Winter is just around the corner, and you’ll find yourself depending more and more on heating oil to keep your home warm. You might be wondering how often you should order heating oil to ensure you keep your heating oil tank full.
It’s always important to have enough heating oil, but it becomes critical during the winter months. Running out of heating oil in the winter isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous for you and your family, especially in freezing temperatures. It can also do damage to your heating system that could require expensive repairs. So let’s look at some key factors to consider when determining how often you should order heating oil.
The size of your oil tank plays a significant role in how often you need to order a refill. Most residential oil tanks have a capacity of 275 gallons, though larger ones can hold up to 1,000 gallons. A larger tank will naturally require less frequent refills compared to a smaller one.
A good rule of thumb is to order more heating oil when your tank reaches about 25-30% capacity. This ensures you have a buffer in case of delays or increased usage due to colder-than-expected weather.
Your household’s heating oil consumption depends on several factors, including:
On average, a home in a climate like the Hudson Valley uses about 5-10 gallons of heating oil per day in the winter. If your tank holds 275 gallons, this means you could go through a full tank in approximately 4-6 weeks.
Your heating oil needs will fluctuate throughout the year. In the peak of winter, you may need a refill every 4-6 weeks, whereas in milder months, your consumption may drop significantly. If you use heating oil for hot water as well, you’ll still need some supply even in summer, though at a much lower rate.
Set reminders to check your tank level regularly, especially during the colder months. Call Valley Oil for a delivery before you have less than 1/3 of a tank.
You can make things even easier for yourself and always guarantee you have enough heating oil by signing up for Valley Oil’s automatic delivery service. When you sign up for automatic delivery with us, we’ll use an industry-proven calculation and will estimate your needs based on the volume of fuel you have used in the past. Then, we will schedule deliveries so we can ensure you don’t run out of fuel. Our drivers generally arrive when there is still plenty of fuel in the tank, so you should have no worries about running out.
When you’re a Valley Oil customer, you get top-quality heating oil delivered to your home at the best prices available in the Hudson Valley. Value is high on our list, so we’re committed to offering a heating oil product that won’t overwhelm your budget. We also add value for our customers by offering a budget plan, price protection, and reliable automatic delivery.
Valley Oil is here to help our customers pay less and smile more. Contact us today to sign up for automatic delivery or to learn more about our heating oil services.
Valley Oil provides discount fuel oil to price-savvy customers in Dutchess and Ulster counties.
Try our easy-to-use oil delivery calculator to determine how much fuel you’ll need to order.
Valley Oil works with local Home Energy Assistance Programs (HEAP) to help you afford fuel.
You can now download our app (available for IOS and Android) to have 24-hour access to your account. Order fuel conveniently from your device. Enjoy high quality, low cost heating oil and reliable deliveries. Just search for Valley Oil in the App store or Google Play to get started.
