When it comes to heating oil, it’s important to know that even in the warmer summer months, you should still keep your heating oil tank at least half full. If you follow that advice, you’ll avoid the pitfalls of trying to schedule a delivery in a busy fall refueling season. Naturally though, if you fill up early, your heating oil will likely sit idle in the tank for at least four months while you wait for temperatures to drop here in Lamoille and the surrounding counties.
The question is, is it OK to use that “old” heating oil to heat your home?
The short answer is yes: No. 2 heating oil (which most people use to heat their home) has a typical shelf life of just under two years – a wide enough window to cover heating oil you purchased during the previous heating season.
If your heating oil is nearing that age – say, for example, if you own a second home that you don’t visit every year, or only visit during the summer, or winter for skiing – you can still use the heating oil, although it probably won’t produce as much heat as “fresh” oil.
If the oil is so old that it can’t burn hot enough to reach your furnace’s minimum temperature range, your furnace will automatically shut off; if that happens, you will need to hire a heating professional to restart your system. If you know that oil has been sitting in your tank for more than two years, it’s probably better to err on the side of caution and have your tank professionally drained and refilled. If your heating oil tank does need to be replaced, you may even qualify for a $250 Vermont Fuel Tank Rebate!
Of course, it’s important to keep in mind is that two years is simply an average shelf life for No. 2 heating oil. Several factors can raise or lower that number, including:
Starting out with quality oil helps, too – a big reason to get your heating oil from us rather than an unknown discount supplier.
The bottom line: if you get your fuel from a qualified heating oil supplier, properly maintain your heating system, and haven’t left your heating oil sitting unused for years, you should be in good shape when it comes time to run your heating system next heating season!
For dependable delivery of quality heating oil at Vermont’s best prices, trust the pros at Jack F. Corse! Contact us today to schedule a delivery or join our family of customers!
Jack F. Corse – proudly serving Lamoille County, Franklin County, Westford, Fairfax, Underhill, and Jericho Counties, VT.