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Written on: November 25, 2024
We don’t need to tell you that winters in western Connecticut can really test a home heating system. If your boiler or furnace isn’t up to the task, you could wind up bundled in a coat inside your own home.
At Seymour Oil & Propane, we’re committed to preventing that from happening. Our premium heating oil generates some of the most reliably robust heat you can get in a New England home — nearly 140,000 Btu per gallon!
We also offer ways to ensure your heating oil tank always has plenty of this fuel so that you don’t risk a run-out that could put your heating equipment out of commission. In this article, we’ll tell you how to track your heating oil levels and deal with run-outs.
Checking your home’s heating oil levels is pretty simple. You only need to look at the gauge on your heating oil tank. It is a clear glass or plastic vial on top of your tank with markings that are comparable to a car’s gas gauge: F, ¾, ½ and ¼. A marker or float rests in the vial. Its position in the vial tells you how much heating oil you have. We typically advise our “will call” heating oil customers to reach out to us when the gauge is at or above ¼.
When the float is resting at the bottom of the vial (or you can’t see it at all), your tank is totally or nearly empty.
If your heating oil tank is empty, call for an emergency fuel delivery. A lack of heat on a freezing night can be dangerous, especially for older adults and infants, and could lead to frozen or burst pipes. Once refilled, the fuel line to your burner needs bleeding to remove air. While you can do this yourself, it’s usually best left to a professional. There’s generally no risk of permanent damage from a run-out, but sediment blockages are possible, which our team can check.
If you have an emergency no-heat situation, you can add diesel to your tank. It’s similar to heating oil but more expensive. You’ll also need to prime your line and restart your burner.
Keeping your heating oil tank full is super important, not just to keep your heating equipment up and running but also to make your tank last longer. Did you know that one of the main reasons heating oil tanks corrode is because of internal condensation? By keeping your tank full during the warmer months, you can prevent condensation and slow down the wear and tear on your tank.
The best way to avoid running out of heating oil this winter is to let the Seymour Oil & Propane team do the delivery planning for you. Our customers in New Haven County and nearby communities love our FREE Automatic Heating Oil Delivery option. Our computerized system will track your fuel usage, and we’ll schedule your next heating oil delivery early so you won’t run out. Even better, you can get a discount for enrolling in Automatic Delivery!
Become a customer today and start enjoying no-fee Automatic Delivery.