6 mistakes heating oil newbies make

1Waiting until your heating oil is nearly empty

When you’re new to heating oil, it’s easy to treat ordering fuel like filling up the car and wait until you’re nearly empty. The problem is that leaving it too late gives you less room to plan your next heating oil delivery.

Checking your tank regularly means you can start thinking about your next order before your level becomes critical. It also gives you time to view the delivery options available rather than only looking for the quickest option because you’re about to run out.

If remembering to check the tank isn’t for you, BoilerJuice Connected can take away some of that manual management. Connected uses tank-level information to help automate your heating oil orders, so you don’t have to rely on remembering to dip the tank and place every order yourself.

2Not knowing how much heating oil you use

During your first year with oil central heating, you probably won’t know what ‘normal’ heating oil usage looks like for your home. How quickly you use oil can change with the weather, how often your heating is on, and the size of your household.

Keeping an eye on your tank levels can help you understand your own usage rather than relying on somebody else’s estimate.

3Ordering more heating oil than your tank has room for

Your tank’s total capacity isn’t necessarily the amount of heating oil you can order.

For example, having a 1,200-litre tank doesn’t mean you can order 1,200 litres if there is already oil inside. Before ordering, check your current oil level and estimate how much space is available.

It’s also important to remember that an oil tank shouldn’t be filled completely to its maximum capacity. Space needs to be left at the top of the tank to allow for the oil to expand. This means the amount that can safely be delivered will be less than the tank’s total capacity.

If you order 1,000 litres but the tank cannot safely take the full amount, the driver will only deliver what the tank can hold. The tanker records the amount delivered so your order can be adjusted where applicable. However, a significant under-delivery may result in a fee.

Knowing your tank’s capacity and checking your current oil level before ordering can help you choose a more suitable quantity when getting your heating oil quote.

4Forgetting to check whether a tanker can reach your property

One of the biggest differences between mains gas and heating oil is that your fuel must physically reach your property by tanker.

These can all affect which tanker is suitable for your heating oil delivery:

• Narrow lanes
• Tight gateways
• Low bridges
• Weight restrictions
• Parked cars
• Limited turning space

The distance between where the tanker can park and your tank can matter too.

When getting a quote, provide accurate information about access to your property in your BoilerJuice account and choose the appropriate tanker option. Before delivery day, make sure gates are accessible, the route to the tank is clear, and the fill point can be reached safely.

5Assuming heating oil prices stay the same

If you’re used to paying for your heating through a monthly gas bill, buying heating oil can feel quite different.

Heating oil prices can change, which means the price you see when you first check may not necessarily be the same the next time you need to order. Factors such as demand, the time of the year, and wider oil market conditions can all influence the price.

That’s why it’s worth getting into the habit of checking your tank level rather than waiting until you’re almost empty. Leaving yourself more time means you aren’t forced to order simply because you’ve run out.

When you get a quote with BoilerJuice, you can view the heating oil prices and delivery options available for your area at that time.

6Treating your heating oil tank as something you can forget about

Once there’s plenty of oil in the tank, it can be tempting to forget about it until you need another delivery. But your heating oil tank is an important part of your heating system and is worth checking throughout the year.

Every so often, it’s worth checking:

• ✓For visible signs of cracks, corrosion, leaks, or other damage
• ✓That the area around the tank is clear
• ✓Your oil level, even when you aren’t planning an order

Clear access makes it easier for you to inspect the tank and helps the driver reach it safely when your next delivery arrives. You can check your oil level manually or use a BoilerJuice Smart Monitor to keep track through the app.