How Long Will My Heating Oil Supply Last?
Fall is officially here and that means things have already begun to cool down. There may still be some mild days in the forecast, but this is the season when you switch from looking for ways to beat the heat and stay cool and start looking to warm up and be cozy in your South Shore home.
As the weather cools down, your consumption of heating oil is going to increase. Do you know how long your current supply of heating oil will last you? That’s not something you need to worry too much about if you’re one of our automatic delivery customers. We handle all the calculations and deliver your fuel automatically when your tank is about one quarter full.
However, if you’re one of our will-call customers (or you just like to know these types of things), it’s important to keep an eye on your heating oil level and give us a call to request a delivery before you have a run-out.
To calculate how long your heating oil supply will last, you need a few pieces of information: the size of your heating oil tank, how full your tank is, the rate at which you consume heating oil. Armed with those three pieces of information, you can come up with an estimate for how long the amount of oil in your tank will last you.
Tank Size
Most above ground oil tanks are 275 gallons, but tank capacity can vary anywhere from 105 gallons to 500 gallons. The simplest way to confirm your tank’s capacity is 275 gallons is to measure its height, width, and length. A 275-gallon tank will have the following measurements: width, 27”; height, 44”; and length, 60”. If you’re not sure of your tank’s size after measuring, wait until your next delivery. Note the level on your tank’s gauge before delivery. Then note how many gallons were delivered to take your tank to full. Now you can estimate your tank’s capacity. For example, if your tank is half full at the time of delivery and roughly 250 gallons are delivered, then you know you probably have a 500-gallon tank.
How Much Is in the Tank?
Here are instructions for reading your tank’s 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 is malfunctioning, and you should call for service.
Step 3: When your gauge gets close to ¼, it’s time to order more fuel. Make sure you check your gauge regularly (and more frequently as the temperatures drop). Better yet, sign up for our FREE Automatic Delivery service and we’ll monitor your usage so you don’t have to! The result: no more tank watching, no more run-outs and no more calling for a delivery.
How Much Heating Oil Do You Use?
There are factors affecting your home’s heating oil consumption that are within your control. However, there are others that are not. Understanding the ups and downs of your household’s heating oil usage can help you to better predict your usage and your needs so you can plan, adjust, and order accordingly.
Here are some of the factors affecting your home’s heating oil consumption:
- The size of your home
- The length and strength of your region’s winter (basically, the weather)
- How well-insulated your home is
- Your thermostat settings
- The size of your family
- The efficiency of your heating system (boiler or furnace)
Choose Scott Williams
Scott Williams is a trusted heating oil provider serving Boston’s South Shore. You can trust us to deliver for you in Quincy, Braintree, and beyond.
Scott Williams offers our customers reliable heating oil deliveries and flexible payment options. Contact ustoday to learn more about how we can keep you comfortable and save you money.