Tonight of all nights I run out of heating oil.

[lildreamer316]

Realized it about an hour and a half ago and called the oil company; they just filled it up--thank goodness. $279 for 100 gal. Thank Godess I can afford it. Thinking of those who can't.....

[skygazer]

1. Back in my very, very, very poor days

(unlike now when I'm only very poor), I tended to live in poorly insulated, big barns of apartments because the rent was low but they were a bear to heat. In between fuel deliveries, I would often find myself putting 5 gallons of diesel fuel in the tank to get by. It was absurd because I was paying 10 times as much per gallon as I would for oil but I had to get a certain amount of oil to get a delivery.

Just another catch-22 that poor people have to contend with every day. I'm glad you're filled back up and I too think a lot about those less fortunate. :hug:

[lildreamer316]

2. That's an interesting idea..

bet it smelled!
Warming up slowly......

[skygazer]

4. Actually, it didn't smell at all

And it is a good thing to know in a pinch. Another helpful hint - sometimes when it gets extremely cold (well below zero), the oil tends to gel in the lines and can cause your furnace to shut down. Adding five gallons of kerosene to your oil tank will thin it out and keep that from happening. Got that from my oil company guy years ago and it works.

[lildreamer316]

6. oo! Thanks so much!

It dosen't usually get that cold here(nc) but always good to know. Thank you!

[MissB]

20. It doesn't smell

and it works in a pinch. We did that occaisonally the first winter we were in this house. We ran out of oil 3 times in 2 months (and it cost us over $1k to pay for fuel in those 2 months). It always seemed to run out on a Sunday and we couldn't call for delivery until Monday.... so off we'd go.

[bullwinkle428]

3. How times have changed - right now, diesel prices are lower than

heating oil! Around $2.34/gal. where I live, compared to the bulk rate of $2.79/gal. for 100 gallons in the original post...

[ashling]

5. I have been afraid for some time now that

my propane is going to be gone any second. When it does, I will hook up my 5 gal. backup tank.
Cold front came through and it is cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!

[Texasgal]

7. Heating oil?

I ( seriously ) have never heard of this... do you heat your house with it?

I have natural gas...

Please help this clueless southerner understand.

[lildreamer316]

8. I'm a southerner too..

oil for furnace...does that help? I have an in-ground tank; like the oblong ones you see attached to older houses in the south that used to heat furnaces and radiators. Side note; I actually lost one home insurance policy because of this.

[Texasgal]

9. Kinda like Propane?

It was just weird to hear about heating oil! :)

[lildreamer316]

10. Yes;

and really it is outdated; but it costs a FORTUNE to get the tank taken out and then I would have to switch to a new heating source. Maybe in a few years I'll be able to do it (would be good to sell the house).

[Texasgal]

12. Ahhhhh...

I think I understand now! :)

How old is your home?

[lildreamer316]

13. 1969 I think.

Inherited it from my mother who only lived here for 2 years before she passed.
Miss our real "home"--a 1929 dutch colonial that the city took to tear down for a highway. Fuckers. (sorry; I'm still unusually torn up about it)That one had oil heat and radiators..I miss hearing them bang and hiss; it was such a sound of home.......

[Texasgal]

14. You had a 1929 home?

And the CITY tore it down?

My GOD! That's HORRIBLE!!!

[lildreamer316]

15. I almost don't want to talk about it.

It's been 4 1/2 years and I am still completely heartbroken about it. There's a hole in my heart--really. The only thing that will make me feel better is to find another old house and some land that feels like "home"...you know what I mean. I have pictures but no scanner; lemme see if I can get the CD rom to work and I'll post them.

[Texasgal]

18. Awww.. How horrible!

Yes.. I would love to see some pics!!

[matcom]

17. my house was built in 1877

and still here. and yes, we have heating oil

[Texasgal]

19. WOW!! 1877?

How cool is that?

Do you have pics? :hi:

[trof]

11. Very common in the northeast.

We used it in NH.
Had a 150 gallon tank.
Oil fired furnace.

[fight4my3sons]

16. that's what we have up here in Maine

just hear the furnace kick on, right now it's 16 degrees with a 7 degree wind chill and we are on the coast. Brrr.

[cliss]

21. Wow, that's pretty spendy $2.79/gal.

Now if you're ever caught in a pinch, you can always use propane catalytic heaters. They use a regular little green tank, like the kind you use for a camping stove.

I believe they're completely safe to use indoors. We have a propane camping stove, and I've been wanting to bring it indoors and use it because I love the flames. The food gets cooked in no time, and it's much more fun to use than my electric stove.

DU:ers? What's the verdict on this?