Reading your heating oil tank gauge

One of the simplest and most important tasks you have as the owner of an oil-fired heating system is reading your tank gauge. If you have never had to do it, it pays to learn now, before frigid temperatures settle into the Hudson Valley this winter.

Here are some heating oil tank gauge-reading basics:

• Where is it? – The tank gauge is a glass or plastic tube that is usually found at or near the top of your tank. It will have a series of numbers printed on its surface that look like ones you would find on your car’s gas gauge: F, ¾, ½, ¼, etc. A red indicator will tell you how much fuel is in your tank; if you don’t see a red indicator, your tank could be empty (or close to it).
• How do I know if my gauge is working? – To make sure the tank 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 on your next heating oil delivery.
• What size is my oil tank? – Most houses that use oil heat have a 275- or 288-gallon tank – but that doesn’t mean the tank holds this many gallons of fuel. For example, a 275-gallon heating 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 is used (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 burn: 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.

If you have any other questions about your heating oil tank or heating oil deliveries, please 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 Valley Oil.