If your home depends on fuel oil to stay warm during the winter months, it’s important to be familiar with the home heating oil tank your local company has installed on your property. The average homeowner should be able to measure the volume of their home heating oil tank based on its shape so that they can determine how much oil to purchase when they need it. While some may assume that it’s tricky to measure the volume on their own, it’s actually quite doable with a little know-how. 

Rectangular Tanks

To measure the volume of a rectangular home heating oil tank, measure the length, width, and depth of the unit with a tape measure. If you can, measure from the inside of the tank, but if this is not possible, measure the outside and subtract the width of the tank walls. Next, multiply the length, width, and depth measurements together to find the cubic volume in inches. Lastly, using the measurement of a gallon in cubic inches, divide the cubic volume in inches by 231. 

Cylindrical Tanks

If you have a cylindrical tank in your home, start to measure it by determining the height and radius of the tank. Next, square the radius by multiplying the number by itself, then multiply the answer by 3.1416 (pi). Multiply your answer by the height of the tank to determine cubic volume in inches and again by 231 to determine the answer in gallons. 

Understanding how to measure the volume of your heating oil tank will help make future deliveries much faster and more efficient. If you’re still unsure as to how you can measure the tank on your own, call your local oil company for assistance. 

If you live in Palmyra, NY, and are looking for a reliable home heating oil company to help you measure your tank or need to schedule routine deliveries, consider Main Energy. This company works with each customer to develop an oil delivery plan that makes sense for their home financially and logistically. For more information, visit them online or give them a call at (315) 597-5200.