How Do I Read My Heating Oil Tank Gauge?

Knowing how to read your heating oil gauge is one of the simplest tasks you have as the owner of an oil-fired heating system – and one of the most important. If you have never had to do it, now would be a good time – before the really cold weather settles into the Hudson Valley this winter.

Here are some heating oil tank gauge-reading basics.

• How to locate your heating oil tank gauge – The tank gauge is a glass or plastic tube, typically found on the top of your tank. It will have a series of markings on its surface much like the ones you would find on your car’s gas gauge: F, ¾, ½, ¼, etc. A red marker or float will indicate how much fuel is in your tank; if you don’t see a float, your tank is either empty or close to it.
• Making sure your fuel gauge works – To make sure the gauge is actually working, carefully remove the outer case and gently press the float down. If it bobs back up to the original position, the gauge is working. If the gauge is not working, contact us – we will check it out when we visit for the next heating oil delivery.
• How to know what size tank you have – Most houses that use oil heat have a 275- or 288-gallon tank – but that doesn’t mean the tank holds this many gallons. In actuality, a 275-gallon oil tank will only hold about 225 gallons of fuel; the rest of the space is left for air or un-combustible debris at the bottom of your tank. This means if your gauge is at ½, you really only have about 110 gallons left, not 135 or more . Other common tank sizes include 340 and 420 gallons (if your tank is older, it may not indicate a size on its nameplate; most modern models do).

Once you know the size of tank you have and how much fuel is in it, you can use our handy calculator to determine how much heating oil to order.

Remember: don’t wait until the last minute to order fuel!

Although many things will affect the speed at which heating oil burns (the efficiency and age of your equipment, your furnace or burner’s size relative to your home, and how well it has been installed and maintained, to name a few), this rule of thumb should give you some idea of how quickly your heating oil will be used: if temperatures average about 32° over a 24-hour period, a 2,500 square foot house will burn about six or seven gallons of heating oil per day.

So, for example, if temperatures are right around the freezing mark and you have a quarter of a tank of oil left in your 275-gallon tank (which, remember, holds 225 gallons), you’ll have enough oil to last about a week (this is why we urge you to schedule your heating oil delivery when your tank reaches no less than one-quarter full). Colder temperatures, a larger home, and poorly maintained equipment will accelerate this combustion rate.

Have any other questions about your heating oil tank or heating oil deliveries? Let us know – we’re happy to help. And remember: for reliable, low-cost heating oil delivery anywhere in our Hudson Valley service area, no one beats Economy Oil.