Hillside at the Annual Cecil County Fair!

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The sound of trucks rolling into the fairgrounds and people bustling around to ready the park for visitors promises that the week ahead will be filled with good times at the Cecil County Fair – an event we look forward to every year!

Step right up, folks! Hillside HVAC welcomes you to the county fair at the Fair Hill Fairgrounds in Elkton, Maryland! While Charlie the Dog is keeping watch over things for us at the office, we will be giving away some awesome prizes. On Friday, July 31, we will give away 100 gallons of home heating oil and an air conditioning tune-up, and on Saturday, August 1, we will give away up to 200 gallons of heating oil and an air conditioning tune-up. From heating to air conditioning, we’ve got you covered!

Stop by the Hillside HVAC booth any day during the fair and participate in a guessing game to win candy and $20 for the kids. The winner will be called at the end of the fair, so you don’t need to be present to win. The Hillside HVAC booth will have tons of other goodies to give away, too, including balsa wood planes for the kids, Charlie the Dog dolls, pens and notebooks, just as our thanks for stopping by Hillside HVAC booth at the fair.

The Cecil County Fair runs July 24 through August 1. There is so much to see and do at the fair! Swing by our booth and say “hello!”

 

Before the grass grows too high…

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The grass is sprouting back to life and flower buds are appearing on trees and shrubs. Reminders of late autumn are still scattered about an old, dried crabgrass stems are still poking out around the heating oil tank. Soon it’ll be time to get the mower tuned up and running again.

It’s a great time to begin outdoor spring cleanup. It’s still cool enough to not break a sweat while you do it and the grass doesn’t need mowing – yet. Make a short list and tackle what you can.

Rake up leftover leaves so the ground can “breathe” and allow new growth to thrive. You can feed those decomposing leaves to your compost bin if you have one. Trim back dead plants and flowers so they can begin new growth, then spread some fresh mulch in planting beds if the old mulch is getting a bit thin. This will dress things up while protecting emerging plants and flowers.

If you have an above-ground, home heating fuel tank or outdoor air conditioning unit, inspect the area around it. Trim back any overgrowth by hand so the heating oil delivery person or air conditioner tune-up specialist has easy access. You might consider spreading some landscaping stones beneath or around the base to keep weeds at bay.

While you’re at it, check the heating oil level in your tank and call us to top it off if needed so you’re prepared for the next bout of cold weather – hopefully not for months!

Need a refill of home heating oil? Call Hillside HVAC to schedule a delivery. In Delaware: 302-738-4144. In Maryland: 410-398-2146.

Home heating oil prices continue to drop

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Heating Oil Prices Dropped!

Heating oil prices are starting to drop again. After a small spike during the extremely cold months, prices have gone down again. Hillside is currently at our lowest retail price this winter, and the lowest retail price in almost 5 years. If you were trying to ride out the winter without purchasing more home heating oil (who can blame anyone for that) but won’t quite make it, now might be a good time for a refill. We wish we had a crystal ball and could see into the future, but the fuel market is the most unstable and unpredictable beast known to man.

Hillside is proud to be the only full-service home heating oil company in the area to post our price for everyone on the front page of our website 24/7 www.HillsideHVAC.com

If you read our articles and have read this far, please mention this article dated March 25th, 2015 and receive and extra 10 cents per gallon off your next fill up! This may not be used in conjunction with any other offers, discounts, or promotions. Thank you for your loyal support of Hillside and our local, homegrown, family business.

Spring Thaw…It’s Really Happening

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Snow is melting and there are signs of life again! The heater isn’t kicking-on constantly. Rabbits are venturing out. Water is trickling through the gutters as the snow disappears from the roof. I see grass! Life is good. BUT before you start making summer plans, it’s time to do a little “spring cleaning” at home. (Ugh.)

Daylight Saving Time has already begun. That means, if you haven’t already done so, it is time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors (if they require replacing). Smoke detectors without operable batteries do nothing to protect you and your family from a house fire. Fresh batteries are a minimal investment in your wellbeing. So grab a pack of 9-volt batteries next time you are out and about. Batteries are readily available in grocery stores, home centers, pharmacies, and hardware stores, so, no excuses! Check that off the list for peace of mind.

That water trickling down your gutters is a good indication that they are now free of ice and snow. It is also a good time, as water is moving through them, to check for any faults caused by the harsh winter weather we have had. The expansion power of ice can push or twist gutters and other things it contacts. Look for water leaks and check to make sure the gutters are not loose and are still sloping toward a downspout. Clear the gutters of any debris (twigs, leaves) that might have been deposited into the gutters and then hidden beneath snow. Check this off your list, and you will be ready for April showers!

Finally, it’s time to make sure your HVAC filters are clean so that air is moving freely through them and the air quality in your home is optimal. If you have fiberglass filters, they likely need replacing monthly. HEPA filters should be replaced minimally about every six months, or however often is recommended for your heating and cooling system. A HEPA filter can be brushed off or vacuumed to freshen it up.

While you may not be ready to turn the air conditioner on YET, that time is coming soon enough. (It’s a distant memory, but do you remember what sweating feels like?) Beat the rush, and schedule your annual air conditioner maintenance with Hillside HVAC now so that it’s in great working order when it really counts.

Call Hillside HVAC now to schedule your next air conditioner service appointment. Make it a part of your regular “spring cleaning!” In Delaware: 302-738-4144. In Maryland: 410-398-2146.

Best Strategy for Clearing Snow

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Last winter we got pounded with snow. Storm after storm at one point dumped a lot of the cold, wet stuff at once. I’m asking myself now, how can I be better prepared to manage the snow?

