When the temperatures plummet outdoors, you turn up the heat inside to stay warm and comfortable. However, if you run out of home heating oil, it might not be much warmer indoors. While staying on top of your oil tank gauge and ordering deliveries when it starts getting low can help prevent this from happening, you should still be prepared in case of an accidental outage. If you find that the tank has run dry, try these simple fixes to stay safe and warm until it's refilled. 

What Steps Should I Take When the Home Heating Oil Tank Runs Dry?

The first step when you run out of home heating oil is to arrange for delivery. Choosing a fuel company that provides 24-hour phone service ensures you can reach someone to place your order at any time. While you'll likely need to wait for the delivery, taking this step gets the ball rolling right away. 

If it's especially cold out, you can temporarily run the furnace using diesel fuel. How much you'll need depends on when the home heating oil will be delivered. In most cases, 5-10 gallons will suffice until the truck arrives, but you can add more for peace of mind. To add fuel, open the fill cap outside (where the oil truck hooks up) and pour the diesel in. Wait 10-15 minutes for the fuel to settle before restarting the burner. To do this, simply press the reset button on the burner. It's usually a well-marked, large red button. 

How Can I Stay Warm While Waiting for an Oil Delivery?

Restarting the furnace using diesel can keep you warm while you wait for a home heating oil delivery, but you can use other methods to stay warm that reduce fuel consumption. If you have other heat sources, like a fireplace or space heaters, now is a great time to use them.

If you run out of home heating oil at night, keep the curtains closed to help keep warm air inside. Then, you can open them in the morning to allow sunlight to add heat. Now is also a great time to bake or cook something delicious, as the heat from the oven can help warm your home. Once your food is done, crack open the oven door to let the remaining heat escape. 

Avoid the hassle of running out of home heating oil this winter by arranging for automatic delivery from Main Energy of Palmyra, NY. This reliable, family-owned oil company will keep your family warm and comfortable all season long by delivering high-quality fuel every month, ensuring your tank doesn't run dry. Visit them online to find out about pre-ordering, or call (315) 597-5200 to order oil today.