What To Do if You Run Out of Heating Oil in Your Tank
With harsh winters in the Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey regions, it’s important to ensure you have everything you need to stay warm. For many, winter preparation includes servicing your furnace and stocking up on heating oil. The bitter weather could make you and your family uncomfortable or unsafe without a reliable way to warm your home.
Even the best preparations can fall short if a cold snap lingers longer than usual. Just a few extra weeks of harsh winter weather can lead to an empty heating oil tank. What should you do if you run out of heating oil before winter ends?
Here’s how to handle a winter fuel emergency.
Step 1: Call SOS Xtreme Comfort
The first thing you need to do when you run out of heating oil is contact your heating oil company for a refill. Keep in mind that deliveries during an extreme weather situation can take longer. Blocked roads, icy conditions, and higher demand could delay your heating oil refill delivery.
If you can’t get a heating oil refill right away, you’ll need to use alternative fuel. Diesel and kerosene are common options.
For fast and reliable heating oil delivery in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, call the home heating experts at SOS Xtreme Comfort.
Call NJ at (973) 827-8179, PA at (570) 618-8055, and NY at (845) 351-4700 or contact us online.
Step 2: Get an Alternative Fuel
While you’re waiting for a heating fuel refill delivery, you need to make sure you’re keeping your home and family safe and warm. You can do that with alternative fuel, like diesel.
To get alternative fuel, make sure you have a container that’s safe for flammable liquids. Without the right container, you risk a combustion fire. Once you have your diesel-safe container, head to your nearest gas station.
Ideally, your container holds at least five gallons of fuel. The goal is to fill your at-home fuel tank as much as possible, so you have enough heating fuel until your refill arrives. It may be wise to make multiple trips to the gas station while you can, so you know you have enough heating fuel if the winter weather gets bad before your heating fuel delivery.
Step 3: Fill Your Oil Tank
When you get home, fill your heating oil tank right away. Then, you need to give the diesel or kerosene at least 10 minutes to settle.
As it sits, the heavier sediment and impurities sink to the bottom of the tank. This sediment settling helps ensure your fuel intake lines stay clean and clog-free.
Step 4: Restart the Furnace
After you’ve let your fuel settle, it’s time to restart your furnace. Soon your home will be warm, and you can comfortably and safely wait for your heating oil refill delivery.
On some models of heating oil tanks, all you need to do is push the red reset button. Sometimes you need to press the reset button more than once.
This will help bleed, or remove any air, from the fuel line.
On other models, you need to perform a manual bleeding. Manual bleeds require a pipe wrench, a ¼-inch nylon tube, and a clean container. First, turn off the furnace with the toggle switch. Then, find and open the bleeder valve on the furnace’s oil pump. Insert the tubing and place the other end of the tube into a clean, empty container. Next, turn on the furnace and loosen the bleeder valve with a wrench.
At first, fuel and air will gurgle out unevenly. After a few seconds, only fuel will come out. At that point, tighten the bleeder valve.
Now your furnace will heat your home until you get your heat oil refill.
Never Run Low on Heating Oil Again
Even with good planning, running out of heating oil is possible. When it does, make sure you quickly take care of the problem by scheduling heating oil services. You can reduce the risk of running out of heating oil by setting up a regular heating oil delivery schedule.
Staying on a regular delivery schedule means you’ll be prepared even if winter decides to come early or stay late. SOS Xtreme Comfort offers automatic heating oil delivery services in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Now you don’t need to worry about stocking up. We’ll remember for you!
Avoid the stress and worry. Schedule your heating oil delivery with SOS Xtreme Comfort today!
Call NJ at (973) 827-8179, PA at (570) 618-8055, and NY at (845) 351-4700 or contact us online.
