It never hurts to review the basics of reading your heating oil tank gauge, particularly with another winter almost here.
It’s also vital to keep a closer watch on your oil tank levels this season, especially for all the non-essential workers who have been fortunate enough to be able to work from home. Obviously, by staying home most of the time, it’s only natural that you will burn more fuel.
Oil Tank Gauges – What You Need To Know
On top of the tank is a clear glass or plastic cube that is marked with numbers that resemble the gas gauge of your car: F, ¾, ½, ¼. A red marker or float commonly indicates the amount of fuel left in your tank. If the float is at the bottom of the gauge or not visible at all, your tank is empty or nearly empty.
To make sure the gauge is 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 your heating oil service provider to get it checked out.
To estimate how many gallons you have in your tank based on the reading you see on the gauge, remember this. The most common size of heating oil tank is 275 gallons, but the size of the tank doesn’t indicate how much fuel it actually holds.
When full, a 275-gallon tank holds approximately 225 gallons; the rest of the space is left to allow for air or debris at the bottom of your tank. So if your gauge reads “½” in a 275-gallon tank, you have about 110 gallons left, not 135 or so as you might first expect. Other tank sizes include 340 and 420 gallons (the size is often indicated on the side of your tank; older models may not include that information). But you will typically see that information on your oil delivery ticket.
Why not take care of filling your oil tank now so you don’t have to be worry about it for a while? Contact your heating oil supplier today to request a delivery.
Remember: it’s always better to be conservative and order your heating oil early rather than getting stuck in a no-heat emergency because your tank went dry.
Here is the best way to avoid these risks and hassles altogether. Ask your heating oil supplier if they can provide automatic delivery service, which frees you from the task of always checking the fuel level in your oil storage tank. Many heating oil companies have the resources to monitor your fuel usage and deliver accordingly.
Read more about today’s modern oil storage tanks. You can also go here to get details about qualifying for a $200 rebate when you replace your old oil tank with a new aboveground model.
It never hurts to review the basics of reading your heating oil tank gauge, particularly with another winter almost here.