During the winter, your heating oil supply allows for comfort throughout your home. Unfortunately, if you take this for granted, an empty tank can come as quite a shock. Here’s some information about how to deal with this situation.

What Can You Do if Your Tank Runs Out of Heating Oil?

Once you’ve alerted the oil company, you need to find a way to keep your loved ones safe and comfortable while you wait for the delivery to arrive. If you can’t all gather around a space heater or fireplace, you can use diesel oil in the interim. Simply find an empty plastic container and head to your local gas station. Try to fill up containers with at least five gallons of this heating oil. Although this gas is more refined and expensive than your standard heating oil, it will serve the same purpose in a pinch.

Back at home, pour the diesel into your heating oil tank and wait ten minutes for small particles like dirt or sand to sink to the bottom. Next, locate the reset button on your furnace and press it two to three times to allow the diesel to move through the fuel fine.

How to Prevent Running Out in the Future

If you want to avoid the need to leave your house on a cold day, you’ll need to work out a better system for keeping track of your heating oil supply. You could arrange for automatic fuel deliveries, set at a frequency that works for your family. You could also stock up on extra heating oil should you use more than normal between shipments. Or, you could purchase an oil tank monitor, which can be programmed to alert you when the oil tank falls below a certain volume.

If you’re hoping to set up convenient fuel deliveries to avoid running out, get in touch with Monroe Oil Company in Rochester, NY. Since 1910, they’ve provided heating oil solutions for customers throughout Monroe, Ontario, and Wayne counties. They offer same-day service if you ever need to add to your supply at the last minute. If your budget is tight, you can also take advantage of the heating energy assistance program (HEAP). To learn more about their offerings, visit their website or call (585) 244-4080 today.