As temperatures drop, your heating system becomes an essential part of maintaining a comfortable and safe environment in your home. Many homeowners rely on heating oil to power their furnaces, especially in colder regions where natural gas is not an option. However, running out of heating oil is a frustrating and potentially dangerous situation, particularly during the winter months when the weather can be harsh. But don’t panic! If you run out of heating oil, there are several steps you can take to restore warmth to your home and prevent further issues. This guide will walk you through what to do when your heating oil supply runs out.
1. Stay Safe and Assess the Situation
The first thing you should do when you realize you’ve run out of heating oil is to stay calm and ensure that your home remains safe. If you’re relying on heating oil for your furnace, you’ll likely notice the furnace stops working. This could be accompanied by cold temperatures, especially in an already chilly home.
Immediate Safety Checks:
- Check for any potential hazards: If your heating system uses a furnace that runs on oil, make sure the system is turned off to avoid any risk of damage. If you have any other heating sources, such as space heaters, avoid using them if they aren’t designed to handle long periods of operation.
- Ensure proper ventilation: If you’ve used any alternative heating sources, make sure the room is well-ventilated to avoid carbon monoxide buildup, which can be dangerous.
2. Turn Off Your Furnace or Heater
If your heating oil runs out, the furnace or heater will likely stop working. In some cases, it may cause the system to shut down completely. It’s a good idea to turn the system off completely and refrain from attempting to restart it until your oil is replenished.
- Reset the thermostat: Set the thermostat to the lowest temperature to prevent it from trying to turn on the furnace until oil is delivered.
- Turn off your heating system completely: You don’t want to risk damaging your equipment by forcing it to run on empty.
This is also a good time to check the oil level gauge if you have access to it. Sometimes, the problem could be that you have more oil than you think.
3. Contact Your Heating Oil Supplier
Once you’ve confirmed that your oil tank is indeed empty, your next step is to contact your heating oil supplier. Most suppliers offer emergency delivery services, and while there may be an extra charge for expedited delivery, it’s your quickest option for getting heat back into your home.
- Ask about emergency delivery services: Some suppliers have after-hours services that can deliver oil outside of normal business hours, especially in winter.
- Check for automatic delivery options: Some heating oil suppliers offer automatic deliveries that track your usage and make sure you never run out. If this is an option for the future, it may help prevent this situation from happening again.
Be prepared to provide your address, account information, and any other relevant details that will help the supplier quickly process your order.
4. Consider Other Sources of Heat
While waiting for your heating oil delivery, you’ll need to find alternative ways to heat your home, especially if the temperature is dropping rapidly. Depending on the severity of the weather, you may be able to rely on other heat sources temporarily.
Emergency Heating Options:
- Space heaters: Electric space heaters can help warm up individual rooms. Ensure that the heaters are positioned away from anything flammable and that they are turned off when not in use.
- Wood stoves or fireplaces: If you have a wood stove or fireplace, you can use it to generate heat while you wait for your oil delivery. Just be cautious with fire safety and ventilation.
- Layering clothing: While it’s not ideal, wearing several layers of clothing can help you stay warmer in the short term.
- Blankets and sleeping bags: If the temperature continues to drop, keep blankets and sleeping bags on hand to conserve body heat.
If you don’t have any alternative heat sources, consider temporarily relocating to a friend’s house, family member’s place, or even a public facility (like a community center) until your oil delivery arrives. Discover more here about how to manage heating issues and keep your home comfortable during delivery delays.

5. Bleed Your Furnace or Oil Burner
Once the oil has been delivered and your heating system is refueled, you may need to “bleed” the furnace or oil burner. Bleeding the system involves releasing air from the fuel line to ensure that the oil flows properly through the system. If you have a modern furnace, it might automatically re-prime itself once oil is added.
However, older systems may require you to follow the steps below:
- Locate the bleed valve: This will be near the oil pump or burner.
- Use a container to catch any oil that may leak out when you open the valve.
- Use the furnace’s reset button: After you’ve bled the air out of the system, you can typically reset the furnace to get it running again.
If you are uncomfortable performing this yourself, you should call a professional technician to bleed your system.
6. Check for Additional Issues with Your Heating System
If your furnace still isn’t working after you’ve had the oil delivered and the system is bled, there could be other problems at play. Some of these issues might include a clogged filter, a malfunctioning oil pump, or a failed ignition system. It’s a good idea to schedule a maintenance check from a heating professional, particularly if you haven’t had one in a while.
Regular servicing can help prevent this kind of problem in the future and ensure that your system is running smoothly all winter long.
7. Prevent Future Oil Shortages
Once you’ve resolved the immediate issue of running out of heating oil, it’s time to take steps to prevent it from happening again. Running out of heating oil during winter can cause serious inconvenience and even lead to additional costs due to emergency deliveries and potential system repairs. Here’s what you can do:
- Monitor your oil levels regularly: Keeping an eye on your oil tank’s gauge or using an automatic monitor can help you avoid running out.
- Sign up for automatic deliveries: Many heating oil suppliers offer automatic delivery programs, which take the guesswork out of managing your fuel levels.
- Consider installing a larger tank: If you find that you regularly run out of oil, consider upgrading to a larger tank to ensure you have more oil on hand.
- Order oil early: If you notice your tank is running low, order oil in advance, particularly as winter approaches. Delivery companies may experience higher demand during cold months, and waiting until the last minute may delay service.
Conclusion
Running out of heating oil can be a stressful experience, but by following these steps, you can minimize the impact and get your home back to a comfortable temperature quickly. Always remember to keep safety in mind, use alternative heat sources if needed, and reach out to your supplier as soon as possible to arrange for an emergency delivery. Moving forward, consider taking preventive measures like setting up automatic deliveries and regularly checking your oil levels to ensure you don’t face this issue in the future. Stay warm!