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To buy heating oil for your house, contact local heating oil companies to compare prices and place an order once you decide on a supplier. The company will have to deliver your heating oil in a truck designed to carry and dispense heating oil safely. Call and order your heating oil early enough to have your oil delivered before you need to start using it for home heating.

On average, you’ll need about two gallons of oil per day to heat your house when it’s 50 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Most oil tank capacity is about 275 gallons, and heating your house with two gallons of oil per day will last about four and a half months. This consumption will vary depending on the climate and average temperature in your location. For example, if the winters are longer and colder where you live, you’ll probably need to refill your oil tank at least once to get through the winter.

You save money on heating oil in a few ways:

• Make sure your home is well insulated and sealed against drafts and heat leakage.

• Use a thermostat that’s working properly and calibrated accurately.

• Increase energy efficiency by insulating your basement and attic.

• Turn down your thermostat a few degrees.

• Program your thermostat to lower the heat when you’re not home.

• Order heating oil during the off-season when prices are likely to be lower.

Summer months tend to be when heating oil prices are lowest because of decreased demand. Buying heating oil during the off-season also prepares you for when the weather gets cold, and you need to start using the oil to heat your home. Although heating oil prices will fluctuate, it’s best to avoid purchasing between September and April, as that's the peak season for heating oil demand.

Overall, heating your home with an oil furnace tends to be less expensive than heating your home with an electric heating system. Oil heating systems stay warm for longer periods of time without drawing a constant electrical current to maintain a temperature. Plus, heating oil systems typically have a longer lifespan and lower price tag than their electrical counterparts, resulting in short- and long-term savings.