What to Do if You Run out of Heating Oil

If you’re one of the 1 million+ properties in Britain that run on heating oil, you know how important it is to stay topped up. Sadly, life can get in the way sometimes and we may forget to fill up – or there may be an error with the fuel gauge.

As a dedicated heating oil supplier, we’re here to help you if the worst happens. There’s no need to panic – here’s what to do if you run out of heating oil.

Order More Heating Oil

If you do find your oil supply has hit zero, simply organise a top up so you can heat your home and water. You can order heating oil online or call our friendly team on 0345 600 4040. Let us know that your fuel oil has run out and we’ll do our best to prioritise your delivery.

It’s always best to do this sooner rather than later. Letting your oil tank run dry risks sediment gathering at the bottom of the tank, which can run into your oil furnace and cause costly damage.

Check Your Boiler System

Once you’ve organised a heating oil delivery there may be additional maintenance required on your boiler. This includes:

– Pressing the reset button on the oil boiler (or resetting manually with the help of an OFTEC-registered engineer).
– Bleeding of fuel lines to remove build-up.
– Additional inspections of your empty oil tank, particularly if it’s old.
– Fixes to your boiler if sediment has managed to clog oil lines.

If you haven’t had a recent oil boiler service, make sure you schedule an oil boiler inspection or service with one of our OFTEC-registered engineers. This will check for damaged components or build-up of sediment, which could cause your fuel to burn less efficiently when you have topped up.

The same goes for your oil tank. Look out for leaks and ask us about inspections, particularly if your oil tank is old. Not only will it improve uptime; it could save you money on fuel bills, too! 

What Happens if I Run Out of Heating Oil?

If your oil burner stops, one of the first things you’ll notice is your central heating not coming on or a lack of hot water.

There is no danger to you if your oil tank runs out. Your heating system has safety settings that disable the burners if oil does run dry, so there’s no danger of poisoning or combustion.

How to Avoid Running Out of Home Heating Oil In The Future

Schedule Automatic Top Ups

We can help you stay topped up with our pay monthly direct debit scheme. This also helps you keep on top of oil prices throughout the year.

Invest in An Oil Tank Monitor

The FoxRadar Tank Monitor allows you to monitor your tank levels remotely. No more going outside in cold weather to check your fuel – simply log in to your app. It can even automatically schedule deliveries for you.

Stay Ahead with Our Cold Weather Priority Scheme 

If you’re a customer over the age of 75, you can sign up for our Cold Weather Priority Scheme. This helps us to prioritise home deliveries in the winter months, ideal for vulnerable people in remote locations.