SPRING 2007
(518) 382-0260
WWW.BUHRMASTER.COM
President’s Letter
Some Things May Change …
But Our Service To You Stays Constant
We experienced three straight seasons of
considerable increases in energy prices,
which helped our price protection
customers benefit from hundreds of
dollars in savings each year. However,
this past heating season’s price drops
were not good news for those customers
on price protection.
In order to avoid this situation in the
future and reward our loyal customers
for their continued patronage, we’ve
made some changes to our pricing
programs, as follows*:
• Starting April 1, your existing fixed
price program will be adjusted to our
current retail price, should it be lower
at the time of delivery. This pricing will
remain in effect for the final three
months of this year’s program, ending
June 30, 2007.
• We are developing a “TRUE CAP”
capped price program for next season
which will give you the price spike
protection you have always had and
allow your price to float down to our
retail price should market conditions
result in our retail price being below
your program price. This new “TRUE
CAP” is a more expensive program for
us to implement and will require a
small customer participation fee.
Existing price protection customers
will receive a 25% discount on this fee
when they sign up.
We are making these changes to reflect a
changing marketplace — and because
our customers have requested that
changes be made.
Buhrmaster has been — and will be —
there for you, with automatic delivery,
around-the-clock emergency repairs, the
best in energy-efficient brand-name
equipment, and unbeatable service
contracts. Our customers have seen
plenty of changes since we were founded
in 1913, but it’s our unyielding
commitment to outstanding customer
service that’s made us the #1 choice in
home comfort in the Capital District
region.
Enjoy the spring!
Sincerely,
Jim Buhrmaster
*Details will be mailed to you as soon as they are finalized with our suppliers.
O I L
T A N K S
The Real Deal
Your aboveground or underground
heating oil tank, when properly
installed and maintained, will
provide many years of performance
for your family’s comfort. Your
heating oil tank is NOT a significant
threat to your home or the
environment — and if anyone tells
you otherwise, they are simply not
informed.
spots in your basement. Plus,
there are attractive enclosures
available for aboveground tanks
installed outdoors that provide
protection against the elements.
If you decide to replace your
underground tank with an
aboveground model, you must
either remove or properly close
and abandon the buried
tank. Please call us for further
information.
recommend having the tank filled
before the days of summer get
humid. Additionally, current fire
regulations require aboveground
tanks to have a drain at the bottom.
This allows tanks installed indoors
to drain off water as the burner
operates. If the tank is corroding,
there will generally be wet spots,
dust spots, or an oil smell near the
tank. If you are concerned, you may Are there any legal issues
Here are the answers to some want to contact us.
I need to know about?
frequently asked tank questions our
New York State does not regulate
customers have asked:
What are my
residential or commercial heating
replacement options?
oil tanks below 1,100 gallons. (The
When is my tank
If you have an underground Oilheat typical home heating oil tank is
considered “old”?
tank that needs to be replaced, you 275 gallons.) Oil storage systems
Underground Tanks: People have have two options:
must comply with local fire
reported tanks in good condition • Replace an underground tank ordinances; many municipalities
that are many decades old. However,
with a new, corrosion-resistant have adopted NFPA standards in
and unfortunately, some tanks have
underground tank.
their building codes. For questions
failed earlier due to corrosion,
about a particular installation,
the rate of which varies according
call Buhrmaster Energy Group.
to the soil in which the tank
is buried and other conditions.
What about tank
If your tank should experience a
protection?
release, signs to look for may be
We are proud to introduce the
increased consumption of oil
TankSure Program to all our
and burner problems. If you are
customers.
concerned about a release, talk to
Heating oil tanks typically
us and we will evaluate whether
corrode from the inside out.
the tank is sound.
