Whether you are new to purchasing heating oil or are unsure what the right amount to order at any one time is, then you are not alone. One of the most important and frequently asked questions we receive is ‘how much oil do I need?’ Running out of oil can not only be an inconvenience to you and your loved ones but can become expensive to acquire oil during a period of high demand or on an emergency delivery. Numerous factors also affect how much heating oil is required to meet your usage requirements.
How much heating oil does the average home use?
Based on an average heating energy consumption a UK household uses around 21,000 kWh of energy per year. This translates into approximately 2,000 litres of heating oil.
The typical domestic heating oil tank size is 1,000 to 1,500 litres and average order patterns are 3 – 4 times per year. Unfortunately, there is no way to give an actual quantity to order due to a number of factors, such as:
- The size of your house
- The heating requirements for your household
- The insulation quality of your home
- How long the heating is on and in which rooms
- The efficiency of your boiler
If you are moving into a property that uses heating oil for the first time, ask the current owners how much and how frequently they order. Also, ask your neighbours. The likelihood is that they will be using heating oil for their property too.
How many litres of heating oil do I use per day?
There is no exact figure here as the same factors as above apply here. Based on the average of 2,000 litres per annum divided by 365 days in the year = 5.5 litres per day.
Seasonality plays a big part here, so planning when to order and buying ahead of the peak winter period can help not only ensure you do not run out during a period of high demand, but this can also help to reduce the cost.
What is the average cost of heating oil?
The cost of heating oil changes daily and there are many factors that can have an impact on heating oil prices, such as
- Crude oil prices
- Increase in demand
- Volatility in oil producing territories
- Weather events
- Tax and duty rate changes
The average price varies from one day to the next which is why our online heating oil quote engine is updated daily to reflect market changes.
Our Pay Monthly Plan helps you to spread the cost avoiding those big one-off payments giving you greater control. We can also add you to our planned delivery service to keep you topped up.
How do I ensure I never run out?
For a hassle free way to monitor your oil usage and to automatically receive top-ups join our Priority Club . Our Oil Fox smart monitors constantly check your oil levels and display that data on the Oil Fox app. Alerts can automatically notify our depot and we will route an order to top up your tank, so you never need to worry about running out.