Heating Oil Delivery Day: How to Get Ready
From the Alcus family · Alcus Fuel Oil & Sons, Amityville · Updated October 31, 2026
A heating oil delivery takes a few minutes once the truck is at the curb. Most delays come from a fill pipe the driver can't find or reach. This checklist keeps your delivery quick, safe and on the day you picked.
Before the truck comes
- Make the fill pipe easy to reach. Clear snow and ice from the path between the street or driveway and the fill pipe, and from the pipe itself. Move bikes, bins and patio furniture out of the way.
- Unlock gates on the side of the house, or tell us in the order notes how to get through.
- Keep pets inside on delivery day, even friendly ones. The driver has a hose in one hand.
- Tell us where the fill is when you order: "left side, behind the gate", "back of the house by the deck". It saves the driver walking around the house.
- Check the cap. If the fill cap is missing or the vent cap is broken, tell us. Rain and snow getting into the pipe put water in your tank (see water and sludge in an oil tank).
- Leave the burner on. You don't need to turn the heat off for a delivery.
Paying on delivery
- Cash: pay the driver cash and you get the cash price, 20¢ a gallon less than the posted card price. You pay only for the gallons actually delivered, so on a "fill my tank" order the exact amount is known after the fill. See cash vs. card for heating oil.
- Card: credit, debit and prepaid cards pay the posted price. Pay online when you order (your card is authorized then and charged after delivery, only for the gallons delivered), or by phone at 631-264-8800.
- Not home? Pay by card online when you order, or choose "call me" so we can take a card over the phone before the truck comes. Drivers take cash only, not cards.
- We don't take checks.
During the delivery
The driver connects the hose to your fill pipe and listens to the vent whistle. When the whistle stops, the tank is close to full and the driver stops pumping. On a "fill my tank" order the meter on the truck records exactly how many gallons went in, and that's what you pay for.
After the delivery
- Check your tank gauge. It should read close to full.
- Look at the tank and the fill area. Any oil smell inside, a wet spot under the tank, or oil around the fill pipe outside? Call us right away: oil leak steps. More: oil smell after delivery.
- Had you run out completely? The burner may not restart on its own. See how to restart an oil burner after running out.
- Note the date and gallons. Over a winter that tells you how fast you burn oil and when to reorder.
Never think about it again
With automatic delivery we track the weather and your usage and deliver before you get low. If you'd rather order yourself, order at 1/4 tank: you'll be in the 150+ gallon price tier and well clear of running out. Order heating oil online or see how ordering online works.
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Questions
Do I have to be home for a heating oil delivery?
Not usually. The fill pipe is outside, so the driver doesn't need to come in. If nobody will be home, pay by card online when you order, or choose "call me" and we'll take a card over the phone before the truck comes. Drivers take cash only, not cards, and we don't accept checks.
Where is my oil fill pipe?
Look outside on the wall closest to the oil tank. The fill pipe is usually a 1½–2 inch pipe with a cap, 1–3 feet off the ground. Next to it there is normally a smaller vent pipe with a mushroom cap or whistle. If your tank is buried, the fill can be a capped pipe in the lawn or driveway.
What is the whistle I hear during a delivery?
Most vent pipes have a whistle that sounds while oil is going in and goes quiet as the tank gets close to full. That tells the driver when to stop. If yours never whistles, mention it when you order: it may need a look.
Will the burner work right after a delivery?
Yes, as long as it was running before. If you had run completely out, the burner may need a reset or a technician to bleed the line. See our guide to restarting an oil burner after running out.