heater with a propane unit. He explained that the current electric water heater could only produce 40 gallons of hot water an hour. That’s why the family kept running out of hot water when everyone took their morning showers. After a new high-efficiency propane unit was installed, the family’s hot water troubles disappeared — and so did their high electric bills. Case solved!
Call us! (610) 377-1098 • (800) 297-4242 Visit us at: rfohl.com
You could win a $500 gift card Why have so many of our customers stayed with R.F. Ohl for so many years? We think it has to do with the way we treat you — by pricing things fairly, backing up our promises and just generally going the extra mile. But we’d like to know what our longest-term customers think, which is why we have decided to have a Longest-Term Customer Contest. Post your comments on our Facebook
page, including how long you have been an R.F. Ohl customer and why you have stuck with us for so long. We will pick one customer in a random drawing and award a $500 gift card that can be used at our showroom. You can use this card to purchase patio furniture, a gas grill, a fireplace — there’s a lot to choose from. For your chance to win, post your story by March 31, 2014.
Community Corner As a family-owned and -operated company, R.F. Ohl has deep roots in the community, sponsoring approximately 75 events every year. For example, we’re a long-time supporter of Dream Come True, a nonprofit organization that raises money to fulfill the dreams of children in the Greater Lehigh Valley area who are seriously or terminally ill. At this year’s Carbon County Oktoberfest in Lehighton, we raised more than $1,300 and donated it to the organization. Our efforts earned us a nomination from the Dream Come True Blue Ridge Chapter as a 2013 Dream Maker. To learn more about how you can help a child’s wish come true, please go to dreamcometrue.org
Change Service Requested
400 Interchange Road Lehighton, PA 18235
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LEHIGHTON, PA PERMIT NO. 237
PA Contractor Registration # PAOAGHIC175
Propane or oil: What’s right for you? Have you been thinking about making the switch from oil to propane? Because we offer both types of fuel and sell and service oil and propane equipment, we know what works best for different needs, and can offer an objective, impartial analysis of the benefits of switching versus the costs of converting, such as tank removal and adding lines. A propane conversion can usually be done in just a day. In addition,
Enter to WIN: a $1,500 Weber grill* • a $500 gift card for our showroom
converting gives you the option of running your water heater, stove and many other appliances on propane instead of electricity. If you decide to convert to propane, R.F. Ohl can handle all aspects of the job. Of course, if you want to stay with oil and save money by upgrading to a more efficient heating system, we can help you there, too. Please call or return the enclosed card today to request a free analysis and estimate.
*No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve chance of winning. See enclosed card for details.
Delivering fuel and peace of mind Dear Friends,
T
here are many companies that just drop fuel in your tank and collect your hard-earned money. But they don’t offer much else — and that’s a big problem if your heating system shuts down on a cold winter night.
Steve, Brenda and Brad Ohl
That’s why we always travel the extra mile to provide real value through incomparable customer service and the peace of mind that comes with a full-service, family-owned company. If you ever have a heat emergency, we are here — with a live person answering the phone 24 hours a day, prompt service
no matter what time it is, and skilled, well‑trained and courteous technicians always on call. We also help our customers avoid heat emergencies with service plans that include annual precision tune-ups, as well as prompt heating oil delivery service within 24 hours when you call during business hours, backed by a $125 no-run-out guarantee for our automatic delivery customers, and within 10 days for propane. If you call for propane when your propane tank reaches the 30% level, we promise we won’t let you run out! We also don’t charge our propane customers fees the way other companies do. The bottom line is that we don’t just deliver fuel. We make your family’s comfort our number one priority. That’s how we’ve done business for 30 years, and that’s how we intend to keep doing it. Warmly,
Steve, Brenda and Brad Ohl
O/PWIN14-13232
WIN a Weber grill! Make next summer’s backyard barbecues spectacular ones with this high-end Weber propane grill. Read this newsletter and answer the questions on the enclosed reply card. All entries received by 5/14/14 with the correct answers will be entered into a drawing for the prize. No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve chance of winning. See enclosed card for details.
