Confused about heating oil prices? It’s important to consider the amount of heating oil you order as it can affect the cost. Larger orders can often be less costly – so it’s always a good idea to stock up.
Likewise, it’s always a good idea to buy home heating oil in the summer, when prices are lower. Of course, you should never overfill your tank above 80-90% to stay safe from spills.
Here’s our guide to help you decide how much heating oil to buy, how to make it last, and ways to make monitoring and ordering your fuel easy.
How long does heating oil typically last for?
Generally, you should expect heating oil to last between 18 and 24 months before expiring. But you can prolong its life by:
- Monitoring the condition of your tank – check your tank for cracks and general damage, as well as rust. Try to keep your vents and gauges protected from rainwater, and ensure all alarms are working.
- Monitoring temperature – colder weather can coagulate heating oil, which changes its consistency. This can clog lines and filters, but should return to its normal state in warmer weather. Keep an eye on this throughout the year.
How much heating oil will I need?
A typical household uses around 27,000 kWh of energy per year, which equates to around 1,800 litres of oil, or between two and three tanks. How much oil you use will depend on your house size, how long you use your heating, and your boiler’s general condition.
To stay in control of you heating oil levels, you should regularly check your oil gauge. You can also ask us about getting a handy Smart Monitor fitted. This lets you check your heating oil levels directly from your phone, tablet or computer, wherever you are. It makes it simple to take control of how much you’re using and when you need to top up.
Find out more here >
Storing home heating oil safely
You should only ever fill your tank to 80 or 90% to prevent overflow. Remember that oil consistency can change with temperatures, so this may affect oil levels.
You can store your heating oil in a tank, drum or intermediate bulk container. These can be made of plastic or steel, and must follow government regulations. You can find out more about these on the gov.uk website or by reading the OFTEC guidelines.
If you need any information, you can call your local Scottish Fuels team who will be happy to help or answer any questions. Just call 0345 300 8844.
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Buy home heating oil with Scottish Fuels today
We’ve got you covered – with local delivery depots up and down Scotland, you can rely on us.
Why not ask us about Pay Monthly too? You can pay for your annual fuel bill via 12 manageable monthly payments rather than one-off bills. Easy peasy.
Simply give us a call to order on 0345 300 8844 or get a quote and order online here >
