Posted: June 8, 2026
If you find yourself with an empty heating oil tank in the middle of winter, you are going to have to go without heat until this tank is refilled. In fact, your heating system will most likely shut down and automatically stop working if you run into this issue.
Not only is this a huge headache that will leave you cold and uncomfortable, but depending on the exact outdoor temperatures, this can also put you, your home and your family at risk. Everyone here in Eastern Massachusetts can probably agree that this is definitely not an ideal scenario, to say the very least.
The repercussions of an empty heating oil tank don’t stop there, however.
In addition to running the risk of not having any working heat in your home, an empty heating oil tank is also susceptible to serious damage.
When fuel levels get too low or run out completely, condensation can accumulate on the interior walls of your heating oil tank. The moisture that this condensation forms is a breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria can turn your heating oil into sludge, which can clog your tank’s lines and mess with the efficiency of your heating system. This can also cause rust to form, which can cause your tank to deteriorate and become damaged.
Having an empty heating oil tank is certainly something you want to avoid, and the good news is that there are a few ways you can do this.
The first thing to do is to make sure the supply of heating oil that you will need for the winter is scheduled to arrive before winter officially starts. That way, you are not scrambling to try to secure a delivery in the midst of a cold spell. Fuel prices are usually cheaper before winter arrives as well, so you’ll save a little bit of money.
Then you need to have an idea of how much heating oil you will need for the winter season. You can look at your previous heating oil orders as well as your heating bills to get a sense of this number. You can also speak to a neighbor who has a house that is similar in size to yours to see how much heating oil he or she typically goes through a year.
If you are not receiving automatic deliveries from your fuel provider, don’t forget that you will need to monitor your fuel levels to ensure that they don’t get too low. We recommend placing a fuel order when your tank is about a quarter full.
Medway Oil & Propane is here to help homeowners in Eastern Massachusetts keep their heating oil tanks full. We make heating oil deliveries in Medway, Bellingham and Attleboro, Massachusetts.
The Medway Oil & Propane team can also handle heating oil tank installations. We will even remove your old tank as part of the installation process.
Contact Medway Oil & Propane today to start getting reliable heating oil tank services.
