Nearly every oil heated house in Virginia has one of two tank sizes, and knowing which one you have changes what a gauge reading means, how often you need a delivery, and how much a fill costs.
The two sizes you are most likely to have
The 275 gallon tank is the standard. It is the upright oval tank you see in basements, garages and crawl spaces, roughly five feet long and five feet tall. The other common one is 330 gallons, taller and deeper, usually in a house that burns more or that wanted fewer deliveries.
Both are filled to about 90 percent, so a 275 holds roughly 250 gallons of usable oil and a 330 holds roughly 300. The rest is expansion room. If you want the whole picture of how oil heat works at home, our guide to home heating oil covers it end to end.
How to tell which one you have
- Look for a stamped plate or a label on the end of the tank, which usually gives the capacity outright.
- Measure it. A 275 is about 60 inches long and 44 inches tall; a 330 is about 72 inches long and 44 inches tall.
- Check a past delivery slip. If you have ever taken a fill of more than about 260 gallons, you do not have a 275.
- Ask us. We have your delivery history and it answers the question in a minute.
What the size means through a winter
A Virginia home burning 5 gallons on a cold day empties the usable part of a 275 gallon tank in about 50 days of that weather. The same house with a 330 gets roughly 60. Neither number is a schedule, because October and January are not the same month, but it explains why a bigger tank means fewer visits rather than cheaper heat.
Size also changes what a quarter tank means. A quarter of a 275 is about 68 gallons and a quarter of a 330 is about 80, which is most of an extra week in deep winter.
Where your tank sits matters as much as its size
An indoor tank in a basement is sheltered and easy to read. An outdoor tank takes the weather, and in Virginia that means sun in summer and cold snaps in winter, both of which are harder on steel. Condensation inside a part full tank is the usual culprit behind tank corrosion, and keeping the tank fuller through the off season is the cheapest thing you can do about it.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bigger tank get me a better price per gallon?
Not by itself. What a larger tank buys is flexibility, because you can take a full delivery when you want one rather than when the tank forces it.
My tank is an odd size. Is that a problem?
No. Older houses turn up 240, 288 and 550 gallon tanks. Tell us the capacity and we will work your deliveries around it.
Should I keep the tank full over the summer?
Keeping it fuller through the warm months leaves less room for the moist air that drives corrosion from the inside. It is the main reason we suggest a summer top up.
Once we know your tank size and your history, Automatic Delivery takes the question off your hands entirely. We work out when you are due from what you have actually burned.
Background reading from the US Energy Information Administration: where heating oil comes from.
Heating oil delivery across Southern Virginia and North Carolina
If you want a delivery schedule matched to how your household actually burns fuel, that is a short conversation. The phones are answered around the clock, and there is an office within reach of most of southern Virginia and northern North Carolina.
Davenport Energy120 S. Main Street, Chatham, VA 24531
(434) 432-0251