Heating Basics: How To Read A Fuel Tank Gauge

If you’re a will call customer and manage your own heating oil or propane deliveries, one simple but important responsibility you have is to keep a close eye on your fuel gauge. But how do you read one?

The good news is that whether you use heating oil or propane, reading a fuel gauge is pretty easy to do. If you haven’t tried it, here are the basics.

For Heating Oil Tanks:

Your heating oil tank gauge is typically a clear glass or cylinder located at or near the top of the tank. The cylinder is marked with numbers – usually F, ¾, ½, ¼. A red or yellow marker or float tells you how much fuel you have left; if the marker is at the bottom of the gauge or not visible, your tank is at or near empty.
To make sure the gauge is working, carefully remove the outer case and gently press the float down. If it bobs back up to the original position, the gauge is working. If it doesn’t, contact us for a heating system repair.

Additional thoughts:

The commonest heating oil tank size is 275 gallons, but keep in mind that heating oil tanks need space for air and non-combustible debris that settles in the bottom of your tank. Most 275-gallon tanks only hold about 240 gallons of fuel – which means that when your tank is half-full, you really only have about 120 gallons left (not 140 or so).
Many factors will affect the speed at which you will use up your heating oil – the weather, the efficiency of your heating equipment, and the air tightness of your home, to name a few. But here’s a rough estimate: If outdoor temperatures average about 32° over a 24-hour period, a 2,500 square foot house will burn about 6-7 gallons of heating oil per day.

For Propane Tanks:

Domestic propane tanks and larger propane cylinders usually have a built-in fuel gauge, often located under the tank dome or cover.
The gauge is usually a circular dial that looks a lot like a car’s gauge, with numbers that show the percentage of the tank that is full. Most gauges read from 0 to about 95 percent; tanks are never filled to 100 percent capacity because propane gas expands as temperatures rise (space must be provided to allow for the expansion).

Let Roach Energy manage your heating oil and propane deliveries for FREE
Of course, if you don’t want to hassle with reading gauges or calling for fuel deliveries, there’s an easy way to do that: contact us to sign up for FREE automatic fuel delivery. We’ll estimate your delivery based on an estimate of your past usage and the current weather, topping off your fuel tank when it’s about one-quarter full.

Have any other questions about your propane or heating oil tank? Just ask – we’re happy to help. And remember: for reliable heating oil delivery and propane delivery in the West Virginia and western Maryland, trust the pros at Roach Energy!