Residential Services: Much More than Just Fuel!

Heating System Maintenance

Our expert, certified technicians perform periodic maintenance (tune-ups) on your heating equipment. According to the National Oilheat Research Alliance, by having a professional tune-up to make sure your system is operating at peak efficiency, you could save as much as 5 percent on your annual fuel bills. Read more about Oilheat System Maintenance and Propane System Maintenance.

Heating System Installations

Heating equipment is constantly evolving, as new technologies are introduced that deliver superior comfort while using less energy. And our Energy Experts track all the latest heating and equipment to identify the best options for our customers. Ask about our line of Mitsubishi Ductless Mini Split Heat Pumps that deliver heating and cooling in one quiet, energy efficient system.

When you select a new comfort system, we'll install it in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications so you get the best performance and highest efficiency from your new investment.

Ask us about our equipment financing!

Emergency Service

As a Hyde Fuel customer, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that our service team will respond quickly at any time of day or night in the event of an emergency. If your heating system stops running, just give us a call, and we'll be ready to help.

What's an "Emergency"?
A Hyde Fuel customer with one or more of the following problems has an emergency:

• No heat (try the Quick Fixes below)
• No hot water
• Burst pipes or flooding
• A fuel leak
• Soot, smoke or fumes

If you have an emergency situation, call us at (518) 891-3151. (DO NOT send e-mail!)

Potential Quick Fixes for Lack of Heat
If you don't have heat, you may be able to fix the problem yourself and save time. Try these steps before you call us, and you may get your heat back immediately:

1. Make sure that the burner emergency switch is in the "ON" position.
2. Set the thermostat above room temperature.
3. Check the fuel level gauge on your tank to be sure that the tank contains fuel.
4. If you have Oilheat, press the reset button once only. If the burner does not start immediately, do not press the button again.
5. If the burner or furnace does not run at all, check for a blown or loose fuse or a tripped circuit breaker.
6. If you have a steam heating system, check the water level and refill the boiler if needed.

If your burner still fails to operate, call Hyde Fuel for service: (518) 891-3151

Budget Plans

Saranac Lake ranked in the top ten spots for the most number of days (128) with the lowest temperature in the continental US between 1995 and 2005. (The lowest recorded temperature in Saranac Lake was -35°F in 1994 - mild compared to the lowest statewide temperature of -52°F in Old Forge in 1979.)

It's pretty obvious that Tri-Lake winters put a heavy load on your household budget for a few months every year. Rather than digging deep to pay all those heating bills during the coldest months, you can take control with a Budget Plan from Hyde Fuel. Our Budget Plan takes your projected yearly fuel cost and divides it into 11 equal monthly payments. You'll know exactly what you will pay every month, and you can budget accordingly - something that's especially helpful around the winter holidays. With a Hyde Fuel Budget Plan, the days of re-structuring your budget to accommodate seasonal energy bills will be over!

Air Conditioning

Hyde Fuel doesn't service only heating equipment. We also offer complete maintenance, installation and repair services for central air conditioning systems. This can even include duct installation and zoning. Why turn to two or three different contractors when you can get all of your home heating and cooling needs covered under one roof by one company you already know and trust. 

Indoor Air Quality

Did you know that the air inside your home could be more polluted than the air outside? Hyde Fuel's Indoor Air Quality solutions can clear the air of harmful contaminants, dust, mold and other indoor air pollutants. Our services include:

• Air Filtration Systems
• Humidifiers
• Dehumidifiers
• Fresh Air Systems

Oil Tanks

We install underground oil tanks as well as indoor and outdoor aboveground tanks. New underground tanks are made from corrosion resistant steel and fiberglass that improve safety and extend tank life - and add value to your home. The latest aboveground tanks take up very little space in your basement, crawl space or utility room. We also offer attractive outdoor tank enclosures to match your home's siding. These watertight enclosures protect your tank against the elements, ensure long life and provide secondary containment in the event of an oil release.

Conservation Advice

We are so fortunate to be living in one of the most beautiful spots on earth - and the less we can do to disturb that beauty, the better. That's why we offer conservation advice to help you use less energy while contributing to a cleaner and greener planet. Our Energy Experts are always ready to provide advice to lower your carbon footprint, including upgrading to high-efficiency comfort equipment, scheduling annual tune-ups and installing energy-saving devices like a programmable thermostat. To reduce your energy expenses and your environmental impact even further, follow these seasonal and year-round conservation tips.

