How Long Does Heating Oil Last?

Does Yours Need to Be Replaced?

You might be used to things expiring. When you buy fruit, meat, or bread, they eventually go bad if they don’t get eaten soon enough. It seems like just about everything has an expiration date—from your groceries to your medications to those Covid-19 test kits you’ve still got somewhere.

How about heating oil? Does heating oil expire? Does the heating oil in your tank need to be replaced? Keep reading to find the answers to these questions and more.

Does Heating Oil Expire?

The good news is that the average person does not have to worry about their heating oil going bad. Number 2 heating oil (the most commonly found type in American homes) can last up to 2 years.

And even heating oil that’s nearing the two-year mark is probably still usable. Old heating oil isn’t like rotten milk. It simply generates less energy. Said another way, it won’t produce as much heat when it’s burned.

What Happens When Heating Oil Does Get Too Old?

If the heating oil in your tank gets old enough, it won’t reach your furnace’s threshold temperature when burned. Your furnace will shut off automatically if the heating oil isn’t reaching that minimum temperature range. If that happens, you’ll need to have your furnace serviced. So if you know there’s heating oil that’s been sitting in your tank for over two years, have your tank professionally drained and refilled.

What Affects Heating Oil’s Longevity?

Heating oil generally lasts up to two years, however there are a few factors that will affect the longevity of your heating oil. Here are some examples:

• Bacteria: The presence of bacteria is the leading cause of fuel breakdown.
• Corrosion: Corrosion in the tank adversely affects your heating oil’s longevity.
• Additives: Some heating oil gets a longer shelf life thanks to life-extending additives.
• Quality: The higher the quality of your heating oil, the longer it will last. (Another reason to call Economy Oil for your next heating oil delivery. With us, you get quality and a fair price.)

Is Heating Oil Good for Your Heating System?

Today’s heating oil is good for your heating system. With proper maintenance, your oil-fired boiler or furnace can last 30 years or more. Low-sulfur heating oil helps your heating system run more cleanly. That means your furnace or boiler will require fewer repairs and last longer.

Quality and Affordability

If you get your heating oil from a reputable supplier like Economy Oil, if you have your heating oil tank professionally checked regularly, and if it’s been less than 2 years since the heating oil in your tank was delivered, then you should have nothing to worry about.

And whenever it’s time to order more oil, choose Economy Oil. We offer the same high quality heating oil our competitors do, we simply do it at an unbeatable price. Enjoy same-day or next-day delivery as well as no hidden fees, service fees, or contracts.

Our service area includes Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Green, Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties.

Economy Oil gives our customers the power to save. Contact us today for quality heating oil in the Hudson Valley at an unbeatable price.