Fight the MA Clean Heat Standard Today! - LEARN HOW
Written on: October 18, 2021
An empty oil tank is a big problem.
It’s very important to always have enough oil for your New England home. An empty oil tank is more than an inconvenience, it’s a real problem. The colder the weather, the more uncomfortable you’ll be while you wait for an emergency heating oil delivery. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are expensive consequences to an empty oil tank.
When your oil tank is empty, debris is more likely to clog your oil filters. That can reduce the efficiency of your heating system or even cause it to fail. Your HVAC equipment can be damaged by sediment or impurities that get sucked into the feed line. Also, through condensation, water tends to collect in an empty tank. Water leads to rust, and rust can cause your heating system to fail. Additionally, if your home gets cold enough, you run the risk of frozen or burst pipes, and that’s a big and costly problem.
Now that you know how important it is to make sure you always have enough oil, here’s what you need to know about reading your oil tank’s gauge:
Step 1: Look for a clear glass or plastic cylinder near the top of the tank. It resembles your car’s fuel gauge with the following symbols: F, ¾, ½, and ¼. There should be a red marker or float indicating the tank’s fuel level. If you can’t see it, your tank is either empty or close to empty.
Step 2: Confirm that the gauge is working. Remove the outer case and gently press down on the float. It should bob back up to its original position. If it doesn’t, the gauge isn’t working properly, and you should call for service. Brideau Energy offers heating oil tank inspections, maintenance, and repair.
Step 3: If your gauge is near or below ¼, it’s time to order more fuel. Check your gauge regularly. You’ll need to check it more often during colder months, because your heating system will be going through oil faster the more the temperatures drop.
You can eliminate the need to worry about your tank’s gauge by signing up for automatic delivery with Brideau Energy. It’s convenient and takes one more thing off your to-do list. As an automatic delivery customer, we’ll monitor your fuel use and the local weather. This will allow us to reliably estimate your heating oil usage and make timely deliveries—even when the weather fluctuates. With automatic delivery, you’ll avoid all the hassle and costly problems that running out of oil can lead to like extra fees and difficulty scheduling a delivery on short notice. Of course, if you prefer to keep track of your fuel levels and delivery schedule yourself, you can. We also offer will-call delivery service.
Since 1987, Brideau Energy has served families and businesses in Central Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. We are the area’s premier family-owned, top-quality fuel company, and your comfort is our priority. Click here to see if we serve your New England neighborhood.
Brideau Energy provides our customers with convenient heating oil delivery on an automatic or will-call basis. Contact Brideau Energy today to learn how we can make a difference for you!
