Schildwachter & Sons Inc
1400 Ferris Place , Bronx, New York, United States

Fred Schildwachter, an immigrant from Bergheim, Germany, established his ice business in 1904, tapping resources from above the salt water line of the Hudson River and transporting the final product to ice boxes across New York City with his horse and wagon. He later constructed a manufacturing plant that used New Yorks supply of fresh, pure water from the Catskill Mountains, but the booming business took a hit in the 1920s with the advent of the refrigerator.  oldsign.jpg  With a loyal customer base already established, Schildwachter realized he could build a lucrative fuel oil business and created Fred M. Schildwachter & Sons, Inc. More than 100 years later, Schildwachter Oil provides high quality fuel products to homes, businesses, and institutions throughout The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Westchester County. Grandson Dan credits the companys customer-centric focus for its success. "Our view is that if it is good for the customer, it is good for our company," he said.

SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Unlike other oil companies that organize their customer service departments according to region or service, each Schildwachter Oil customer is assigned a single representative. That representative is responsible for all aspects of the customer relationship, from billing to fuel delivery to equipment and sales. "If a customer experiences any problem, he or she can talk directly to a representative with whom he or she has a long-standing relationship," said Schildwachter, adding that this business model not only contributes to customer loyalty but also helps engage employees.  Schildwachter Oil furnishes, installs, and services all major-brand equipment, including Burnham Hydronics, H.B. Smith, and Buderus boilers; American Standard and York furnaces; Beckett, Carlin, and Riello oil burners; SuperStor and Amtrol indirect water heaters; and LuxPro, White Rodgers, and Honeywell thermostats.  To encourage customers with older fuel oil storage tanks to upgrade, Schildwachter created the Gold Shield Heating Service Plan (GSHSP). Customers who participate in GSHSP receive a $150 credit toward future fuel oil deliveries when they purchase a new fuel oil storage tank. GSHSP also provides labor and parts to replace the oil burner components and operating controls. Most importantly, the plan covers annual preventative maintenance, including combustion testing to set equipment to its most efficient.  sign.jpg"Often, we find that heating equipment operates dependably for many years but is not able to perform as efficiently as the newer models," said Schildwachter. "Our service techs have most contact with our customers and are happy to make helpful suggestions. Sometimes just lowering the thermostat by 10 degrees during the night or when away from the house can mean savings of as much as 10 percent to 15 percent."  Over the years, the company has developed a line of innovative, efficient fuel products and additives, including ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) for transportation and B20 biodiesel. The company has for many years treated its premium heating oil with Gold Shield Energizer (GSE), a specially formulated detergent that gradually cleans oil handling systems and, over time, turns sediment at the bottom of the tank back into usable product.  Schildwachter Oil has been promoting B20 for transportation since 2002, and since then has tested Bio20 in heating applications. In 2006, it began offering B20 to all customers. The additional costs associated with biodiesel are far outweighed by its benefits, which include reduced dependence on imported oil and greater lubricity, meaning less wear on equipment. And because biodiesel does not contain sulfur, it is considered environmentally friendly.  In November 2002, New York City celebrated Biodiesel Day at Schildwachter Oils 5 million gallon barge terminal in The Bronx, earmarking its pioneer status in blending and furnishing B20 gallon transportation fuels and bringing a cleaner, value-added heating fuel for its customers. The initial barge load of biodiesel was received last February.

ALL FOR ONE 

more than 100 years of business, Schildwachter Oil has made several acquisitions but never ventured far beyond its original service territory, and for good reason. According to third generation Dan Schildwachter, the heating business is a local business. "Bigger isnt always better. If we started providing service outside our immediate territory, we would spend more time driving than providing service," said Schildwachter, adding that the stable populations of The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Westchester can sustain the companys growth for the next 100 years.  But the future also depends on maintaining the Schildwachter familys all-for-one attitude. Schildwachter explained that each member of the family active in the business puts the best interest of the company before any personal agenda.

