Run out of heating oil — what to do now

Running out of oil is a common (and expensive) emergency, particularly in rural areas. When your tank runs dry, air enters the supply line and the burner locks out. Getting the system restarted after an oil delivery requires bleeding the air from the supply pipe.

Order oil immediately — call multiple suppliers to find the quickest delivery. In rural areas, emergency deliveries can cost a premium (£50–£100 surcharge). Many suppliers can deliver within 24 hours; some offer same-day in rural areas for a fee.

Order enough oil: a minimum delivery is usually 500 litres (roughly £400–£600 depending on current prices). Order at least 1,000 litres to avoid another run-out — carrying more oil in the tank is always cheaper than an emergency delivery.

When the oil arrives, wait 30 minutes after the delivery before attempting to restart. Sediment disturbed by the delivery needs to settle — starting too soon risks blocking the nozzle with dirt from the tank bottom.

After 30 minutes, press the boiler reset button. On many modern oil boilers with a self-priming pump, the system will bleed itself after 2–3 reset attempts. If not, the oil supply line must be manually bled at the bleed nipple on the pump — this is a job for an OFTEC engineer if you are not familiar with the process.

To prevent future run-outs: fit an oil monitor (a wireless sensor that reads the tank level and sends alerts to your phone — from £80). Consider an oil club or price tracker to buy when prices dip. As a rule of thumb, order when the tank reaches 25% — do not wait for the gauge to read empty.