Is It Time for a Heating Oil Delivery?

How to Know When You Need More

This is a season when the weather can be a bit unpredictable, and temperatures can change drastically from day to day. Colder days means your heating system needs to work harder to keep you and your family comfortable. It also means your heating oil consumption can increase sharply when there’s a dramatic dip in the temperature.

With the big temperature swings that often come with spring, it can be harder to predict when it will be time for your next heating oil delivery. So now is a good time to review the benchmarks and best practices for staying on top of how much heating oil is in your tank so you know when it’s time for a delivery.

Running Out of Heating Oil

If you run out of heating oil on a cold day, it’s more than an inconvenience. A house with no heat can be dangerous depending on the temperatures. You don’t want to get caught waiting for more oil to be delivered to have a warm home and hot water.

In addition, letting your tank run down to empty can also cause debris to clog your oil filters. That can reduce the efficiency of your heating system and even cause it to fail. Finally, water can collect in an empty tank and cause it to rust. A rusty oil tank can cause your heating system to fail.

Knowing when to schedule a heating oil delivery can help you avoid unexpected runouts and keep your home comfortable at all times regardless of the weather. A good rule of thumb is to check your tank gauge regularly and reorder when it reaches about a quarter full. Sudden drops in temperature, increased usage, or an upcoming cold snap can all cause your fuel levels to fall faster than expected.

Because of how important it is to avoid having an empty oil tank, it’s also important that you know when it’s time to schedule a heating oil delivery. So let’s review how to read your oil tank’s gauge.

Reading Your Oil Tank Gauge

To make sure you have enough oil in the tank, follow the steps below to read you oil tank gauge:

Step 1: Look for a clear glass or plastic cylinder near the top of the tank. It will look a lot like your car’s fuel gauge with the following symbols: F, ¾, ½, and ¼. There should be a red marker or float indicating the tank’s fuel level. If it’s not visible, you tank is either empty or practically empty.

Step 2: Make sure the gauge is working as it should be. Remove the outer case and gently press down on the float. It should bob back up to where it was. If it doesn’t, the gauge malfunctioning, and you should call for service.

Step 3: When your gauge gets close to ¼, it’s time to order more fuel. Keep in mind that the colder it gets and the larger your home is, the faster your heating system will go through oil. Make sure you check your gauge regularly (and more frequently as the temperatures drop).

Heating Oil from Economy Oil

At Economy Oil, we know that quick and reliable heating oil delivery gives our customers peace of mind even when the temperature outside takes a dramatic dip. With more than 30 years of experience serving homes and businesses across the Hudson Valley, our team delivers quality heating oil at affordable prices while maintaining a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and service integrity.

We provide some of the best fuel pricing around, and we offer flexible delivery options including same-day or next-day service when demand allows. Our customer portal and mobile access make ordering and managing your account simple and convenient, and you’ll never encounter hidden fees, service charges, or unwanted contracts.

Whether you’re filling up for the season or topping off to stay comfortable, our knowledgeable and dependable professionals are here to ensure you get the heating oil you need, when you need it, with friendly service you can trust.

Don’t get caught without enough heating oil. Stay on top of your tank’s level and contact Economy Oil when it’s time to secure dependable, competitively priced heating oil for your home.