The best ways to save on heating oil are to use less of it, to buy it in larger orders when you can, and to plan ahead so you are never paying a rush price. No trick will beat the weather, but a few habits can take real money off a Long Island winter. Here are the ones that matter most.
1. Check the price before you order
Heating oil prices move with the wholesale market and can change daily, so a quick look before you buy is worth it. On October 26, 2026, our posted price ranged from about $5.39 to $6.15 a gallon depending on order size. Today’s price is on our heating oil prices page.
When you compare suppliers, look at the full price you will pay, not just the headline number. Ask whether delivery is extra. At OK Petroleum, delivery is free on every Long Island order, and the price is confirmed before checkout, with no surprise fees.
2. Order more when you can
Larger orders get a lower per-gallon price. On that same date, a 500-gallon order was $5.389 a gallon, while a 50-gallon order was $6.146. If your tank has room and your budget allows, one larger delivery usually costs less per gallon than several small top-offs.
Do not overfill. A tank is never filled to the brim, and you should only order what the tank can safely take. If you are unsure how much room you have, call 631-994-1277 and we will help you pick an amount.
3. Keep the heat in the house
The cheapest gallon is the one you never burn. These steps keep warm air inside.
- Seal air leaks. Add weatherstripping and caulk around doors and windows.
- Add insulation. Attics and basements are common places for heat to escape.
- Close the curtains at night. Open them on sunny days to let in free heat.
- Keep vents and radiators clear. Furniture in front of them blocks the warmth.
We go further in our posts on insulation and weatherstripping and the top 5 tips for heating oil efficiency.
4. Use the thermostat wisely
Lowering the thermostat a few degrees, especially at night and when nobody is home, cuts the time your burner runs. A programmable or smart thermostat can do this automatically. Even a small change adds up over a long winter, though the exact savings depend on your house.
You can also heat the rooms you use. Closing the doors to a rarely used room and keeping its vent or radiator turned down means you are not paying to warm empty space. Just do not shut off heat completely in rooms with pipes that could freeze.
Avoid big swings. Setting the thermostat very high to warm a cold house quickly does not heat the house faster, and it can waste fuel.
5. Watch the hot water
If your oil system also heats your household water, turning the water heater setting down a little can save fuel, since that system works all year. Shorter showers and full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine help too. These are small changes, but they run every day.
6. Keep your heating system in good shape
A boiler or furnace that is clean and well adjusted usually burns fuel more efficiently than one that is not. Many homeowners have their system looked at by a qualified heating technician once a year, ahead of the season. Catching a problem in October is better than discovering it during a cold snap.
7. Plan ahead and avoid rush orders
When the tank is nearly empty and the weather is bitter, you have fewer choices and less time to shop. Order when the gauge reaches about a quarter full, and you can pick your moment. Our guide to saving money on home heating oil this winter covers more on timing.
If you know your usage, Scheduled Deliveries can remove the guesswork. You set the interval and gallons, and you can pause or change the schedule from your account at any time.
8. Know what you use
Write down the gallons from every delivery. After a season, you will know how much your home burns and whether your changes helped. That makes it easier to budget and to decide how much to order next time.
Make reordering easy
An account lets you reorder fast, track deliveries and save a payment method, so a decision to order is never held up by paperwork. That helps you buy at the moment you choose, instead of putting it off until the tank is almost empty.
A note on “cheapest” claims
Be careful with anyone promising the lowest price or a huge guaranteed saving. Heating oil prices change with the market, so what is cheap today may not be tomorrow. Focus on what you can control: the amount you use, the size of your order and how early you plan.
Order with a clear price
Ready to buy? Order heating oil online and see the per-gallon price before you pay, or call OK Petroleum at 631-994-1277. We are a family-owned Long Island company, and local people answer the phone.
