Worried About Running Out Of Heating Oil? Use These Tips For Maintaining A Plentiful Supply

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Running out of heating oil is a nightmare that no homeowner wants to experience, especially during the coldest months of winter. Yet each year, far too many families experience the discomfort and anguish caused by having an empty heating oil tank. If you have concerns that your supply of heating oil will run out unexpectedly, here are several tips you can use to help maintain a more plentiful supply. 

Find ways to overcome financial difficulties 

If your concerns about your heating oil supply are mostly due to the cost, there are some actions you can take to help improve your situation. In many cases, a simple lack of planning is often the reason why homeowners struggle to find sufficient room in their budget to keep their heating oil tank full. Homeowners in this situation may want to consider: 

• budgeting a small amount each month to build a reserve fund to cover the cost of heating oil each winter
• exploring budget billing options directly with the heating oil company
• applying for heating assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or other heating assistance options

It can also be helpful for financially stressed households to focus on filling their heating oil tank during the early spring or summer months when usage is down and the price per gallon is typically at the lowest point of the year.  

Become proactive about filling the tank

Even homeowners who have sufficient financial capability to afford heating oil can find themselves dealing with an empty tank and a lack of heat in their home. Good ways to prevent this type of problem from occurring include: 

• setting up an auto-fill agreement with the heating oil delivery company to fill the tank regularly and bill the cost to a credit card or pre-paid account
• installing tank alarm systems that will send an alert to the homeowner's smartphone or tablet when tank levels fall below a certain point
• setting an auxiliary tank to double the current volume of heating oil that can be kept on hand
• replacing the existing tank with a larger one 

Since heating fuel oil deliveries can be suspended without notice in instances where the driver is unable to access the tank or there are other obstacles that exist, homeowners should also take a few precautions to ensure that their driveway and the area surrounding their heating fuel tank filler opening are unobstructed.

To learn more about ensuring that your family's supply of heating oil will always be sufficient for their needs, take time to discuss your concerns with a heating oil company in your area.  

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27 January 2022