How To Read Your Fuel Storage Tank Gauge

Whether you use Bioheat fuel or propane (or both) at your home here on the South Shore, you need to know how to read the gauge on the tank so you know how much fuel you have. That’s the facts!

And, that’s especially important if you use Will-Call to schedule your Bioheat and/or propane deliveries from us. Remember, if you’re a Will-Call customer, you are responsible for monitoring your fuel usage and contact Frank Lamparelli to schedule a delivery.

If you forget and run low, or, worse, run out, you have to call for an emergency delivery and are on the hook for any extra costs that go with it. And if you run out, you’re also responsible for any expenses related to a run-out when it comes to your equipment and appliances.

We offer a solution with our automatic delivery option. Find out more about that below:

Reading a heating oil tank gauge

The gauge is usually located on top of the tank, and is a clear glass or plastic tube marked with numbers that look like the gas gauge in your car: F, ¾, ½, ¼. A red marker or float indicates how much fuel is left in your tank. If the float is at or near the bottom of the gauge, or not visible at all, your tank is empty or almost empty.

If outdoor temperatures, in the winter, for example, average 32˚ Fahrenheit over a 24-hour period, a 2,500-square-foot house uses about seven gallons of Bioheat in a day. If you let your 275-gallon heating oil tank (the size of most residential oil tanks) get down to 25% full, you have enough Bioheat fuel for maybe a week if you’re using your home heating equipment with regularity. That’s why we recommend you don’t go below 30% before scheduling a delivery. And guess what, if you’re an Automatic Delivery customer – you have nothing to worry about. We’ll be there to fill you up without you needing to do a thing.

Reading a propane tank gauge

On your propane tank, look for the round dial that looks like a speedometer. Unlike heating oil tanks, which use fractions, the numbers on the dial indicate the percentage of how full your propane tank is. If the needle is on 50, your propane tank is 50% full. As with heating oil, don’t let your tank fall below 30% full before requesting a delivery if you use Will-Call.

Automatic delivery: A great, FREE alternative to Will-Call

Frank Lamparelli can make getting your propane and heating oil easy and worry-free with our automatic delivery service.

Here’s how automatic delivery works. We use our computer systems to monitor your propane usage alongside the current weather conditions. That lets us accurately predict when you will need a delivery of heating oil and/or propane, and schedule a delivery to your home before you run low – at no additional cost to you.

If you’re not buying your fuel from Frank Lamparelli, what are you waiting for? We are 100% committed to bringing you superior products and high-level customer service, with prompt and efficient Bioheat fuel and propane delivery!

Give us a call today – we’re ready to help you!