Heating Oil Consumption in New Jersey Winters

How Cold Weather Impacts Your Heating Oil Needs

If you heat your home with oil in New Jersey, you may be wondering how much fuel you’ll need to get through a typical winter. While every household is different, most New Jersey homes use between 700 and 900 gallons of heating oil during a normal heating season.

That range is a broad average because several factors influence how much oil a home will use. Of course, outdoor temperatures matter a great deal, but that’s only part of the story. Your annual usage also depends on these variables:

• The size and layout of your home
• The quality of insulation and windows
• The efficiency and condition of your heating system
• Your family’s thermostat preferences

For example, keeping your thermostat set at 68°F instead of 72°F during cold months can noticeably reduce fuel consumption and lower your heating bills at the same time.

How New Jersey Winters Affect Fuel Use

Let’s take a closer look at how outdoor temperatures impact heating oil usage. In an average New Jersey home of about 2,400 square feet, here’s how things might play out:

• If the average temperature over a 24-hour period is 20°F, your system may burn around seven gallons of oil to keep your home comfortable.
• If the next day averages 40°F, you’ll likely use closer to four gallons because your system doesn’t have to work as hard.

Now stretch that difference across weeks, or an entire winter, and it’s easy to see how colder-than-normal New Jersey weather can significantly increase your overall heating oil usage.

Be Ready When It’s Time for a Delivery

Snow, ice, and freezing conditions are a fact of life during New Jersey winters. A little preparation can help ensure your heating oil delivery goes smoothly, even after a storm. To help your delivery driver access your tank safely and efficiently, follow these suggestions:

• Keep your outdoor oil tank clear of snow and ice.
• Shovel a clear path to your tank or fill pipe after snowstorms.
• Mark underground tanks with a visible flag or stake above the snow.
• Make sure your driveway is plowed, sanded, and wide enough for delivery trucks to navigate.

These small steps can prevent delays when you need fuel the most.

How to Read Your Heating Oil Tank Gauge

Even long-time heating oil customers benefit from a quick refresher on reading their tank gauge. Here are a few key basics every New Jersey homeowner should know:

1. Know what you’re looking at. On top of your tank is a clear plastic or glass gauge marked like a car’s fuel gauge: F, ¾, ½, and ¼. A red float or marker shows your fuel level. If the float is at the bottom, or not visible, you’re close to empty.
2. Make sure the gauge works. Carefully remove the outer cover and gently press the float down. If it rises back to its original position, the gauge is functioning properly. If not, contact your heating oil provider to have it repaired.
3. Understand tank capacity. The most common residential oil tank holds 275 gallons, but it doesn’t actually hold that much fuel. A full 275-gallon tank typically holds about 225 gallons, leaving space for air and sediment.
   • A reading of ½ tank means you have roughly 110 gallons left, not 135.
   • Larger tanks do exist, and tank size is often listed on your delivery ticket if it’s not marked on the tank itself.

Don’t Let Your Tank Get Too Low

Don’t wait until your tank is running low, especially during cold spells. Contact your local heating oil supplier to schedule a delivery when your tank level reaches about ¼ full. We also recommend asking about automatic delivery service that helps ensure you never run out when temperatures drop.