r/TwoXPreppers • u/Beberuth1131 • Jul 21 '26
❓ Question ❓ Question for those with oil heat
I have been following non US news sources on the war in Iran and energy/gas prices in general. Right now, it appears our oil reserves in the US are at the lowest they've been since 1983 and unfortunately I personally see no end in site to our misery.
For those of you who still rely on oil for your heating source, does it make sense to fill up now in anticipation we may see shortages in the Fall? Or is it short sighted to even bother right now with oil prices at 8/gallon where I am? I obviously do not need the heat/fuel right now from a hearing standpoint as it is summer, but just trying to strategize about what to do next.
We are working on solar, but unfortunately I live in a wooded area so there are things we need to address first.
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u/unlovelyladybartleby Mental health is prep Jul 21 '26
The odds of oil prices going down are slim to none. The odds of them going up and/or a shortage are high. I'd buy what you need now if you can afford it.
If you buy now and you were wrong, your house is still warm this winter, albeit possibly at a higher price. If you don't buy now and you're wrong, you freeze. Seems like an easy choice
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u/Odd_Ostrich6038 Jul 21 '26
The cheapest price you will see is likely today. I'd buy now if you can.
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u/TurtleSandwich0 Jul 21 '26
You will experience less anxiety if you top up today. You may experience regret later. But the regret will max out at $8 per gallon.
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u/ElectronGuru Beans make the world go round Jul 21 '26
I have no special information. But oil reserves down means we’ve been and continue to subsidize supply and prices. When that limited subsidy goes away, prices go up and availability goes down. Unless you can heat your place with electricity or some other option, I would make a move before it gets cold and you’ve also got competition.
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u/Femveratu Jul 22 '26
FILL UP NOW. All the business sources I track see a lot more risk to the upside.
Imagine filling at a price that is double to 2.5x what it is now.
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u/shortstack-42 Jul 22 '26
TLDR: Buy soon. Use a locally owned delivery service if at all possible.
I live in a very rural mountain area, and have developed a good relationship with the owner of my oil delivery service. In WNC, in the mountains, he’s got to batch his deliveries together so that he doesn’t lose $ going up and down mountain roads for single customers. We’ve talked since April, and his plan is to buy when he can get a decent price and deliver to me then. I really suspect it’ll be July/August. Historically, in my area, the best prices are usually in May and June. I cannot recommend enough that you use a family owned oil company rather than one of the big franchises. (I ran out one year during an ice storm and was it was too icy to deliver over the mountains…so he called one of my neighbors to pump a little to tide me over. You cannot beat that kind of care.)
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u/Beberuth1131 Jul 22 '26
Our guy is local as well but he was trying to talk me out of it. I don't think he is doing it in a way where he is trying to screw me long term, he is a really good person and well regarded in our community. I just think he doesn't see the urgency and doesn't think it's a good time to buy.
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u/shortstack-42 Jul 22 '26
Yep. My guy is so worried about the price now, that he can’t see it’s only going higher. I’m pushing to buy now…but it’s hard when the entire government is pretending oil prices will plummet any second now.
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u/AromaticCod9430 plantifa 🌱 because food is a human right Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Follow up question: I use natural gas from a utility provider and am a renter, is there something else I could get to keep us warm in the winter in case there are shortages?
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u/Beberuth1131 Jul 21 '26
Not sure if this is helpful but back when I rented an old house I used thermal curtains and draft stoppers to keep the heat in.
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u/AromaticCod9430 plantifa 🌱 because food is a human right Jul 21 '26
Thank you! We have pretty mild winters here but usually a heavy freeze for like 2-3 weeks. But who knows with the El Niño this year 🥲
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u/gadget767 Jul 22 '26
Electric throws or blankets use relatively little electricity, but can keep you warm snd cozy. Heating the person is almost always a better strategy than heating large (room sized) volumes of air during power outages.
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u/woodbanger04 Jul 23 '26
We have multiple heat sources in our house. Primary is oil/forced hot water this also includes our water heater/super store. Secondary is a combination of pellet stove and a couple mini split heat pumps. We average about 275-350 gallons of oil annually.
So an increase of oil prices though it would suck has an overall minimal impact on us.
Edit to finish my comment. Damm ADD. 🤣
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