The Weber Summit S-420 features 650 square inches of primary cooking area and four stainless-steel burners that generate 48,000 Btu’s per hour of intense cooking heat. Can’t you hear those steaks sizzling already?
Total prize value:
$1,500!
Y
Understanding your delivery ticket
our delivery ticket includes all the information about your fuel delivery, from the driver and truck number to the gallon amount and other details. For your convenience, we’ve posted an itemized explanation on our website. Just go to rfohl.com/deliveryticket to view a sample. Of course, if you ever have questions about your delivery ticket, you can call us during business hours at (610) 377-1098.
Call us anytime You can call us anytime — day or night, seven days a week — and you’ll speak to someone in our office. Our staff is trained to help determine the problem and can help troubleshoot — and perhaps prevent an emergency service call. If necessary, one of our technicians will be dispatched to make repairs. If you are on one of our service plans, you’ll be covered for after-hours service and, depending on your plan, parts and labor costs as well. If you have an emergency after business hours, call (610) 377-1098 and press “1” to be transferred to our call center.
© Copyright 2014 Warm Thoughts Communications, Inc. Reproduced with permission of Warm Thoughts Communications.
Our service technicians are like private investigators, solving cases from simple to complex. During the winter, they’re on the job day and night, using their skills and diagnostic tools to fix comfort problems. As you read about their investigations, look for clues to see if you can shine a light on the case before they do.
the case of the missing hot water Victor T. contacts our investigator because his family keeps running out of hot water. He is also concerned about his electric bills, which keep getting higher. Can you guess what the problem is?
the case of the lost heat Grace D. calls to report a loss of heat. Our investigator begins by interviewing the only witness. He asks Grace: ➤ How was your system running before it stopped? ➤ Was it making any odd noises or emitting unusual odors? ➤H ave you done anything to the system?
heat loss. He finds that: ✔p ower switches and circuit breakers are in the “on” position. ✔ t he thermostat is functioning properly and its setting is above room temperature.
Clue #1: The system had been serviced a few months before. A properly maintained system should always burn cleanly. Our investigator needs more information from Grace. “Have you made any changes in your home recently?” he asks her.
✔ t here is fuel in the storage tank.
Solving the case Combustion gases exit the home through a chimney or exhaust vent. But normal draft can be reversed by negative pressures. The exhaust fans drew combustion gases back into Grace’s system, causing it to clog and shut down. Our investigator installs a part to eliminate this problem. Case solved!
Clue #2: Grace remembers that she Now he gives the system a thorough recently had exhaust fans installed in the TIP: If you make renovations to your home, let us examination and discovers a dirty kitchen and bathroom. Our investigator emergency switch Grace confesses she know. We may be able to prevent these changes from flame sensor (see Exhibit A). After now has the solution to the problem. pressed the system’s reset having a negative impact on your heating system. cleaning the sensor, he gets the Can you guess what it was? button twice, but each system running again. time the system ran for Amateur investigators might stop only a few minutes before at this point, but not our expert! Exhibit A: reset button shutting off. He knows if he doesn’t learn The reset button is a safety The reset button should never be After explaining why the reset typical propane typical oil why the sensor became dirty reset button reset button control that shuts the system pushed more than once. You may button should not be pushed more in the first place, the same down if a problem is detected. In damage your system if you keep than once (see Exhibit A), our investigator problem will happen again. this case, the flame sensor could pushing it. If your system shuts then rules out the “usual suspects” for no longer “see” the burner’s flame, which tripped the reset.
solving the
down again after you push the reset button, call us for service.
“repair or replace” mystery
Our investigator arrived and did a complete analysis. He spoke with Victor and his family about their pattern of hot water use. He explained that this was especially important when a new water heater is being considered. He gathered information by asking questions like these: ➤ How many people live in the home? ➤ When are showers taken and for how long? ➤ What time of day is most of the laundry and cooking done? This information made it easier for our investigator to recommend the right Propane water heating options equipment — a water heater that include tankless units and hybrid tank-tankless systems. would satisfy the family’s hot water needs. Based on his fact-finding, our investigator estimated the family’s daily use of hot water and how it breaks down:
four showers
80 gallons
one dishwasher cycle
14 gallons
one washing machine cycle
30 gallons
meal prep/rinsing dishes
15 gallons
cleaning/miscellaneous
Use these guidelines if you’re wondering whether you should repair or replace your central heating system.
