heating oil...

[twomonkeys.livejournal.com]

I've tried searching the internets but I cannot find the answer...what happens when you run out of heating oil (other than becoming very cold?)
I ask because me & the missus are down to just-above 1/8th of a tank and I don't realistically see an oil delivery I called for on Friday arriving until Tuesday at the earliest (we live almost at the top of Winter Hill.) I already have the thermostat set at 60 degrees (which has made our cats *very* snuggly) but the oil level is still falling, albeit slower than when it was set at 65. This is the second time this winter that we've gotten close to running out of oil 24 hours before a major snowstorm...I guess winter hates me.

Comments

I really don't know what I'm talking about, but maybe this will spark some more discussion.

[signsoflife.livejournal.com]

Running your furnace empty can damage it, so if you don't figure out a supply, you should turn your furnace off. I don't know what to do about the water in the pipes or the boiler if you do this if you have steam or forced hot water; obviously you don't want it to freeze, and you *can* drain it, but if you're not sure of the configuration you could screw up your pipes but good.

You'll want to do something to keep your pipes from freezing; it's probably unrealistic to drain the pipes, but keeping them dripping may help (I hope someone will correct/add to this, because I'm NOT experienced or an expert on this, except in the bad way.)

Honestly, the best thing to do is not to run out of oil -- like mrpet said, there are emergency services. And for a start, set your thermostat all the way down to 50 -- I know it's cold, but unless one of you is sick you'll manage, and the oil will last longer. (I know people who keep their thermostats at 50 or 55 all winter.)

Good luck. I hope you and yours stay warm.

[turil.livejournal.com]

We're up to a toasty 54° right now! It's amazing how adaptable the human body is...