Cold Weather Tips

• Upgrade your heating system. Homeowners who have older Oilheat systems can lower their fuel costs by 30 percent or more by installing a new, high-efficiency system. The savings provide a remarkable return on investment that keeps paying off year after year - every time the weather turns cold (and in our neck of the woods, that's a lot!).
• Have your heating system tuned up annually. A well-tuned boiler or furnace burns 5 percent less fuel.
• Insulate your hot water tank. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that you insulate the tank or water heater and the first six feet of hot water pipe.
• If you have a furnace, clean or replace the air filter once a month to ensure the best airflow and efficiency.
• Make sure that furniture or draperies do not block vents.
• Open shades, blinds, curtains and drapes during the daytime and close them when the sun goes down.
• Seal off your attic-circulating fan with polyethylene and tape.
• Wrap your pipes to guard against heat loss and prevent them from freezing.
• Avoid using space heaters. They're expensive to operate and can be dangerous.

Warm Weather Tips

• Keep shades, blinds, curtains and drapes closed during the day to block out the sun.
• Clear furniture away from air conditioning vents.
• Install an attic fan - it can cool your attic by nearly 30 degrees!
• Plant shade trees due west of west windows. It could reduce your air conditioning bills by up to 25 percent!
• Cook on the outdoor grill to keep cooking heat outside the home.
• When cooking inside, use a microwave instead of a conventional oven. It uses less than half the power and cooks food in about one-fourth the time.
• Install reflective window coatings to reflect heat away from your home.

All-Year Tips

These tips can help save energy in every season.

• Install a digital programmable thermostat. It puts your heating and cooling systems on an automatic schedule: full heat or cooling during hours when the home is active, and less when the house is empty or the family is asleep. The U.S. Department of Energy says that setting back a home's temperature by 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day can reduce total heating and cooling costs by 3 to 5 percent.
• Insulate thoroughly to eliminate heat transfer through your walls, ceilings and floors. You could reduce your heating and cooling costs by as much as 15 percent, according to Consumer Energy Council of America.
• Replace outdated appliances with high-efficiency units to reduce energy consumption.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which use only 25 percent as much energy and last 10 times as long.
• Reduce water heater temperature setting to 120 degrees F to save fuel. (You'll also reduce the risk of scalding.)
• Add caulking and weather-stripping around doors, attic access, windows, outdoor faucets and any areas where there might be leaks. (As much as 40 percent of your heating and cooling costs can be due to air leaks.) Check caulking at least once a year and replace material that has dried out and shrunk.
• Install rubber gaskets behind outlets and switch plates on exterior walls. (Gaskets can be found in most home improvement stores.)
• Check weather-stripping and door sweeps at least once a year and repair or replace them as needed.
• Repair and weatherize your storm windows.
• Close off rooms you don't use - and remember to shut the vents inside.
• Install dimmer switches. In addition to enhancing the mood, they'll extend the life of your bulbs and help you save up to 60 percent on your lighting costs.
• Install motion activated switches that automatically turn lights on and off.
• Install water-conserving fixtures, such as showerheads, faucets and toilets.
• Fix leaky faucets, especially hot water faucets. One drop per second can add up to 165 gallons per month - more than a person uses in two weeks.
• Take showers instead of baths. A five-minute shower will use about 7.5 gallons of hot water; filling a bathtub can use up to 20 gallons.
• Keep ductwork in good repair by sealing leaks with mastic, metal-backed tape (not duct tape). Your home could be losing up to 25 percent of its heated or cooled air before it reaches the vents!
• Install ceiling fans. They could cut your energy bill for cooling by 40 percent.
• Use efficient temperature setting for your refrigerator and freezer. Recommended temperatures are 37 to 40 degrees F for the refrigerator and 5 degrees F for the freezer.
• Don't leave the fridge door open! Every time you do, up to 30 percent of the air inside can escape. The same can be said for your oven.
• Use less water and use cooler water when doing laundry. The warm or cold water setting on your machine will generally do a good job of cleaning your clothes. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut a load's energy use in half.
• Consider air-drying clothes on clotheslines or drying racks. Clothing manufacturers recommend air-drying for some fabrics.
• Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water; it's faster and uses less energy.