TOP TIPS Oil Check & Measure

Avoid running out of heating oil

Experts tips to help you

Prevent costly damage to your boiler and the need for an emergency delivery by regularly checking your oil level

Set a regular day to check

However you choose to monitor your heating oil, it is a good idea to set a regular day to check your tank's oil level, for example, each month.

Whether you have a fuel gauge or not, including a reminder in your phone or marking a specific day on your calendar can help you stay on track.

Also, regularly check that your gauge is working. If it hasn't moved in a month and you know you've been using your heating, the gauge may be faulty and require inspection.

Get to know your fuel oil tank

It's helpful to know the size and capacity of your tank, which can usually be found on a label placed on the front or side of the tank.

Many tanks have float gauges or sight-level tubes that allow you to monitor the oil level. When the gauge shows that the tank is about one-quarter full, this is a good time to place an order.

The winter months are the busiest time for fuel oil companies, so to ensure you receive your delivery in sufficient time, placing your order well in advance is advisable.

Free Tank Inspection

Our expert oil tank partner offers a FREE tank inspection. To arrange an appointment, please call our experienced team on 01765 640682.

If you have a digital monitor

If your tank has a digital monitor that plugs into an electric socket inside the house, such as an Apollo or Watchman, ordering when the digit reaches 2 (2 bars) is usually the ideal time.

Most systems are designed to flash at level 2. When the monitor starts flashing at these levels, you still have some oil left, so there’s no need to panic and turn off your heating – the flashing is merely a visible reminder to place your order.

If fitted correctly, the sensors are never placed on the bottom of the tank, so even when the monitor first registers zero or zero bars, approximately 10% of fuel will still be left in the tank.

Watch our Digital Monitor TOP TIPS video here

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No gauge or need to check your oil level

If your tank has no gauging system, or you want to double-check the accuracy of your gauge, an alternative basic method to monitor how much oil you have left is to dip the tank.

To avoid contamination, make sure you use a designated dipstick that is kept clean and used solely for your oil tank.

To manually measure your tank, remove the cap from the top of the tank and insert the dipstick down to the bottom. When you remove the stick, the oil will leave a mark indicating the oil level.

When your tank level gets down to around the last 12 inches (approx. 30cm), we recommend ordering your fuel.

We're committed to helping you make the right fuel choices - call 01765 640682

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Kettlewell Fuels UKIFDA Approved Distributor