Heating Oil Guide for Consumers

Be prepared whenever your heating system runs out of fuel with the emergency propane and heating oil delivery services of Bouchard Fuels Inc. in Plantsville, Connecticut. As a consumer of our fuel products, it's always in your best interest to know what to do with your oil tank while you wait for our delivery. That is why we created this guide for your convenience.

Heating Oil Basics Heating oil is a clean, efficient, cost-effective, safe, and versatile fuel. Igniting it requires a high-tech burner. If you drop a lit match into this oil, it will go out as if it was dropped in water. Also, the possibility of carbon monoxide entering your home from an oil burner is very low. How do I Read the Gauge on my oil Tank? A standard 275-gallon oil tank contains a gauge that tells you how much fuel is left in it. Refer to the following gauge readings to determine the approximate amount of gallons left in your tank: 1/8 = 30 gallons | 1/4 = 70 gallons | 3/8 = 100 gallons | 1/2 = 125 gallons To Measure The Amount of Fuel Oil in Underground or Above Ground Outdoor  Oil Tank (500 and 1000 GL tanks only) Whether your outdoor oil tank is placed underground or above the ground, it is necessary that you know how to measure the amount of fuel oil in it. Follow these simple steps:

1. Remove your oil fill cap and insert the stick into the tank until it reaches the bottom.

2. Remove the stick and take note of the amount of oil in inches that is showing on the stick.

3. Compare the number of inches on your stick with your fuel oil tank size on this chart to determine an estimated amount of gallons.
*This does not apply to tanks in the basements or garages.*

When You're Out of Oil

If you are out of oil and need an emergency delivery, please contact us right away and follow the prompts to dispatch a delivery driver. In case you have oil and there's still no heat, try running through our No Heat Checklist:

1. Check your thermostat to make sure it's set high enough to call for heat.

2. Locate the emergency shutoff switch, usually found near the basement steps or next to your heating system. Make sure the switch is in the "ON" position.

3. Sometimes a system reset is all that's needed. Locate your heating system's burner and press the red reset button only once and listen for the system to start up.

4. Check for any blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers in your electrical supply panel. A breaker switch can be tripped if it is moved slightly from the ON position.