Running out of home heating oil can happen quite easily regardless of the time of year. Particularly during the summer months, when usage is lower, it can be a unfortunate oversight to run out of home heating oil. You may not have the heating on, but you will still need fuel to supply you with hot water. Running out of home heating oil can prove to be an inconvenience and may also be costly. You will have to arrange an emergency delivery of fuel.
However, leaving your oil tank run empty can do damage to your home heating oil system, as sludge that builds up in the bottom of your tank can find its way into your filters and oil pipes. This can lead to blockages in your fuel lines and cause trouble to your boiler. This is more likely during the warmer months, when condensation builds up in the empty space in your tank. As one of Cork’s leading home heating suppliers, we know the importance of keeping your home heating oil tank full regardless of the season. Here are five steps you can take to ensure you don’t run out of home heating oil.
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR HOME HEATING OIL LEVEL
Getting yourself into the practice of checking your home heating levels on a regular basis is a good way of ensuring you don’t run out of home heating oil. You may want to do it more regularly during the winter months – every two weeks would be ideal. For the summer months, once a month or every 6 weeks should be sufficient, depending on your hot water usage. You could keep a log of your oil level checks. This would give you a good idea of how much fuel you’re using from month to month. This in turn, can help you plan for the year ahead in terms of usage and budget.
You could also install an electronic heating oil monitor that can be linked to your smartphone. This monitor will alert you to a drop in oil levels which will remind you to schedule an oil refill. If there’s a sudden drop in oil levels however, this could signal that you have been the victim of oil theft. Having the monitor installed can help you prevent future instances of oil theft. As well as this, it will ensure that you don’t run out of oil. You can read more about Preventing Home Heating Oil Theft here.
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR TANK ABOVE THE QUARTER MARK
This is actually quite important for a variety of reasons. The main reason is that you don’t want to have an empty space in your tank particularly during the warmer months of the spring and summer. Empty space in your tank is where water condensation can form. This water then sinks to the bottom of the tank, where it becomes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This in turn becomes sludge, which can clog up fuel lines. Water Condensation can also corrode your tank from the inside out. As a rule of thumb, you should never leave your home heating tank level fall below the quarter mark.
SIGN UP FOR A MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN
Monthly Payment plans are a great way to help you plan ahead for your home heating oil costs. First of all, having one makes it easier for you to budget. Secondly, it means that you can keep track of your home heating oil usage from season to season. By paying the same amount each month, you can save during the summer. And you’re not stuck with larger home heating bills in the winter. This will ensure you can have your regular supply of fuel whenever you need it. Monthly Payment plans can also be adjusted to account for any unexpected changes in your situation. You can read more about our Monthly Payment Plans here.
FILL YOUR TANK WHEN PRICES ARE LOWER
Home heating oil fuel tends to be lower in price during the seasons when demand is lower. This is usually for the spring and summer months. So it can save you money by ensuring that your tank is filled to the brim for the warmer months. You should keep an eye out for oil prices and take the opportunity to schedule a full top up when the prices are at their lowest. At City Oil, we always aim to offer the most competitive prices on our quality range of home heating oil fuels.
SCHEDULE AN ANNUAL SERVICE
Your home heating oil system should be serviced annually. This is to ensure that your boiler is working efficiently and this avoids the possibility of your home heating system breaking down during the winter months. If your fuel lines have some blockages, then you could be using more fuel than is necessary to heat your home and hot water. You should also take the time to do a full check up on your home heating oil tank. Check around your tank for any signs of leaks or damage to the tank that may have occurred during stormy weather. Have a look at the pipes and fittings to see for any evidence of rusting. Depending on the type of oil tank, it may be safer to have it replaced if it is over 10 years old and has a lot of wear and tear.
AVOID RUNNING OUT OF HOME HEATING OIL
Of course, should you require an emergency top up of home heating oil, we are happy to offer a same day/next day delivery where possible. We deliver quality home heating fuel 6 days a week, from Monday to Saturday and we aim to deliver your fuel promptly and efficiently. To schedule a home delivery, give us a call on 022-4222011 to speak to one of our sales team or you can email us on info@cityoil.ie Unsure of which fuel to choose? Check out the full range of fuels available on our website www.cityoil.ie or you may want to have a look at our parent company website www.tria.ie. We are one of the leading Cork Home Heating Oil Suppliers with over 30 years of experience and happy to manage your home heating oil needs.