Heating your home with oil this winter? Here's what Yorkshire households should know

From knowing when to order your next delivery to choosing how to pay, Yorkshire fuel supplier Rix Petroleum shares its advice on making heating oil easier to manage this winter.

For thousands of households across Yorkshire, heating oil is an essential part of keeping their homes warm and comfortable through the colder months.

Unlike homes connected to the mains gas network, households using heating oil need to keep an eye on their own fuel supply and arrange deliveries when they need them. But with a little planning, managing your heating oil doesn't have to be complicated.

Few businesses understand this better than Rix Petroleum. The family-owned company has been delivering fuel to homes across Yorkshire since 1927 and is now approaching its 100th anniversary.

Over that time, the way customers order and manage their heating oil has changed considerably. Today, Rix combines generations of experience with online ordering, flexible payment options and new technology designed to make looking after your fuel supply more convenient.

Here are some of the company's recommendations for keeping on top of your heating oil this winter.

1. Don't wait until your tank is nearly empty

One of the simplest ways to manage your heating oil is to check how much you have left regularly.

As temperatures fall and heating systems are used more frequently, oil levels can drop faster than expected. Leaving an order until the tank is almost empty can mean having less time to arrange your next delivery.

Checking your tank every couple of weeks, and more frequently during particularly cold weather, can help you understand how quickly you're using oil.

It's also worth remembering that delivery times can vary depending on demand, weather conditions and your location. Ordering with fuel still in your tank gives you more time to arrange your next top-up.

Rix Petroleum supplies heating oil to households across Yorkshire, with experienced depot teams available to help customers arrange deliveries and answer questions about their fuel requirements.

Customers can also request a heating oil quote and place orders online or over the phone, making it straightforward to organise their next delivery.

2. Make checking your heating oil tank easier

Not every heating oil tank is conveniently located.

Some are tucked away at the bottom of the garden, hidden behind buildings or positioned somewhere that's difficult to access. For other households, remembering to check the tank regularly is simply another job on a busy list.

New technology is making this easier.

Rix Petroleum is introducing Tank Watch, a managed tank monitoring service that allows customers to check their heating oil levels through an app on their smartphone.

A monitor fitted to the tank provides regular readings, helping customers see how much fuel they have remaining without needing to visit the tank itself.

The service also allows the customer's Rix depot to monitor their fuel level and get in touch when they may need another delivery.

Importantly, customers remain in control of whether and when they place an order.

3. Find a payment option that works for your household

Heating oil is typically purchased by delivery rather than billed monthly like mains gas or electricity.

For some households, paying for several hundred litres in one transaction is convenient. Others prefer to put money aside regularly, so they're prepared when their next delivery is due.

Rix Petroleum offers two monthly payment options designed to give customers more choice.

Its Pre-Payment Plan allows customers to build up a balance through regular Direct Debit payments, which can then be used towards future heating oil orders.

The Payment Plan also uses monthly Direct Debit payments but offers eligible customers the flexibility to order heating oil using an agreed credit facility, subject to a credit check and account terms.

Both options help customers plan their heating oil spending throughout the year, rather than relying entirely on individual payments at the point of ordering.

For households that prefer to order and pay for their fuel as needed, Rix also offers straightforward online and telephone ordering.

4. Look after your boiler and heating oil tank

Keeping your heating oil supply topped up is only one part of looking after an oil-fired heating system.

Regular boiler servicing helps ensure the system is operating safely and efficiently, while routine checks of the oil tank can identify potential problems before they become more serious.

Industry body OFTEC recommends that oil-fired boilers are serviced at least once a year by a suitably qualified technician.

During a service, an engineer can inspect and clean key components, check combustion performance and identify signs of wear or potential faults.

It's also worth checking the condition of your heating oil tank periodically, looking for visible damage, leaks or signs of deterioration.

Rix Services, part of Rix Petroleum can also help customers with oil boiler servicing, repairs and replacement heating oil tanks.

This means customers can access support with more than just their fuel deliveries, helping them look after their wider heating system.

5. Choose a heating oil supplier you can rely on

When it comes to ordering heating oil, price is naturally an important consideration. But knowing who you're ordering from matters too.

An established supplier with experienced staff, a dependable delivery network and accessible customer support can make managing your heating oil more straightforward.

For Rix Petroleum, those relationships have been built over generations.

Founded in Hull in 1927, the company remains a family-owned business and continues to supply heating oil to homes, farms and businesses across Yorkshire and beyond.

While much has changed over the past century, from the vehicles delivering fuel to the technology customers use to place orders, the importance of reliable service has remained.

Rix Petroleum holds Feefo's Platinum Trusted Service Award and is rated 4.9 out of 5 by customers on the independent review platform.

Its established depot network, experienced delivery teams and range of ordering and payment options give customers different ways to manage their heating oil, with support available when they need it.

And as the company prepares to celebrate 100 years in business in 2027, it continues to invest in services that make ordering and managing fuel more convenient for the next generation of customers.

A little planning goes a long way

Whether you're ordering heating oil for the first time or have relied on it for decades, a few simple habits can make managing your fuel supply easier.

Checking your tank regularly, arranging deliveries before you're running low and choosing a payment option that suits your household can all help you feel more prepared for the colder months.

And with a trusted supplier on hand, you don't have to manage everything alone.