What Happens When You Run Out Of Heating Oil?

October 14, 2025

Serving Greater Boston, Southeastern, and South Shore MA

Winter is getting closer so it isn’t too hard to imagine waking up on a chilly morning, under your blankets, ready to start the day except the heat is out. The thermostat shows it’s below where it should be because you’re out of heating oil. It’s easy to let panic set in when it starts to get cold but understanding what to do when you run out of heating oil can help you resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

Why You Should Avoid Running Out Of Heating Oil

There are a number of reasons why you should keep enough heating oil to keep the heat on.

Keep Equipment Running

Oil furnaces are built with an emergency feature so they’ll shut off when they run out of heating oil. This can cause strain on equipment, struggle to reignite, and affect longevity. Running out of heating oil repeatedly will decrease the reliability of your heating system. This will result in increased strain on your heating equipment and can raise maintenance costs. Keeping enough fuel in your tank will make sure heating equipment stays running and your home stays warm when it starts to get cold.

Stop Frozen Pipes

Another consequence of running out of heating oil is potential damage to your home’s plumbing system. Temperatures will drop once the heat goes out and pipes can freeze once that happens. If you detect a frozen pipe, shut off the main water supply as quickly as possible, open any faucets connected to the pipe, and use heat from a hair dryer or warm towels to thaw the pipe. Never use a flame to thaw a pipe because it can cause it to crack or melt.

Avoid Emergencies with Automatic Fuel Deliveries

You can regularly check your tank levels and order home fuel deliveries when you’re ready or you could skip the hard work and sign up for Automatic Fuel Delivery with Supreme Energy. We understand how important working heating equipment is with winter coming soon in the Boston area so our experienced staff is available for timely deliveries and efficient equipment repair services. Contact Supreme Energy today to learn more about our heating oil and propane delivery services.

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