Running out of heating oil is every homeowner’s nightmare, especially during a cold winter. The sudden loss of heat or hot water can make a house uncomfortable fast and create urgent safety concerns.
But don’t panic.
With the right steps, you can get your heat back quickly and even avoid long-term damage to your home’s heating system.
At DollarWise, we want to make sure you’re prepared. This guide explains how to prevent running out of heating oil, what to do if you already ran out of heating oil, and what to do if you don’t have money to buy more.
Before taking any action, make sure your tank is actually empty.
Learn more about how to read your heating oil tank gauge from our partner HOP Energy.
Once you confirm your tank is empty, contact your fuel provider immediately.
Order heating oil online 24/7 with DollarWise.
If a delivery can’t reach you immediately, you can safely use diesel fuel as a short-term substitute.
Important: Limit diesel use to short-term emergencies; it burns hotter and produces more soot than standard heating oil.
Read more about the differences between heating oil and diesel.
After adding fuel, your furnace may need a restart:
Tip: If you’re uncomfortable with bleeding your furnace, always call a professional.
Running out of heating oil occasionally is usually not catastrophic thanks to modern safety features:
Household risks: Extended outages in cold weather can lead to frozen pipes, increasing repair costs.
If payday isn’t for another week and you realize you ran out of heating oil with no money in your account so you can buy more, federal and state programs might be able to help:
Learn more about LIHEAP assistance.
Avoid the stress of running dry with these tips:
Discover the Smart Oil Gauge and other monitoring tools to keep ahead on your heating oil’s amount.
Short outages usually won’t harm the system due to automatic shut-offs. Extended empty periods can introduce air into the lines, clog filters, and cause rust.
The furnace shuts off, heat is lost, and filters may need replacement. You may need to bleed the lines before restarting.
Press the red reset button. If it doesn’t start, bleed the fuel line until only oil flows, then restart. Call a professional if unsure.
Yes, diesel is nearly identical to heating oil. Add 5–10 gallons in a yellow container and pour into the fill pipe. Limit short-term use.
Five gallons may last 5–10 days in summer but less than a day in winter. Order promptly when levels are low.
Confirm the tank is empty, call your supplier, use temporary fuel if needed, and restart or bleed the furnace.
LIHEAP offers heating bill assistance and emergency services. Many suppliers have budget plans to prevent future crises.
Yes. Extended heat loss in cold weather can freeze pipes and cause bursts.
Refill early, monitor your tank, use automatic delivery, keep the tank half-full, and improve home insulation.
Not always. Only if the furnace won’t restart after pressing reset. Call a professional if unsure.
Running out of heating oil is stressful, but acting quickly can restore comfort and prevent costly damage. Verify your tank, call your supplier, use temporary fuel if needed, and take steps to prevent future runouts. Programs like LIHEAP and budget payment plans provide additional support when funds are tight.
With proper monitoring, maintenance, and planning, you can enjoy a warm, safe home all winter long and prevent emergencies before they start.
Order heating oil online 24/7 with DollarWise and stay ahead of winter’s chill.
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