What To Do When Your Oil Furnace Has No Heat.

No heat checklist on your oil fired furnace.

1. Check the Thermostat

Check your thermostat to ensure it’s set to heat and high enough to call for heat, meaning the desired temperature is higher than the room temperature. Also, ensure that the batteries are good if your thermostat requires batteries.

2. Check Oil Levels

Make sure you have oil in your tank. Do NOT always trust your gauge; they can be finicky.

Get a Gauge Stick
The first step of manual tank gauging is to get a gauge stick. You may have also heard a gauge stick referred to as a “tank stick” or “dipstick.” While many use a wooden yardstick or metal rod, the best gauge sticks are varnished to get the most accurate reading possible. A varnished stick limits the spread of the oil on the stick and provides the measurement. Be sure the stick you choose is straight and not warped or bent.

If you use an electronic tank-level monitor instead, choose one that can measure to the nearest eighth of an inch.

Measure the Contents of the Tank
Follow these steps to manually measure the contents of your oil tank with a gauge stick:

1. Turn the top fill valve cap counter-clockwise and remove the cap from the tank.
2. Lower the stick gently until it touches the bottom of the tank.
3. Bring the stick back up and read the depth of oil to the nearest eighth of an inch.
4. Record the measurement in your manual tank gauging record.
5. Wipe the measuring stick clean with a dry cloth.
6. Lower the tank stick and measure a second time. Record these results.
7. Secure the top-fill valve cap to prevent leaking.

3. Check Emergency Shutoff

Locate the emergency shutoff switch near the basement steps and/or next to your heating system. Make sure the switch is in the “ON” position. These switches look just like light switches and accidentally get turned off if you have guests. This happens more frequently than you might think.

4. Check Electric Box

Check for any blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers in your electrical box.

5. System Reset Button

Sometimes a simple system reset is all that’s needed. Locate your heating system’s burner, press the reset button ONCE (and only ONCE), and listen for the system to start up. If you had to open the door to access your furnace, be sure to close that door after pressing the reset button.

Printable No Heat Checklist

Download our printable no heat checklist

New Furnace Sales & Installation

If you need a new furnace in New Castle County, DE, Cecil County, MD, or Southern Chester County, PA,  Hillside Heating & Cooling will guide you through the sales and installation process. We’ll help you choose the best new heating system for your heating needs. Our heating systems are built for efficiency and performance, delivering dependable warmth at a budget-friendly price! View our furnace models, their specifications, and their features.

Furnace Repair

If your furnace is sputtering or has come to a complete halt, prevent indoor temperatures from plummeting by calling Hillside Heating & Cooling. As heating furnace repair specialists serving New Castle County, DE, Cecil County, MD, and Southern Chester County, PA, we want to restore the heat in your home as soon as possible so you can be comfortable again. Contact our friendly customer service representatives to schedule your furnace repair now! Upfront pricing on all repairs, so you know the cost without surprises.

Furnace Cleaning & Maintenance

Regular furnace cleaning and maintenance help prevent frequent failures, inefficient performance, and poor indoor air quality. Hillside Heating & Cooling is the leading furnace cleaning and maintenance specialist in New Castle County, DE, Cecil County, MD, and Southern Chester County, PA. Schedule our  30-point Furnace Tune-Up designed to prevent heating problems this season.

Hillside Maintenance Plans

Replacement Parts, Inspections, Tune-Ups, Adjustments, and more. See what plan is right for your needs.

• Heating Maintenance Plan
• Air Conditioning Maintenance Plan

Hillside Oil Tank Protection and Replacement Warranty

Hillside offers a tank protection program by TANK-GUARD®. This service is a corrosion and protection warranty giving “Peace of Mind” knowing the expense of replacing your heating oil tank will be covered if a replacement becomes necessary due to leaks.

• Tank-Guard Proactive Heating Oil Tank Warranty

Hillside Account Application

Establish an account by filling out this application. It’s that easy!

• Account Application

Budget Sign-up Form

Our budget plan stretches annual expenses into monthly payments. We use a simple formula…your annual expense with Hillside is divided into the number of months remaining in our budget season. Plans designed specifically for your budget.

• Budget Plans