Measuring the Oil in Your Tank
Checking Your Tank Levels
To measure how much oil is left in your tank, you may purchase a measuring stick from Bogue Oil or simply use a long, thin stick. You'll need to use a stick that's at least eight feet long if the oil tank is underground. You can use a shorter stick if the tank is above the ground. Either way, you must be able to reach down to the bottom of the tank.
#1 - Assessment
Hold the store-bought measuring stick as straight as possible while you lower it into the tank. Once you feel it touch the bottom, lift it back out. Check to see how far up the heating oil has reached. Then, read the number in inches.
If you use a plain long stick, hold it up straight while lowering it into the heating oil tank. When you feel it hit the bottom, lift it back up and remove it. Use a ruler to measure the distance from the wet end of the stick to the highest place the oil reached.
#2 - Inches to Gallons
To convert the number of inches of oil you find into the number of actual gallons, you need to know the volume and shape of your tank. That's where our handy oil tank chart comes in. For example, if you have a 275-gallon horizontal tank with seven inches of oil left, you have approximately 62 gallons in your tank.#3 - Time to Call
We recommend that you don't let your tank go below one-quarter full. Thus, for a 275-gallon tank, 62 gallons would be less than a quarter full, and it would be time to call Bogue Oil.
We’ll Handle It for You
If you would rather not have to regularly check oil levels and call for deliveries, why not take advantage of our FREE automatic delivery service? Visit our residential service page for more information on automatic delivery, and then contact us to sign up.