Heating oil, or No. 2 oil as it is often called, continues to be a popular option for homeowners looking to heat their homes.

It’s undeniable — residents of the northeastern United States love the reliability of their oil furnaces. Homes in the Northeast use around 87% of all the heating oil consumed each year across the U.S. And with the efficiency of oil furnaces, it’s understandable.

Outside of the Northeastern U.S., few people realize home heating oil is now a clean-burning, eco-friendly source of thermal energy. If you live in one of the states that have already mandated the switch to ultra-low sulfur heating oil, also known as ULSHO, however, you’ve probably already heard about the merits of this new and improved version of an old petroleum product.

If you’re like most people living in cold-weather climates, once the temperature starts to drop, you don’t care how your home heating system works. You just care that it works and works well. Come late November, the last thing you want is for your oil-tank heating system to break down or suffer from reduced efficiency, just as temperatures are starting to drop and heating oil prices are adjusting to their seasonal highs. That’s why it’s essential to maintain both the system and the heating oil it burns. Using a home heating oil treatment as a preventative measure can help ensure that your heating system produces ample heat and maintains its efficiency throughout the winter.

According to data from the United States Energy Information Administration, some 6 million American homes rely on fuel oil as their primary source of heat. With the majority of these homes located in the Northeast, knowing how to properly prepare your tank for summer downtime is an important concern. We’ve already gone over in detail the basics of fuel oil tank maintenance— so in this post, we look specifically at why you should keep your tank at least half full at all times.

Many home heating oil customers worry that they may run out of fuel at the worst possible time: in the middle of winter when the temperatures are at their lowest. This can happen for various reasons. A colder than usual winter may require you to use more heating oil than you had originally planned. Also, a low tank during warmer months can lead to condensation at the bottom of your tank, which can cause a host of problems. If you’re like many of our customers who are extremely busy, you might forget to check your storage tank’s fuel gauge to see if the oil level is getting low.

Home heating oil technology has made significant advancements over the years. Heating oil is now considered to be as clean and efficient as any other fuel source. A properly maintained oil furnace will not produce any visible smoke or noxious fumes. Many home energy experts also view heating oil as the safest means of keeping a home warm. There is little risk of explosion and no worries that the furnace will become hot enough to cause a fire.

The key to ensuring safe operation of an oil heating system is proper and timely preventative maintenance. A team approach to maintenance works best: have your heating oil provider perform an annual inspection to detect signs of trouble, and be vigilant for oil leaks that are the telltale sign of damage.

When it comes time to bring your car in for an inspection, you probably do it without thinking twice. After all, it only makes sense. An inspection ensures your car is still performing at its best capacity, and a service technician can alert you when parts need to be fixed or replaced.

Your home heating system is no different. However, unlike your car, which you most likely use daily, your heating system can sit for months without use. You would not trust a car that has sat for months unattended, so the same should go for your heating system. During those months, many issues could arise. Without an inspection, it has the potential to severely affect the life of your system.

When Should You Have Your System Inspected?

Although there are several different situations that would require your system to be inspected, we will focus on three important ones: