Calculating how much heating oil you'll need for the season will ensure your family is comfortable throughout the year’s chilliest months. Most households use more oil when it’s cold outside, as outdoor temperatures determine the oil’s usage. To help you order the correct amount of oil and prepare for the approaching frost, start by figuring out how much fuel you'll need.

How to Determine Your Heating Oil Usage

In most cases, one- and two-bedroom houses need tanks of 300 gallons or less, while larger homes require a container that can hold at least 500 gallons. Standard oil furnaces burn between 0.8 and 1.7 gallons of fuel per hour.

To calculate your oil needs, project the number of hours the furnace will be used on an average day. If it runs for eight hours, multiply 1.7 gallons by 8; you'll get 13.6 gallons per day. Then, divide the tank’s size by the number of daily gallons. For example, if you have a 500-gallon tank, you’d divide 500 by 13.6 gallons. Since 37 is the quotient, the tank would need to be refilled approximately once every 37 days.

Factors That Affect How Much Heating Oil You Need

The main factor that impacts your oil needs is outdoor temperatures—you’ll likely run the furnace more when it's colder outside. The home’s size also impacts the furnace’s efficiency and, by extension, how much fuel you'll need. For instance, smaller houses and those with good insulation probably have lower oil demands.

Additionally, older furnaces may not be as effective as they once were, and they may need to use more oil to produce heat. Take these factors into account when ordering oil, and if you're ever in doubt, order more than you'll need.

If you want to order oil, turn to Alaska Petroleum in Fairbanks. These professionals have offered homeowners affordable heating oil since 1981. They operate over 100 tanks to provide on-demand, regularly scheduled, and emergency deliveries. Get more information about their services online, or call (907) 488-2575 to place an order.