If you think you are running low on heating oil, these signs will tell you. An oil tank rarely runs out without warning. The warnings are just easy to miss. Here are three, in the order you would want to catch them.
1. The gauge is at a quarter or below
The gauge is the clear plastic vial on top of the tank with a disc floating inside. On a standard 275 gallon tank, a quarter is about 70 gallons. That is the time to order. If you cannot remember when you last looked, go and look now.
2. You cannot remember your last delivery
Find your last delivery ticket and check the date. If the last fill was before the holidays and it is now February, do not assume there is plenty left. Cold weeks use oil much faster than mild ones.
3. The burner sputters, or shuts off and needs a reset
When the level gets down to the bottom of the tank, the burner starts pulling in air and sludge. You may hear it sputter, or it may shut itself off. Pressing the reset button once is fine. Do not keep pressing it, because each press sends more unburned oil into the chamber.
At this point you are effectively out of oil. The system may need the fuel line bled before it will run again.
What to do when you are running low on heating oil
If you caught sign one or two, order home heating oil online or call (203) 265-4328. If you are at sign three, call us. Emergency and after-hours delivery is available.
If you would rather never check the gauge again, ask about automatic delivery. We track your usage and schedule the fill for you.
Running low on heating oil is easy to fix if you catch it early. A quarter tank still leaves time for a regular delivery on your town’s route, so you won’t need an emergency fill.
