What to Expect from a Fuel Run-Out and How to Prevent It
Life gets busy, and sometimes, things slip through the cracks. All too often, one of these things is checking the heating oil tank. But homeowners in Fairfield County and throughout Western Connecticut know that with unpredictable winters and plunging temperatures, staying on top of your heating oil supply is critical. Running out isn’t just inconvenient; it can be expensive and hazardous during icy conditions.
At Leahy’s Fuels, we pride ourselves on helping homeowners avoid these situations completely. This article will walk you through what happens if you run out of heating oil, how to monitor your tank levels and how our hassle-free Automatic Delivery service ensures you’ll always stay warm.
Why You Don’t Want to Run Out of Heating Oil
Running out of heating oil doesn’t just mean putting on extra layers and waiting for a delivery truck. It can lead to a number of issues:
- Without heating oil, your home will quickly lose warmth, which is especially risky for children, older adults or anyone with a compromised immune system.
- Prolonged exposure to cold temperatures can cause your pipes to freeze, leading to costly damage.
- Empty tanks can sometimes pull sediment or sludge from the bottom into your system, potentially causing flow blockages and reducing efficiency.
One bit of good news is that a heating oil run-out isn’t likely to cause long-term damage to your boiler or furnace. Still, you want to avoid it.
How to Read Your Heating Oil Tank Gauge
It’s easy to avoid running out of fuel by monitoring your heating oil levels. Heating oil tanks come equipped with a gauge that’s straightforward to read. Look for the clear glass or plastic vial on top of your oil tank. This contains a float or marker. This marker moves between labels like a gas gauge on a car (F, ¾, ½, ¼). The closer the float is to “F,” the fuller your tank.
If the float is sitting at the ¼ mark, it’s time to call us to schedule a delivery. However, when the float is at the bottom and not visible, your tank is likely empty or nearly so.
What to Do if You Run Out of Heating Oil
If your heating oil tank does run dry, here’s what you need to do immediately to get your system running again safely and quickly.
If you’re in a no-heat emergency, call Leahy’s Fuels for a fuel delivery to restore warmth in your home fast. We’ll fill your tank, then prime and bleed the oil line to remove trapped air. While this can be done yourself, we always recommend a professional for safety and efficiency.
If you need to restore heat right away, you can add diesel fuel to your tank as a short-term substitute that will work in a pinch. However, it’s more expensive and requires you to carefully prime and restart your system to avoid system strain.
Prevent Run-Outs With Leahy’s Fuels’ FREE Automatic Delivery
Want to know the easiest and most reliable way to prevent running out of heating oil? Choose Leahy’s Fuels Automatic Delivery Service, a solution trusted by countless homeowners across our service area. Our advanced computerized system monitors your fuel use and the weather so we can calculate when you’ll need a refill. Then, we schedule the heating oil delivery for you. You won’t ever need to worry about checking your gauge or running out of fuel. Our team always has you covered!
Get started with Automatic Delivery today by contacting us. Together, we’ll make heating oil run-outs a thing of the past!