Oil-fired central heating systems are a good choice for winter but come with the responsibility of keeping track of your oil usage. The last thing you need is to run out of oil on a cold winter day, with a refill delivery date that’s days away.
Need to get an oil tank installed? We at Green and Reliable Heating have Oil Safe Assured installers in Wetherby, Malton, York, and Harrogate to get your oil-fired heating system installed. Contact us by emailing at alanmarcon@me.com or calling 0800 118 2467 or 07717 574 470.
Why is tracking your oil usage necessary?
It’s necessary that you assign a regular day on which you check the oil tank level of your heating system for the following reasons.
To know when you’re running low
It’s easy to lose track of your oil usage when you don’t check your oil tank’s level regularly. Depending on how cold it is, you may end up using more oil than you think.
Therefore, knowing if you’re low on oil in advance means you can arrange oil delivery and manage the heating in your house accordingly.
To detect leaks
Using an oil level monitor is very helpful in detecting leaks. Some monitors even alert the owner if a significant drop in oil level is detected.
This will help you keep your home and family safe from dangerous oil leaks and get the leak repaired before any damage is done.
To manage finances accordingly
Oil prices fluctuate day in and day out. If you have a way to track your oil usage, you can save on oil when the prices are at their lowest. Knowing the amount of oil you have left in your tanks helps decide how much oil you should store for later use and thus, how much more you need to buy.
To arrange oil delivery
If you live in a remote location, chances are your oil refills are delivered a few days after you give the order. If you only find out you're out of oil because the house starts turning cold, you’ll have to bear the cold for a few more days until the delivery arrives.
You can arrange deliveries on time if you always have an idea of how full your oil tank is.
How do you check your oil usage?
Sight Gauge
A sight gauge is a clear tube usually fitted on the side of a heating oil tank. The measurements on the tube are visible for owners to see the amount of oil left in the tank.
However, the tube may discolour over time, making it hard to take a reading accurately. Therefore, it’s a good idea to keep backups to replace discoloured tubes.
Float Gauge
A float gauge sits at the top of the tank and is connected to a float in the oil. As the oil levels decrease, a mechanism causes the string to shorten. Consequentially the gauge turns a dial to indicate how full the tank is.
The readings only give measurements of empty, ¼ full, ½ full, ¾ full, and full.
Digital Gauge
A smart digital gauge saves you from regularly having to go and check the oil tank. The gauge detects the oil level of your tank and sends the information to a receiver device in your home.
The gauge has an inbuilt alert system that will warn you as soon as the oil starts running low. In case of oil theft or an oil leak, a smart digital gauge will alert you about a dramatic drop in the oil level.
Dipstick Method
This is one of the oldest methods to check the oil level of a tank. However, it’s still used today when the other options are broken or not working properly.
It involves taking a stick that is long enough to hit the bottom of your oil tank and dunking it straight into your oil tank until it hits the bottom. Next, remove the stick and check to see how much of the stick is covered in oil to get an idea of the oil level.
Need any help?
If you live in a remote location far from most gas lines, an oil-fired central heating system is the solution to your heating problems. Oil deliveries can easily be arranged, and the system produces more heat than other heating sources due to how a higher temperature is needed to burn the oil.
Do you have any queries regarding an oil tank installation? Get in touch with us at Green and Reliable Heating by calling 0800 118 2467 or 07717 574 470. You can also email us at alanmarcon@me.com, and our installers in Wetherby Malton, York, and Harrogate will guide you through the whole process.
