Portable heaters to beat the chill

As the temperature drops, working in an unheated space becomes very difficult. Holden Oil has construction heaters in stock to help spread the warmth and increase your comfort. In our Peabody office, we have propane torpedo style L.B. White heaters in stock. We also have convection style salamander heaters that require no electricity.

If you already have a heater, we always have a large assortment of portable propane cylinders- from the common 20 pound grill size cylinder to to the larger 40, 50 and 60 pound cylinders. Our propane refill station is open six days a week in the winter to help keep you warm.

Diesel Fuel for the cold weather

Not all diesel fuel is created equal. As we get into the cold weather, the differences become even more apparent. Water is the bane of any fuel. As the temperature changes, condensation forms on the inside of fuel tanks, both vehicle and storage. In situations where the fuel turns over slowly, water can build up over time. It is important to drain water separators on fuel filters and and to make sure there is no water build up in the bottom of storage tanks. The cold filter plugging point of diesel fuel is one of the most important indicators of winter operability. Diesel with a lower cold filter plugging point is more expensive but it is very important if you want your trucks to run on those cold days.

Holden Oil sells only premium diesel- diesel with additives to insure stability and needed lubricity needed in today's engines with Ultra low sulfur fuel. Our storage tank turns over DAILY. We also buy diesel fuel that has a cold filter plugging point lower than what is predicted in the near future- as of today we are using diesel with a cold filter plugging point of 5 degrees F. By paying attention to these details, you can have confidence you are getting a quality product at a competitive price.

High Efficiency Mobile Home Heating

For those customers of Holden Oil that are in Mobile Homes, ThemoPride- one of the best names in furnaces- has developed a 95% efficient replacement furnace powered by propane gas. This is nearly a 20% increase in efficiency compared to most of the furnaces in use now on the North Shore. Holden Oil has been installing these units for the past year and the ThermoPride Furnaces have proven to be extremely reliable. These units are great for replacement of an existing older propane or kerosene furnace.



Efficiency is the name of the game in heating equipment. Whether you are looking to upgrade an oil boiler or furnace heating your whole home or just a propane space heater, new high efficiency heating units can pay for themselves through energy savings in no time. Holden Oil's team of technicians are ready to help you with all your heating needs. Heating Oil, Propane, Kerosene, Bioheat- what ever you use, we can help you find the right heating equipment for your specific need.

People often ask how safe propane gas cylinders are. We try to explain how rugged they are but sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words...

Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt in the accident that occured two summers ago. In the picture the propane tank is supporting the full weight of the car but the only damage to the tank was scratched paint. We did remove the propane tank from service and sent it to a testing facility and it was found to be structually sound. We never really did figure out how the car ended up in the yard where the tank was located.

Propane Incentives

A new rebate program has been introduced by the Propane Gas Association of New England that can help make the installation of new propane gas equipment even more affordable. Holden Oil, as a member of the association, can help qualify you for a rebate of $300 for the installation of a new propane gas hot water system or $500 for a new propane hot water and heating system. These are only available to customers who are converting systems from another fuel source.

Holden Oil can work with you to meet all your Propane Gas, Heating Oil, Diesel Fuel or equipment needs. Be sure to call our office today!

propane odorant issue

On September 2, 2010 Holden Oil was informed of a possible problem with odorant of propane gas that was delivered from the DCP/ Gas Supply Resources terminal in Westfield, MA throughout the Northeast. It was determined by the Massachusetts State Fire Marshalls office that some loads of propane delivered between May 1and September 1may not have been injected with the proper amounts of odorant called ethyl mercapitan.
On September 2, 2010 a State Police officer under the direction of the Massachusetts State Fire Marshall came to the Holden Oil storage terminal in Essex to physically check the odorant level in our three thirty thousand gallon storage tanks. The trooper and two separate Holden Oil employees verified the strength of the odorant and found that it rated very strong.
Holden Oil is very concerned with the safety and the comfort of our customers and, as a normal practice, verify the odorant with a smell test each time a truck is loaded. If you are unsure of the smell of propane or you are unable to detect the odor of propane, we recommend that you purchase a gas detector for your residence.
If you have received a delivery between May 1 and September 1 and feel that you need to verify the gas odorant at your residence, Holden Oil will provide this service free of charge during regular service hours.
If you have had a portable cylinder filled since May 1, you may bring it to our yard and we will demonstrate the odor to you at no charge.

Budget Season

August brings the new budget season for heating oil and propane gas customers for the coming year. The EASYPAY budget levels out your heating oil or propane expenses over 10 equal monthly payments and one final settlement payment in June. We base your estimated heating expense on an average of your past three years consumption of heating oil or propane gas and the governments projection of heating oil or propane prices.

The EASYPAY budget allows you to plan your expenses and not worry about a big bill in the middle of the winter. Holden Oil can even include your Heating Equipment Service Policy in the EASYPAY budget. If you are interested in enrolling in the EASYPAY program, call Holden Oil today!!

