Katerina Swanson
Running out of heating oil during winter can be a concern for many homeowners, especially in regions with cold winters like the Northeast and southern Connecticut. While heating oil delivery typically takes three business days, same-day emergency deliveries are sometimes available. However, unpredictable weather and family considerations may necessitate an immediate solution. In such cases, diesel fuel can be used as a short-term substitute in your home heating oil tank. Diesel is more expensive due to different taxation and has hotter combustion, which can damage the heating system if used for extended periods. Therefore, it is recommended to use 5 to 10 gallons of diesel per day for a few days until heating oil can be obtained.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can diesel fuel be used in a home oil tank? | Yes, but only as a short-term substitute |
| How much diesel fuel can be used? | 5-10 gallons of diesel per day for several days |
| How long can diesel fuel be stored? | 6 months |
| What are the drawbacks of using diesel fuel? | More expensive than heating oil, taxed differently, hotter combustion which can damage the heating system over time |
| How to check if the home oil tank is empty? | Check the float gauge on the tank, if it moves freely and the disc sinks to the bottom, the tank is empty |
| How to fill the tank with diesel fuel? | Locate the fill pipe on the outside of the house, remove the cap and pour the diesel fuel down the pipe |
| What to do after filling the tank with diesel fuel? | Wait for 5-10 minutes for any sediment to settle, then press the reset button on the burner to start the system |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel is a good short-term alternative to heating oil
Diesel is a good alternative because it can be easily purchased from a gas station in small quantities, typically 5 to 10 gallons, which is enough to last a few days. It is also a good idea to have diesel on hand as an emergency backup, especially during the winter months when heating is critical for the safety and well-being of your family.
However, it is important to note that diesel burns hotter than conventional heating oil, which can cause lasting damage to your heating system if used for extended periods. Therefore, it should only be used temporarily until you can switch back to heating oil. Additionally, diesel is taxed differently and tends to be more expensive than heating oil.
When using diesel as a short-term alternative, it is important to follow the proper steps for adding it to your heating oil tank. First, turn off the heating system and locate the fill pipe on the outside of your house. Remove the cap and pour in the diesel fuel. Allow the tank to sit for about 10 minutes to let any sediments settle at the bottom. Then, reset the burner and turn the system back on.
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How to check if your home oil tank is empty
It is important to regularly check your home oil tank levels to prevent running out of heating oil, which can be a major inconvenience. If you have your oil deliveries set up on a will-call basis, it is up to you to monitor the level and call your fuel provider when your supply is low. Even if you have scheduled deliveries, an unexpected cold spell could cause your heating system to use more fuel than expected, so it is still worthwhile to check your fuel oil levels from time to time.
There are two ways to check the level of oil in your tank: using a gauge or physically measuring the amount of oil in the tank. Not every tank has a gauge, so you might need to manually measure the oil level using a dipstick, or "stick" the tank using an oil tank measuring stick, or a long and thin broomstick. If your tank is underground, you can use a long wire that is at least six feet long instead. Simply stick the wire into the pipe opening and push it until it gets to the bottom. When you pull it out, it should have some red-coloured liquid up to a certain level. If there is no liquid at all, call your oil delivery company immediately.
If your tank has a gauge, you can read the level of oil in your tank. If the gauge is broken or faulty, you can do a manual inspection of the tank by removing the cap at the top and using a flashlight to check inside. If you see some oil, this means there is still some fuel inside. However, if you notice just sludge and some other solids in the tank, this indicates that you are almost out of oil. If there is fuel residue left, contact your oil delivery company right away.
To prevent the complete depletion of oil, it is recommended that you call the delivery company each time the tank gets to the 30% full mark. If you suddenly find your oil tank has gotten low, make sure you refill it as quickly as possible. An empty oil tank can cause serious problems to the tank itself and your home heating system.
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How to locate and fill your home oil tank with diesel
If you're looking to fill your home oil tank with diesel, there are a few steps you should follow to ensure you're doing it safely. Firstly, check the level of oil in your home oil system. This can be done by inspecting the floating gauge. If your tank contains oil, the gauge will return to its original position. If it remains down, your tank is out of oil. You can also manually check the oil level by placing a yardstick down the fill tube of the tank.
