11/10/2023
How often should you fill your oil tank?
You never want to run out of fuel, especially when it’s cold outside. Demand for oil increases in the winter, and getting an emergency oil delivery is expensive and difficult to organise. This is why we recommend filling your oil tank when it is ¼ full, as never to get caught off guard.
Running out of oil
Not to mention the annoyance that a cold house can cause, running out of oil is a risky problem, as the sediment at the bottom of your tank can wreak havoc on your pipes and heating system.
How did we run out of oil so fast?
Alongside just using your oil as normal, there are some ways to make your oil last longer or prevent any wastage.
- Time of year
- Oil tank capacity
The summer months require less oil usage due to warm temperatures and holidays, leaving the house not needing to be heated. When the colder months roll around, we often forget how much more oil we use day to day, be sure to consider your yearly fluctuation of oil usage. At Christmas time, many people entertain in their houses and stay inside more, which requires heating the house and providing more hot water for winter baths.
If your tank is smaller, it will hold less oil, meaning you may need to top it up more regularly despite using the same amount as someone with a larger tank. This is because letting a tank run dry will push sludge and water into your home’s pipes, which isn’t great for your system.
Once you know the size of your tank and your average yearly usage, you can plan ahead with your oil provider and when and how often you will get deliveries.
Household usage
Understanding your family’s habits can help you plan forward with your oil deliveries, making you less likely to run out.
Think about:
- How big is your home, and how many rooms do you heat?
- What appliances do you use regularly, and how much oil do they use?
- How many people live in your home? How much hot water will you need for showers and radiators
- How many bathrooms do you have?
- How often do you turn the heating on, and what temperature is your standard?
These simple questions can help you to determine how much oil you will expect to use in a given time. Obviously, at different times of the year, this will change, fewer people will be taking long baths in the summer (generally), and we often never put the heating on in the summer.
How efficient is your heating system?
If your tank is over ten years old, it may lose efficiency with each passing year; this will cost more in oil refills and could cause damage to your home and heating system.
While oil is the most efficient way to heat your home than gas or electricity, there are always more ways to increase your heating system’s efficiency:
- Track your usage – this way, you can see how much you use and what may be costing you more than you think.
- Install double glazing – heating your home is only one part; you must keep in the warmth.
- Check your insulation – often forgotten about up in the loft, have someone check out if your insulation is as effective as it could be, this may save you pennies in the long run.
- Keep an eye on your tank – Check for any leaks or splits; these do not increase the efficiency of your heating system, and money could literally be flowing out of your tank.
Contact us
Speak to our team of oil tank experts, who will be able to talk you through how you can get the most out of your tank and heating system.
