The simplest way to avoid running out of heating oil is to check your tank every couple of weeks from November onwards and reorder when it drops to around a quarter full, not when it’s nearly empty. Delivery times stretch in cold weather and over Christmas. If the tank does run dry, the boiler may not restart on its own once oil arrives. We look after oil boilers in villages off the gas grid, including homes around Pensford and the Chew Valley.
Why oil runs out faster in November and December
An oil-fired home can use very little oil in early autumn and then a lot more once the first proper frosts arrive. The heating comes on for longer, the hot water is in heavier use, and if you have family staying over Christmas the boiler barely rests.
The other side of it is supply. Suppliers get busy as soon as the weather turns, and rural lanes can be slow going in ice or snow. Leaving an order until the gauge reads empty is when people get caught out.
How to check your tank level properly
Most domestic oil tanks have a sight gauge, a float gauge or a remote monitor in the house. Whichever you have, a few simple habits help:
- Check it at the same time each week so you get a feel for how fast you’re using oil
- Make a note of the level and the date, especially after a delivery
- If the gauge sticks or looks wrong, don’t rely on it. Ask your supplier or engineer to check it
- Clear leaves, ivy and snow from around the tank so you can see it and the delivery driver can reach the fill point
While you’re there, look over the tank itself. Splits, bulges, rust on a steel tank or staining on the ground are all worth reporting to an engineer straight away.
When to reorder heating oil
As a rough rule, many households reorder at around a quarter of a tank in winter. That leaves a buffer for delivery delays and avoids drawing oil from the very bottom of the tank, where water and sludge tend to collect.
Ordering a little early beats sitting in a cold house waiting for a tanker.
What happens if your oil boiler runs dry
When the tank empties, the boiler stops firing and will usually go to lockout. Even after a delivery, it may not restart. Air can get drawn into the oil line, and any sludge pulled through from the bottom of the tank can block the filter or nozzle.
Safe checks you can do
- Confirm the tank really is empty, or that oil has now been delivered
- Wait a while after a delivery so any sediment can settle
- Press the reset button once, following the boiler manual
Leave the rest to an engineer
If the boiler doesn’t fire after a single reset, stop there. Pressing reset over and over can flood the combustion chamber with oil. Bleeding the oil line, changing filters and working on the burner are jobs for an OFTEC registered engineer, so call one rather than taking panels off.
Oil heating in Pensford, North Stoke and rural Somerset
A lot of the villages south of Bristol and around Bath sit off the mains gas network, so oil and LPG are common. Older stone cottages and farmhouses can also be harder to heat, which means higher oil use in a cold spell. Homes around North Stoke and Kelston often have tanks tucked away at the end of a garden, which makes regular checks easy to forget.
If your oil boiler is getting on in years, an annual boiler service before winter is the best way to keep it running cleanly and spot problems with the tank, filter or burner early.
Frequently asked questions
How much heating oil does a typical home use in winter?
It varies a lot with the size of the house, how well it’s insulated, the age of the boiler and how warm you like it. The most reliable guide is your own usage. Note your tank level weekly through November and you’ll quickly see how many weeks a full tank lasts in cold weather.
Will my oil boiler restart by itself after a delivery?
Sometimes it will, but often it won’t. Air in the oil line or sediment from the bottom of the tank can stop the burner from firing. Try the reset button once after waiting for the oil to settle. If it still won’t light, call an OFTEC registered engineer to bleed the line and check the filter.
Can I use kerosene from a different supplier?
Yes. Domestic boilers usually run on standard heating kerosene, and you can switch suppliers freely. Check your boiler manual or ask your engineer if you’re unsure which fuel your boiler needs. Never put any other fuel in the tank, as the wrong oil can damage the burner and void a warranty.
Keep your oil heating running this winter
If your oil boiler has stopped after running dry, or you’d like it checked over before the cold sets in, give us a call on 01275 400 687 or drop us a message and we’ll get it firing again.