Ran Out of Oil? Restarting Your Burner (and When It Needs Bleeding)
From the Alcus family · Alcus Fuel Oil & Sons, Amityville · Updated October 31, 2026
You got your oil delivery but the burner still won't fire? That's normal after a runout. Here's why, the one safe thing to try, and when to call.
Why the burner won't start
Your burner's pump can only move oil, not air. When the tank runs dry, air gets drawn into the line and the pump. After a delivery the tank is full again, but the line is still full of air, so the burner tries to light, fails, and trips its safety (the red reset button or a lockout light).
The one thing you can do: press reset once
- Wait a few minutes after the delivery so the oil settles.
- Make sure the emergency switch (usually a red plate at the top of the basement stairs) is ON and the thermostat is calling for heat.
- Press the burner's reset button one time.
- If it lights and stays running, you're done. If it doesn't, stop: turn the emergency switch off and call for service.
Don't keep pressing reset. Every failed try can pump more oil into the combustion chamber. That's dangerous and can turn a simple prime into a bigger repair.
What bleeding (priming) involves
A technician runs the burner, opens the bleeder valve on the pump into a container until clean oil with no air comes out, closes it, and checks that the burner lights and stays lit. Because a runout can also stir up sludge, they'll often check the oil filter and nozzle too. That's why we don't recommend doing it yourself.
Ran out? What to do now
- Call 631-264-8800. We have 24/7 emergency service. We can't promise same-day, but there's no rush fee. Night emergency deliveries carry a $95 fee, and we tell you before we come. Same-day & emergency delivery.
- Short on cash? Our minimum is 25 gallons. Small deliveries.
- Full checklist: ran out of oil? what to do · no-heat checklist.
Don't let it happen again
Order at 1/4 tank (how to read your gauge), or let us watch it for you with automatic delivery.
Need oil or service on the South Shore?
Questions
Why won’t my oil burner start after I ran out of oil?
When the tank runs dry, the oil line and pump fill with air. The burner can’t pump air, so it fails to light and goes into lockout. After a delivery, the air has to be bled out of the line before the burner will run.
What does bleeding an oil burner mean?
Bleeding (also called priming) means opening a small bleeder valve on the oil pump while the burner runs, until a steady stream of oil with no air bubbles comes out, then closing it. It is done with the burner running and oil spraying, so it’s a job for a technician.
Can I bleed my oil burner myself?
We don't recommend it. It means working on a running burner with oil under pressure, and repeated failed starts can flood the combustion chamber. Press the reset button once after the delivery; if the burner doesn't stay on, call us at 631-264-8800.
How long after an oil delivery can I restart the burner?
Give the oil a few minutes to settle after the truck leaves, then press reset once. Some burners pull oil through and restart on their own; many need to be bled.
Why does my burner keep quitting after a runout?
Running dry can pull sludge from the bottom of the tank into the filter and nozzle. If the burner starts but keeps locking out, it likely needs a filter and nozzle change.