Whether you are a new homeowner or unfamiliar with a few of your home’s inner workings, an oil tank might be a foreign concept to you. Knowing how to accurately analyze your fuel tank’s indicators can ensure that your tank remains full and that you and your family stay warm in frigid weather.  

How to Read Your Oil Tank Gauge

Reading the gauge on your oil tank is very straightforward. When you locate your oil tank, it will usually be either in your basement or outside. There will be a clear, plastic tube attached to the top of the fuel tank with a float inside. The outside of the tube is marked with lines that indicate how full the tank is. The float should be aligned with the coordinating line, illustrating the amount of fuel left in the oil tank.

Why It’s Important to Have a Working Gauge  

When an oil tank gauge is broken and gives you an inaccurate reading, you could be left without the proper amount of oil to heat your home. An average tank yields 275 gallons of heating oil and uses around 6.5 gallons daily. It is recommended that you contact your oil delivery service to order more fuel when the tank is between half and one-fourth full to account for delivery time. But, if you live in a colder climate and your gauge is broken, this creates a risky situation where you could be left without heat and hot water for days.

 

Alaskan residents know the importance of keeping warm during the colder season. Checking your oil tank gauge regularly and knowing how to read it ensures that you’ll be able to identify when it’s broken, preventing your heating oil supply reaching dangerously low levels. For over 50 years, Juneau residents have trusted Ike’s Fuel for reliable oil delivery, ensuring their homes are properly heated throughout the winter. For more information, visit their website or call (907) 364-3420.