Your tank may look perfectly
fine from the outside but it
Aboveground Tanks: Aboveground • Replace an underground tank could be wearing dangerously
tanks also last a long time, but may
with an aboveground tank either thin. That’s why Buhrmaster is
also corrode, usually from the inside
inside or outside your home. now offering a proactive solution
out due to air in the tank condensToday’s aboveground tanks can be to this problem — our new
ing into water. To avoid this, we
customized to fit those hard-to-fit TankSure® Program.
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TankSure does all the following:
• Monitors, protects and maintains
your equipment
• Minimizes unexpected tank leaks
•Provides 1-year $1,000 warranty
coverage
Buhrmaster’s trained service
technicians will monitor and test
your aboveground oil tank with
our new ultrasonic testing
equipment (similar to a medical
ultrasound) and tank analysis
software. For qualified tanks we
will provide you with up to
$1,000 toward tank replacement.
The most important aspect of the
TankSure program is that we can
inspect your tank every year and
will be able to determine when it
should be replaced. In virtually all
cases the analysis will enable us to
replace your tank before it leaks
and provide you with up to $1,000
toward the replacement.
This valuable new program will
be automatically billed and added
to our service plan customers’
coverage, and as an available
service to all other customers. For
more information, please contact
Buhrmaster Energy Group at
(518) 382-0260.
ONLY
$39 95
For service
plan customers
$124.95 for non-service plan customers
(labor included)
How Cool Are You, Really?
Call Buhrmaster Energy now to schedule your preseason
central air conditioning check-up! We’ll make sure everything’s
“cool” with your unit before the really hot weather arrives.
There are many benefits to receiving an air conditioner
preseason check-up, including:
• Decreased operating cost and increased system efficiency
• Preventive maintenance
• Increased comfort and proper humidity control
• Improved air quality
Remember, regular
maintenance on your
air conditioning
equipment is less costly
than system repairs or
replacement. So, be
cool and stay cool …
call us today about a
preseason check-up!
CENTRAL AIR CHECK-UPS
AVAILABLE STARTING JUNE 1ST!
Magic Carpet!
It is a better idea, energy conservationwise, to replace old carpeting rather than
removing it and leaving wood floors bare. Carpet may help sustain
temperature levels in a home, thus lowering heating bills. In colder
weather, carpet retains warm air longer — an important benefit in our
energy-conscious world. In warmer weather it also insulates against
invasive heat.
Another often overlooked advantage of carpet is its ability to
improve indoor air quality. EPA scientists have concluded that carpet
can be beneficial in trapping and immobilizing potential allergy causing
particulates, preventing them from reentering the indoor air stream, if the
carpet is properly cleaned and maintained.
For more easy conservation tips, please log on to
www.buhrmaster.com and click on “Conservation Tips.”
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Mold No More!
One thing you do not want to find growing in your
home is mold. Mold can grow anywhere; however it is
particularly fond of places with high moisture content,
such as the bathroom, kitchen, near windows, and
pipes. Being exposed to moisture can lead to health
problems, including asthma, sinusitis, infections, and
skin irritation.
Here are some helpful tips you can follow to prevent mold growth in your home:
1)Keep the humidity level in your home between 40% and 60%.
2)Have proper ventilation in mold prone rooms in your home, such as bathrooms and kitchen.
Use exhaust fans to improve air circulation.
3)Fix leaks in the roof, walls, or plumbing system so there is no moisture which can cause mold to
grow.
4)Condensation around or on a window is the sign of excessive moisture. To prevent mold from
growing, use a sealant around the window to make sure that it is completely airtight.
“Cast of Oilheating Characters” Contest Winner
Fern the Furnace
Congratulations to
Lily Truelove, age 7,
of Cobleskill, who
submitted these two
great drawings of
“Fern the Furnace”
and “Hank the
Tank.” Lily wins a
gift certificate to a
local toy store.
Thanks to all the kids
Hank the Tank
that entered. It was
tough picking the winning drawings – everyone did a great job!
Buhrmaster Energy Group
(518) 382-0260
421 Sacandaga Rd., P.O. Box 2120
www.buhrmaster.com
Scotia, NY 12302-0120
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