How Do I Prevent Running out of Heating Oil or Propane?

One of the biggest headaches that any heating equipment owner faces is keeping track of how much heating oil or propane is in their tank – especially as personal calendars fill with back-to-school and holiday to-dos.

Unfortunately, those harried times correspond with the arrival of cold weather, when your need for fuel is at its greatest – and as a result, even the most responsible homeowners can find themselves in the midst of a fuel run-out when they can least afford to be without heat.

Factors ranging from a tank leak or stolen fuel to simple absentmindedness can contribute to a fuel run-out. But whatever the cause, it’s not a fun experience, and it could end up be a lot worse than that: for one thing, heating oil and propane prices are usually at their highest during heating season, which means you’ll pay more to heat your home if you have to replace your fuel in high season. You’ll also have to pay a premium for an emergency heating oil or propane delivery rather than a regular fill-up.

If you own an oil-fired heating system, you might also end up with a sludge problem, since dragging up the dregs of fuel from the bottom of your emptying tank usually clogs narrow passages throughout your heating system. It doesn’t get much better if you own propane-fired heating equipment, either: by law, you’ll have to pay for a system restart and pressure test if your heating system shuts down for any reason.

The bottom line here? Don’t run out of fuel! The question is, how do you prevent a run-out? Here are four suggestions:

• Keep your tank at least one-quarter full at all times. Waiting until the last minute for a delivery –especially in cold weather – is a recipe for a fuel run-out disaster. Be proactive: order your fuel when your tank is no less than one-quarter full (ideally a little before then).
• Use Automatic Delivery. When you sign up for automatic delivery for your heating oil or propane, you never need to worry about running out of oil again. In fact, you don’t really have to do a thing except pay your bill – our automated system will estimate (with high accuracy) when you need a refill based on your past usage and the current weather. When your tank is nearing one-quarter full, you’ll be contacted directly to schedule a heating oil or propane delivery.
• Consider a tank monitor. Installed directly on your propane or heating oil tank, smart tank monitors can instantly report on your home’s fuel levels, consumption and heating costs, sending data via a smart phone app. If you want the ultimate assurance against fuel run-outs, a tank monitor is the way to go.
• Maintain your heating equipment regularly. Regular inspections and professional heating maintenance will help keep your furnace or boiler running at peak capacity, which means your equipment will sip rather than gulp down fuel. Professional service will also help spot leaks, performance drop-offs, and other problems before that could lead to bigger problems down the road.

Stay on top of fuel management this fall with FREE automatic propane and heating oil delivery from Carroll Home Services, plus preventive maintenance from our expert heating system technicians! Contact us today to learn more.

For everything you need in home heating, trust the pros at Carroll Home Services – keeping Maryland homes warm for more than a century! Contact us to get started today!