If you have run out of heating oil, the first step is to order a delivery right away, and if it is cold, ask about weekday same-day service. Once oil is back in the tank, your system usually will not simply pick up where it left off. Most oil burners need to be restarted, and sometimes primed or bled, before they will fire again. The good news is that recovering from a run-out is straightforward, and with a couple of easy habits you can make sure it never happens again. Here is what to do.
First, get oil on the way
Order a delivery as soon as you realize the tank is dry. We serve Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia, and we offer weekday same-day delivery when you order by noon, which matters most on a cold day when you want heat back fast. When you call, let us know you have run completely out so we can advise you on getting the system going again once the oil arrives.
After delivery: press the reset button once
When a burner runs out of fuel, its safety control typically locks the system out so it does not keep trying to fire on an empty line. To clear that lockout after the tank is refilled, you press the burner reset button. This is the single most important thing to get right, so read it carefully:
- Find the reset button, usually a red button on the primary control on or near the burner.
- Press it once, and once only.
- Give the system a moment to attempt ignition and start.
Do not press the reset button repeatedly. Each press pushes more oil into the combustion chamber, and pressing it over and over floods the chamber with unburned oil, which can create a dangerous condition and make the problem worse. One press is the rule. If it does not fire and run after a single reset, stop and move to the next step rather than hitting the button again.
Why the system may need priming or bleeding
Running a tank completely dry pulls air into the fuel line, and an oil pump cannot fire properly on an air-filled line. It needs to be primed, or bled, to purge that air and restore a solid flow of oil to the nozzle. On many systems this is a job for a heating technician, who bleeds the pump at the bleeder valve until clean, air-free oil flows and the burner lights and runs steadily. If your single reset did not bring the system back, air in the line is the usual reason, and a service call is the safe fix. Running dry can also stir up sediment from the bottom of the tank, which is another reason a professional restart is often the smart move.
Change the oil filter soon after
Once heat is restored, plan to have the oil filter changed before long, if the technician does not do it during the restart. When a tank runs low and then dry, sediment that normally sits harmlessly at the bottom can get drawn into the system and load up the filter. A fresh filter after a run-out protects the pump and nozzle and keeps the system from stumbling again a few weeks later.
How to avoid running out
A run-out is almost always preventable. A few simple habits keep it from ever happening:
- Watch the gauge. Check your tank gauge regularly through the winter, especially around cold snaps when usage climbs.
- Reorder at about a quarter tank. That quarter tank is your buffer. It leaves time to schedule a delivery and keeps sediment out of your lines. Do not wait for the needle to reach empty.
- Consider automatic delivery. This is the surest fix. Instead of tracking the gauge yourself, we monitor your usage and the weather and schedule fills before you run low. For many homeowners it removes the worry entirely.
- Keep the weekday same-day option in mind. If you do slip up, ordering by noon gets oil to you the weekday same day in our area.
Between watching the gauge, reordering early, and the option of automatic delivery, there is really no reason to spend a cold night without heat.
Frequently asked questions
Will my heat come back on by itself after a delivery?
Usually not. Most burners lock out after running dry and need a single press of the reset button, and often priming or bleeding to clear air from the fuel line before they will run.
Why should I press the reset button only once?
Each press sends more oil into the combustion chamber. Pressing it repeatedly floods the chamber with unburned oil, which is unsafe and makes restarting harder. Press it once and wait.
Do I need a technician after running out?
Often yes. If a single reset does not restore heat, there is likely air in the fuel line that needs to be bled, which is typically a job for a heating professional.
How do I make sure this never happens again?
Watch the gauge, reorder at about a quarter tank, and consider automatic delivery so we schedule your fills before you run low.
Out of oil? Let’s get your heat back
Do not sit in the cold. Order by noon and we can deliver the weekday same day in our area, and we will walk you through getting the burner running again. Call us at (215) 874-0093.