Once you've confirmed that your tank needs refilling, you can start the process of filling it with diesel. Turn off the tank and add up to 10 gallons of diesel. It is okay to mix leftover fuel with diesel. After adding the diesel, let the tank sit for 10 minutes to allow any sediments and impurities to settle at the bottom. Then, restart your heating system.
Now, you need to locate your oil tank's fill pipe. This is usually located on the outside of your house, with the pipe extending from the top of the oil tank, through the exterior wall. Remove the cap and pour the diesel down the fill pipe. Do not remove a plug from the oil tank in your basement to add the fuel. Wait 5-10 minutes for the sediments to settle, then press the reset button on your burner to start the system.
If you are having trouble locating the fill pipe, look around the foundation of your home for vent pipes or fill pipes. These pipes will likely be near the side of your home, close to the foundation. If you find two pipes together, this may indicate that the tank is inside your home or under the house. If you see oil around an object placed down the pipe, the oil tank is still in place.
It is important to note that diesel is a more expensive alternative to heating oil due to different taxations. Additionally, if you have an underground oil tank, it is vital to ensure it is not leaking to avoid potential hazards and contamination of your water supply.
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Diesel is taxed differently and tends to be more expensive
Diesel is a great short-term substitute for home heating oil. However, it is important to note that diesel is taxed differently and tends to be more expensive than heating oil.
In the United States, the federal excise tax for on-highway diesel fuel is 24.3 cents per gallon, which is 6 cents per gallon higher than the tax on gasoline. This tax difference contributes to the higher cost of diesel fuel. Additionally, diesel fuel may be more expensive due to supply and demand dynamics. The rise in personal diesel trucks has increased the demand for diesel, pushing up prices.
Another factor affecting the price of diesel is the low sulfur requirement. To meet environmental standards, diesel fuel must undergo additional processing to remove sulfur. This process, known as hydrotreating for ultra-low sulfur, requires complex and expensive units, catalysts, and hydrogen production, driving up the cost of diesel.
It is worth noting that the sanctions on Russia and the subsequent loss of Russian diesel imports have also impacted diesel prices in the United States. With one of the major consumers of American diesel, Brazil, shifting to Russian imports due to lower costs, US refiners have had to cut back on production, reducing inventories and impacting prices.
While diesel may be more expensive, it can be a useful temporary solution to avoid running out of heating oil, which can lead to system shutdown and potentially costly issues with frozen pipes. However, it is recommended to use heating oil as the primary fuel source whenever possible, as prolonged use of diesel can cause lasting damage to heating systems due to its hotter combustion.
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Diesel burns hotter and can damage your heating system over time
While diesel is a great short-term substitute for home heating oil, it does burn hotter than conventional heating fuel. This is not an issue when used for a few days, but it can cause damage to your heating system over time. The system is not built to withstand higher temperatures, and so the risk of lasting damage increases the longer diesel is used as a substitute.
The amount of diesel used per day is important here. It is recommended that no more than 10 gallons of diesel are used per day, for several days. This should preserve the service life of the tank. The exact amount of diesel used per day will depend on how long it takes for the next heating fuel delivery to arrive.
If you are using diesel as a substitute, it is important to store it in the correct containers. Typically, diesel is stored in yellow containers, and these should be labelled appropriately. Diesel can be safely stored for six months before it deteriorates and becomes unsafe to use.
Overall, while diesel is a good short-term solution, it is not a long-term one. It is always better to use heating oil, and there are emergency oil services that can deliver heating oil within 24 hours in some areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can put diesel fuel in your home heating oil tank. Diesel is a great short-term substitute for heating oil.
The most common way to check the level of oil in your home oil system is to inspect the floating gauge. Remove the plastic cover and gently lift the disc to see if the float moves freely. If the disc sinks, your tank is out of oil.
Locate the fill pipe on the outside of your house. Remove the cap and pour in the diesel. Wait 5-10 minutes for any sediment to settle before restarting your heating system.
You can put 5-10 gallons of diesel in your home heating oil tank. This should last for several days until your heating oil delivery arrives.