Like you, Hillside HVAC keeps an eye on the weather forecast and strives to schedule heating oil deliveries to our regular, automatic-delivery customers in advance of a major weather event. This ensures that our customers don’t go without heat in the winter and our trucks aren’t put at risk of getting stuck in the snow. However, there are more reasons than just your heating oil delivery to keep the snow cleared from your sidewalks and driveway, and the better you manage snow removal, the easier it will be to maintain safe passage to and from your home.

Use preventive measures. Spray a liquid ice-melt on steps, walkways, and driveways or use a gravel ice-melt before it begins snowing. Be sure and choose a pet-safe ice melt – that is, one that is salt-free – on surfaces where your pet will be walking. A pet-safe ice melt, such as Safe Paw, will prevent poisoning from ingestion and dried out pads on the paws, which can be painful.

Choose your tools wisely. Shovels are the most common tool, yet there are so many varieties of them! Choose one that works for your situation. If you have an uneven surface, you might consider a plastic shovel that will slide more easily over jagged edges than a metal one. For pushing heavy snow, you might consider a wheeled shovel or wheeled scoop that’s easier to move heavier loads along the ground. For breaking up ice, grab your garden spade that normally wouldn’t see the light of day until spring and put it to good use.

If you have large areas to clear or are concerned about the strenuousness of shoveling, an investment in a snowblower might be your tool. From a few hundred dollars to over a thousand, you can find the machine that is the right fit for you. For smaller areas reachable with an extension cord, an electric powered snow blower will do. For greater range, though, a gas-powered, single-stage snow blower will clear up to a two-foot wide path for you, while a two-stage snow blower is better for gravel drives and for clearing wider paths. Keep in mind that annual maintenance is required to keep your gas-powered snow blower operable from year to year.

Tip: Apply a polymer spray especially for snow removal tools OR a nonstick cooking spray to shovels and/or your snow blower auger to keep snow from sticking.

Timing is everything! If the forecast is calling for a heavy accumulation of snow, consider planning to clear snow in incremental periods of time to avoid having to attack it all at once. This is more challenging if a snowstorm is moving through your area overnight, when it’s too dark to see and when most people would rather be sleeping.

Don’t forget the marshmallows for your hot chocolate breaks! If you’re not yet on Automatic Delivery for your home heating oil, call Hillside HVAC to set it up. In Delaware: 302-738-4144. In Maryland: 410-398-2146.

Heating Oil Under $3/gallon

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Usual disclaimer, we here at Hillside do not claim to be smarter than the average bear, nor can we see into the future. This is information we are passing along that pertains to the price of home heating oil. Retail heating oil prices have dropped to under $3 per gallon for the first time in approximately 5 years. This is helpful to everyone. Even if you do not use home heating oil, you are probably still affected by fuel prices, gasoline, diesel fuel, etc… Hillside is proud to be the ONLY company to advertise our price for everyone on the front page of our website 24/7 www.HillsideHVAC.com

So far this winter, heating oil prices have remained level and steady at a 5-year low. Nobody is saying that oil (and gas) is cheap, but the non-volatility of pricing and the lower than recent prices are enough to breathe a small sigh of relief. This is good news for many Hillside HVAC customers who depend on us to get you through the winter. Hillside lowered our retail price today, a price decrease with cold weather coming is typically unheard.

If you have been waiting to fill up, this might be a good time.

Give Hillside HVAC a call today so you can be prepared this winter! DE: 302-738-4144 MD: 410-398-2146

Happy Holidays from your friends at Hillside!

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Still need a “practical” gift?

Hillside has gift certificates. Gifts will earn the purchaser a 10% bonus for them, as an additional thank you from Hillside.

Hillside’s upcoming Holiday schedule

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As the Holidays approach we here at Hillside would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for continuing to support local, homegrown, family business. Along with our customers, we also want to give our staff valuable time off with their families during the Holiday Season. Or office will close Thursday December 25th and reopen on Monday December 29th. Emergency service for our maintenance plan customers will continue to be addressed throughout the entire holiday weekend.

Again, thank you from everyone here at Hillside and we hope you enjoy your upcoming Holidays!

Hillside’s upcoming Thanksgiving schedule

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Hillside

Charlie the Turkey Dog

As Thanksgiving approaches we here at Hillside would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for continuing to support local, homegrown, family business. Along with our customers, we also want to give our staff valuable time off with their families during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Our office will close Thursday, November 27th and reopen on Monday, December 1st. Emergency service for our maintenance plan customers will continue to be addressed throughout the entire holiday weekend.

Again, thank you from everyone here at Hillside and we hope you enjoy your upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday weekend!

Free Tank-Guard giveaway, once a week through September

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Oil Tank Warrant with Tank GuardHillside Oil Heating & Cooling is going to choose a random winner for a FREE ($79 value) year of enrollment in our Tank-Guard program each Friday in September! Winners will be picked from entries on our Facebook page. If you are interested in winning a year of free protection on your home heating oil tank, head over to Hillsides Facebook page (www.fb.com/HillsideHVAC) and get yourself entered! Entering is simple, post on your page tagging Hillside, or post to our page telling us to “Enter me to win!” along with a picture of your oil tank. Be as fun or creative as you like. Winners announced each Friday in September.

Tank-Guard is a warranty program offered by Hillside for home heating oil tanks. It is protection for above ground and basement heating oil tanks up to 330 gallons capacity. The annual cost for enrollment is $79. The nuts and bolts are that if your home heating oil tank leaks while covered under the Tank-Guard program, Hillside will replace it at no additional cost. The only requirement for enrollment is a visual inspection of your existing tank by a Hillside representative.

All the information about the Tank-Guard program: The program is very affordable and fantastic coverage. Please make sure you are eligible for the Tank-Guard program before entering, tank must be above ground or in your basement, and 330 gallons or smaller.