History

Fred Schildwachter, an immigrant from Bergheim, Germany, established his ice business in 1904, tapping resources from above the salt water line of the Hudson River and transporting the final product to ice boxes across New York City with his horse and wagon. He later constructed a manufacturing plant that used New Yorks supply of fresh, pure water from the Catskill Mountains, but the booming business took a hit in the 1920s with the advent of the refrigerator.  oldsign.jpg  With a loyal customer base already established, Schildwachter realized he could build a lucrative fuel oil business and created Fred M. Schildwachter & Sons, Inc. More than 100 years later, Schildwachter Oil provides high quality fuel products to homes, businesses, and institutions throughout The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, and Westchester County. Grandson Dan credits the companys customer-centric focus for its success. "Our view is that if it is good for the customer, it is good for our company," he said.

SEVEN GOOD REASONS TO AVOID DISCOUNT DEALERS

If you read newspaper advertisements or surf the Internet, you probably know that there are companies that sell heating oil at prices that seem too good to be true. If you have wondered, "Why not go for the lowest price?" here are seven good reasons why youre better off with a highly professional provider like Schildwachter.

• Sound Management Practices: A full-service company like Schildwachter has many years of experience (since 1904 in our case) in the energy and home comfort business. Our reputation is on the line every day, and we exercise great care in all we do. A discount oil company, on the other hand, can open its doors one month and then disappear the next. They have very little at stake, and if they make a mistake that damages your property, they can simply go out of business.

• Competent Professionals: Unfortunately, anyone can buy an oil truck and call themselves an oil company. They dont have to know much about the business, and they can use you as their guinea pig. They might hire drivers or service technicians without running thorough background checks. When you let an oil driver on your property, wouldnt you like to know they work for a company that has a long-standing reputation on the line every day?

• Reliable Supply: A full-service company like ours never runs out of fuel because we maintain our own fuel storage facility, we are financially sound, and we have excellent relationships with our suppliers. A discount oil dealer generally has no storage facility, and they may have very limited financial resources and no access to credit. There is a very real risk that they will not able to pay their supplier, which means you could call for a delivery and find out that your discount supplier has gone out of business.

• Essential Maintenance: Heating equipment requires preventive maintenance to prevent major repairs and run efficiently. When a Schildwachter technician tunes your system, you gain efficiency - probably more than enough to cover any money youd save buying discount oil. Plus, well detect and resolve small problems with your heating system so you wont face costly, unnecessary repairs.

• Better Oil: Schildwachter protects your equipment and improves efficiency by selling premium oil that is treated with Gold Shield Energizer - an exclusive, specially formulated detergent that gradually cleans your oil handling system and improves system efficiency. Discount oil dealers sell untreated oil that clogs your equipment with sediment that can cause heat outages and costly repairs.

• Maximum Leverage for You: As a customer, its good to have some clout, and thats what you get when you choose one company for both fuel delivery and heating service. Your account is very important to a company like ours, and we stop at nothing to ensure your satisfaction. When you need an emergency repair or a prompt delivery, it pays to be a valued customer.

• Conservation Advice: Heating technology is constantly evolving, and a company like Schildwachter stays on the cutting edge and helps customers drive down their energy consumption with new high-efficiency equipment. When you choose discount oil, you sacrifice the opportunity to work with conservation experts who consistently guide you towards improved fuel economy - and enhanced comfort.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY B20 BIODIESEL.

Biodiesel is a domestically produced, clean burning, biodegradable and renewable fuel that is used in ALL diesel engines. It produces fewer harmful emissions and toxins during combustion and greatly reduces carbon dioxide addition to the atmosphere (very important for reducing the build up of greenhouse gases). In addition, B20 biodiesel contains less sulfur, the leading cause of equipment breakdowns.

PREMIUM HOME HEATING OIL WITH GOLD SHIELD ENERGIZER

Our premium heating oil is treated with Gold Shield Energizer (GSE), an exclusive specially formulated detergent that gradually cleans your oil handling system and improves system efficiency.  In addition, GSE actually, over time, turns the sediment on the bottom of your oil tank back into usable product, AND will eventually eliminate sludge related service calls in the process!! Before long, youll agree that no other heating oil provides the benefits and value ours does.