What to Expect With Heating Oil This Spring

This past winter was definitely a strange one! We’ve had two major snowstorms and even a couple of days where the weather was in the 70s! With the weather like that, it’s definitely been a strange winter for sure. But, with the snow melting and warmer weather around the corner, it’s good to know what awaits in spring! So in this blog, I’ll be going over everything that you need to know to prepare yourself for spring!

Lower Heating Oil Usage

During the spring time, the weather starts to get a bit warmer. This can result in less oil usage overall during this time. The slightly warmer weather typically means reduced need for oil and heat. While you might still turn the heat up a little bit to keep warm, you’re not going to be burning as much oil as you would during the winter. Last spring in Danbury CT, we averaged 58 degrees Fahrenheit and by the end of April, the average went up into the 60s.

This is a graph that shows the usage per day on average based on the outside temperature. However, as you can see, the size of the house contributes to it as well.

Using the above chart, you can compare the size of your home with the temperature outside to determine how much oil you’ll burn. If your home is on the larger side, you’ll naturally burn more oil on the daily. As you can see in the chart, if your home is 4500 square feet and the temperature is 40 degrees outside, you’ll average around 6.7 gallons of oil a day.

Temperature Outside

The most notable thing that happens when it comes to the spring is the temperature will get warmer. Warm temperatures typically mean a few things. Firstly, it naturally means that the need for heating oil starts to go down. This also brings the price down. This is because the demand for heating oil is going down, causing oil companies to decrease the price to incentivize people into buying while the price is low.

With Spring around the corner, soon we’ll start to see weather like this!

However, while temperatures during the day are going to be warmer, temperatures at night can still be cold. So while during the day you might have low usage, there’s a chance that you might have some usage at night as it gets colder. So don’t completley shut off your systems yet!

What You’re Using Heating Oil For

What you use heating oil for during spring will depend on the temperature and weather. While we don’t have a strong idea of how this spring will pan out, we can at least be prepared. Typically with heating oil usage during the spring, you’ll often see it being used for both heat and hot water. Hot water is more common as it tends to be warmer during the day. But at night it can still get cold! So you’ll likley have some heat usage at night!

But if you don’t have one already, and plan on using your heating oil for both heat and hot water, getting a Smart Oil Gauge will help you track your usage! It’ll track your usage daily and provide you with information as to how much you’re burning by the day, week, month and year! If you’re interested in learning about both our Smart Oil Gauges, you can check out blog post on the differences between the two!

Conclusion

What to expect out of heating oil this spring will be different depending on your individual circumstances. Usage will be determined by temperature outside and the size of your home. While what you use heating oil for will depend on your personal preferences. However, be prepared for some warms days and cold nights as the temperature can fluctuate often in spring.

But, make sure you don’t forget to enjoy the new spring weather! After the brutal winter we just had, we deserve some nice weather now! With the help of your Smart Oil Gauge and knowing how much oil you’ll plan to burn, you’ll be prepared for the upcoming spring and summer months!

Happy Heating,

Hunter