✔ If your system is well maintained, less than 10 years old and still under warranty, repairing is usually the better option in most cases. ✔ If the repair involves replacing major expensive parts, your system is 15 years old or older and you’re using more fuel than in the past, investing in a new system may be the better choice.
Stay with oil or switch to propane? If you’re ready to replace your old oil heating system, talk to us about converting it to propane. As a company that installs and services both oil and propane heating equipment, we’ll give you an honest, objective opinion about which fuel may best suit your family’s needs. We can discuss:
◆ a payback analysis that tells you the amount of time it will take to recover your installation costs based on your annual energy savings.
◆ t he relative efficiency of oil versus propane. ◆ y our total expenditure should you decide to switch. No matter whether you decide to repair or replace, or convert from oil to propane, we want to remain your trusted home comfort company. We have the knowledge, resources and experience to provide you with excellent service and great value for many years to come.
TOTAL
6 gallons 145 gallons
Solving the case To ensure that the family’s water heating requirements would be met, our investigator recommended replacing their old, inefficient electric water heater with a propane unit. He explained that the current electric water heater could only produce 40 gallons of hot water an hour. That’s why the family kept running out of hot water when everyone took their morning showers. After a new high-efficiency propane unit was installed, the family’s hot water troubles disappeared — and so did their high electric bills. Case solved!
Call us! (610) 377-1098 • (800) 297-4242 Visit us at: rfohl.com
You could win a $500 gift card Why have so many of our customers stayed with R.F. Ohl for so many years? We think it has to do with the way we treat you — by pricing things fairly, backing up our promises and just generally going the extra mile. But we’d like to know what our longest-term customers think, which is why we have decided to have a Longest-Term Customer Contest. Post your comments on our Facebook
page, including how long you have been an R.F. Ohl customer and why you have stuck with us for so long. We will pick one customer in a random drawing and award a $500 gift card that can be used at our showroom. You can use this card to purchase patio furniture, a gas grill, a fireplace — there’s a lot to choose from. For your chance to win, post your story by March 31, 2014.
Community Corner As a family-owned and -operated company, R.F. Ohl has deep roots in the community, sponsoring approximately 75 events every year. For example, we’re a long-time supporter of Dream Come True, a nonprofit organization that raises money to fulfill the dreams of children in the Greater Lehigh Valley area who are seriously or terminally ill. At this year’s Carbon County Oktoberfest in Lehighton, we raised more than $1,300 and donated it to the organization. Our efforts earned us a nomination from the Dream Come True Blue Ridge Chapter as a 2013 Dream Maker. To learn more about how you can help a child’s wish come true, please go to dreamcometrue.org
Change Service Requested
400 Interchange Road Lehighton, PA 18235
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
LEHIGHTON, PA PERMIT NO. 237
PA Contractor Registration # PAOAGHIC175
Propane or oil: What’s right for you? Have you been thinking about making the switch from oil to propane? Because we offer both types of fuel and sell and service oil and propane equipment, we know what works best for different needs, and can offer an objective, impartial analysis of the benefits of switching versus the costs of converting, such as tank removal and adding lines. A propane conversion can usually be done in just a day. In addition,
Enter to WIN: a $1,500 Weber grill* • a $500 gift card for our showroom
converting gives you the option of running your water heater, stove and many other appliances on propane instead of electricity. If you decide to convert to propane, R.F. Ohl can handle all aspects of the job. Of course, if you want to stay with oil and save money by upgrading to a more efficient heating system, we can help you there, too. Please call or return the enclosed card today to request a free analysis and estimate.
*No purchase necessary. A purchase will not improve chance of winning. See enclosed card for details.