Tom's Tanks

Tom's Tanks, a part of Holden Oil being operated by Tom Holden, will deliver propane gas grill cylinders throughout the Northshore area. If you are uncomfortable driving your dirty propane gas grill cylinder in your car, contact www.tomstankexchange.com to get a full replacement propane tank brought right to your home!

You can also visit our Propane Pump Station partners to refill your tank yourself.
Holden's Mobil Peabody
Tony's Mobil Gloucester
Building Center Gloucester
Smith Hardware Rockport
Wolf Hill Ipswich
Knight Oil Salisbury
Manchester Hardware Manchester
Pearson's Hardware Byfield

Summer Happenings

A great deal has been happening regarding legislation that affects the heating oil business. The Massachusetts state law that required oil lines to be upgraded if they did not meet current code by July 1, 2010 has been extended for another year. We have been making every effort to inform our customers if they do not comply and we are able to provide certification for your insurance company if you do comply. The insurance component of the law- requiring homeowners insurance companies to offer pollution coverage in case of a spill or leak is still in effect.

The Biofuel mandate in the state of Massachusetts that required all fuel delivered to contain a biofuel blend has been postposed indefinitely. Questions remained on the ability of the industry to meet the mandate and maintain the needed quality controls. Also in play was the US Congress has not extended the Biofuel blenders tax credit that expired in February. The one dollar per gallon tax credit given to biofuel producers was a huge incentive that is now gone.

Pool heaters

Spring is fast approaching, and for most of us this means more time spent outside. At Holdens, we offer a range of products that can help enhance your time in your outdoor space. Our popular propane-fueled mosquito traps are a safe and effective way to reduce the pests that can limit your outdoor time.

Our unpredictable summers often limit the amount of use you can get out of your pool. A propane-powered pool heater can change this. A pool heater is a great investment that can enhance your enjoyment in addition to extending your season. Thinking of adding a spa or hot tub? Call our office and talk to us about how we can make your outdoor space work better for you.

bioheat

After a long winter, spring seems to finally be making an appearance! While our crews have been busy cleaning up from the aftermath of the recent windstorm, we all welcome the warm temperatures and are looking forward to summer.

As you consider your heating options for next year, you may be considering switching from traditional oil heat to our B5 Bioheat biofuel. Bioheat is the brand name of a fuel blend that contains 95 percent traditional heating oil and five percent “biosolids.” Biodegradable and nontoxic, these biosolids are made from plant products, such as soy, grown in the United States. B5 Bioheat actually burns more cleanly than traditional oilheat and has no negative impacts on existing equipment.

A product that contains only five percent biosolids and 95 percent traditional oil may not seem like a huge change—but the cumulative impact can be great. American farms can grow the plants that produce these biosolids, and a five percent reduction in oil use can lead to great environmental and economic effects.

The biofuel industry continues to grow and new advances are helping to create fuels that are more efficient. Please contact our office with any questions you may have about making the switch!

We hope you are staying warm and enjoying the sunshine after a snowy few weeks! Dangerously cold temperatures and unpredictable weather should serve as a reminder to always make sure your equipment is well-maintained and that you have adequate levels of fuel.
Recently, ExxonMobil announced that it is expanding its efforts into research and development of algae biofuel, which is seen by many as the next generation of biofuel. This technology, which uses fuel produced by photosynthetic microbes, is seen as advantageous because algae require minimal land space and are highly productive, with the potential to yield up to 2,000 gallons of fuel per acre per year of production. The fuel can be processed into a product with a structure very similar to the conventional oil we use today. In the future, this may be a widespread and viable technology.
At Holden Oil, we are always looking for new ways to "green" our business and provide the most environmentally responsible products possible. We currently provide B5 bio fuel, a product comparable to conventional oil, for home heating delivery.
Also, you may not know that propane is listed by the U.S. Clean Air Act as an approved clean fuel because it is clean-burning and does not pollute the air. In addition, propane is nontoxic and will not harm soil or water.
If you have any questions about bio fuel or any of our other products, please contact our office. Our team strives to stay well-informed so we can provide Essex County and the surrounding area with the latest, most efficient and responsible technology.

Happy New Year!

Coming into the winter, temperatures are plummeting and a major snowstorm is predicted. In this dangerous weather, it is important to ensure that your heating system is well-maintained and has an adequate level of fuel. Automatic deliveries are one way to prevent running out of fuel; call our office for more information. For all customers we provide 24-hour emergency fuel deliveries.
2009 has been a tough economic year for many of us. As the nation looks to recover from the recession, small businesses are an extremely important component of the local economy. Small businesses employ half of the nation's private-sector workers and are vital parts of the local community. Holden Oil has been a proud member of the North Shore business community since 1924 and we strive to provide excellent customer service into the next decade.
Wishing a happy and warm new year from our family to yours!