How Long Does Heating Oil Last?
At Star Home Heating Oil, one of the most common questions we hear from our new customers scheduling their heating oil delivery is, “How long does heating oil last?” It’s a great question, however, the answer isn’t so simple. Just as every person is unique, so are homes. As such, there are several factors that impact how long a full tank of heating oil will last you. Here are some factors to consider.
Heating Oil Tank Sizes
How long does heating oil last? The biggest factor that determines how long your heating oil will last – as you may have guessed, is your oil tank size! Did you know that heating oil tank sizes can range from as little as 100 gallons to well over 2,000 gallons? For average-sized residential homes, the most common heating oil tank size is 275 gallons. In-ground tanks have a much higher capacity, so an oil tank size of 550-gallon, 1000-gallon, or even 2000-gallon is typical.
In-ground heating oil tanks are shielded from severe weather and insulated from significant temperature shifts, so accidents rarely happen. When problems do occur, troubleshooting heating oil leaks and other issues is a labor-intensive endeavor. Despite their impressive oil tank size (which allows homeowners to space their heating oil delivery further apart), in-ground tanks are no longer the norm. For all-around ease and safety, in-ground heating oil tanks are often replaced with above-ground tanks before a house is sold to a new owner.
Oil Tank Size vs. Usable Capacity
So, how long does 275 gallons of oil last? Well, keep in mind that your heating oil tank size will differ from your actual usable capacity. For example, a 275-gallon heating oil tank will only hold approximately 250 gallons of heating oil. Similarly, a 330-gallon heating oil tank will hold about 300 gallons. This is because regardless of the heating oil tank sizes in question, a “full” tank still has to have some air space left within it to safely allow enough room for expansion. When you are placing an order for heating oil delivery, your heating oil provider will know what your usable capacity is based on the oil tank size and other information that you provide them with.
Heating Oil Usage and House Size
How long does heating oil last? There are still a few factors to consider! After confirming your heating oil tank size, the next thing to consider is how much heating oil you use in a day, on average. Many factors impact how much you will use in a day. They include:
Heating Oil Usage and House Size
Simply put, the larger your home, the more heating oil fuel is necessary to heat it. The number of people living in your home also tends to drive up fuel costs.
Heating Oil Usage and Your Home’s Floor Plan
Another factor that informs the answer to “How long does heating oil last?” is a home’s floor plan. The “open concept” layout certainly has skyrocketed in popularity in the past decade or so. The open concept may consist of a studio-style space with a single kitchen and living area, or it may include an open kitchen that looks out to a dining and living area, with the bedrooms down the hall or on another floor. Most homes with the open concept layout are either of newer construction or have been renovated using more modern materials to provide more heating and cooling efficiencies. This is just another way of saying that they require less energy or heating oil. Conversely, many open-concept spaces were designed with high, loft-like ceilings and larger windows that may create more opportunities for heat to escape. This can drive up your heating oil usage and call for more frequent heating oil delivery calls–which no one wants to make!
On the other hand, if your home is traditionally divided up into smaller, more individual rooms with a separate kitchen, dining room, living room, etc., it may be a challenge for your heating oil furnace to warm all of your rooms equally. This may cause you to keep cranking up the thermostat, prompting you to call for heating oil delivery sooner than expected. Having said that, with separate rooms, you do have the advantage of turning down the thermostat or radiator in rooms that are used less frequently.
The Energy Efficiency of Your House
Two homes of equivalent size can burn vastly different amounts of heating oil fuel to heat the same amount of space. A 2,500-square-foot house with poor insulation and drafty windows can burn double the amount of heating oil than an equivalent 2,500-square-foot house that is properly insulated and fitted with energy-efficient windows and other materials. Although making such upgrades can be a significant cost upfront, they pay for themselves in the long run.
Your Heating System’s Proficiency
How old is your furnace? While most heating oil systems are built to last for decades, technological advancements continue to make newer models more and more efficient. This can mean smoother operation, more thorough heating capability, and a reduction in heating oil use. While the cost of upgrading your heating oil system can be a big expense upfront, it can substantially reduce your cost of heating oil delivery going forward.
The Temperature Outside
How cold is it outside? The colder the temperature outside, the harder your heating oil furnace and boiler have to work. Even a 10-15 degree drop in temperature can require the average-sized home to burn an additional 3-5 gallons of heating oil per day to maintain the thermostat. Understandably, the length of the cold season in your area also significantly impacts heating oil usage.
Your Preferred Temperature Inside
How warm do you typically like your home to be? 65 degrees? 68 degrees? 72 degrees? Turning the thermostat up even a couple of degrees will require your furnace to work harder and consume more heating oil to maintain your desired room temperature. Most of us like to remain toasty warm during the winter months, but turning your thermostat down even a few degrees will reduce heating oil usage and buy you a little time before your next heating oil delivery.
Heating Oil Usage Estimates
Bearing all of the variables outlined above, your heating oil usage can be estimated as follows:
How long does 275 gallons of oil last? A homeowner in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut area with a house that is sized between 2500 and 3000 square feet should expect to burn somewhere between five and eight gallons of heating oil per day, on average. Keeping your thermostat low will reduce your furnace’s oil consumption while raising it will cause it to burn oil faster.
How long does heating oil last? Bearing in mind that the tank’s usable capacity is around 250, you can estimate that your heating oil delivery will last you between 31 and 50 days based on using five to eight gallons of heating oil per day.
When To Check Your Heating Oil Tank
Regardless of your oil tank size, we recommend that you check your oil tank level at least once every two weeks during the winter. Just set yourself a reminder on your smartphone so that you won’t forget. Like the gas tank in your car, you never want to be faced with an empty heating oil tank!
Order at a Quarter!
When your gauge reads that your heating oil tank is down to 1/4 full, it is time to refill. How long does ¼ tank of oil last? Don’t chance it! It is worth the peace of mind to schedule a heating oil delivery!
The Star Home Heating Oil Advantage
Star Home Heating Oil is proud to offer you access to our network of discounted fuel dealers. Search your zip code to find reliable, top-notch heating oil providers in your area – all at your fingertips. Our heating oil delivery platform allows New York state homeowners in Long Island, Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, and Queens to shop for the best heating oil prices based on today’s NY fuel oil prices. This means that customers in need of quick heating oil delivery no longer need to call around, haggle, or wait for price quotes. Instead, you’ll get matched with the lowest price we can find from local professional heating oil companies with whom we have established relationships. Book your home heating oil delivery today!
