When you’re installing a new heating unit, often times you’ll find yourself being more concerned about furnace choices rather than the oil storage tank itself. Replacement issues, maintenance and insurance of the heating unit will probably have you put most, if not all, of your focus on the furnace as well. If you happen to be using an oil furnace, then the tank you have has the potential to run up several unnecessary hidden costs. Furthermore, if the oil tank you have is something you inherited when you acquired the house then you certainly have to get it assessed to properly determine a baseline.
Anyway, back to why we’re here. Oil maintenance. Not only is it pretty simple, but it also helps increase the lifespan of your oil tank. You may not realize this in the beginning but a lot rides on the condition your oil tank happens to be at and proper maintenance is a vital part of all this. If it happens to go out of commission, unfortunately so does the entire heating system. However, it all begins with good quality and an oil tank found on EasyMerchant often proves to be a perfect way to start. If your operating with high-quality products then things are likelier to stay in good condition for longer. Nonetheless, let’s take a look at a few ways you can ensure this happens.
1. Checking Site And Integrity
Check the legs of the tank to ensure they aren’t bent, buckled, rusted or missing. Make sure the brackets themselves aren’t coming away from the oil tank or cracked. Check the tank’s platform to make sure it’s also in good condition and is not deformed nor cracked. Now, when it comes to the integrity bit when you have metal tanks, look for any rust. Run your open palm over the connectors and tank to detect wet spots, weeping, dents or warps. Inspect the areas around the drain. If you notice any blackening of your tank then you might have some water leaking into the system. Also, inspect the pipes that are attached to the oil tank for dampness and drips, and do the same for valves and filters.
2. Testing
Similar to what we briefly touched on a bit earlier in the article, your oil tank happens to be just one part of a wider heating unit. Identifying blockages and checking flow rates are tasks and duties that need to be done for the entire system as a whole, and not just to be isolated to your oil tank alone. Consider getting a full and professional inspection done on your entire heating unit at least once every year. The best time you should start testing the system is before winter begins or before the cold seasons when you know heating is something you’ll definitely need. This strategy ensures both efficient operations as well as safety. Seek the guidance of experienced engineers who can help you verify the system to ensure it’s in good condition.
3. Cleaning
Tar buildup might have you thinking you need to clean out your oil tank as often as you can, however, it’s actually not the thick pollutants one should be worried about, it’s the weak ones. Condensation happens in the tank’s insides and what this results in is water getting trapped. The buildup of water happens at the tank’s bottom and you need to keep in mind that oil floats on water. If you want such problems removed then you’ll have to properly clean out the oil tank. Furthermore, this water buildup will also help potentially cause corrosion from the inside out. You don’t want this because when your tank starts to corrode then it will eventually start to leak soon after if the initial problem is unattended to. Experts usually advise you have your tank thoroughly cleaned at least once every four to five years. This is a job that’s messy in nature and will usually involve pumping out of the tank, but will ensure it stays in great condition.
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4. Protection
If your tank happens to be the outdoor type, make sure to protect it from falling snow or ice and strong winds. Check the trees you have nearby and ensure that their branches aren’t likely to fall on your tank. Fence off the tank’s sides so that filters and lines can’t get destroyed by your lawnmower and the like. Check that your vent screens aren’t missing, broken, clogged or corroded. If your tank is buried then it will be harder to inspect. In such scenarios, you might be better of getting specialized services. This you can get from specialized heating oil companies. Preventative maintenance can sometimes feel like a cost burden, but it will help keep your tank in good condition for longer. Repairing your tank will normally be way costlier and often time just prove to be nothing but a mere short-term solution.
5. Insurance
Oil tank insurance packages are not offered by many insurance companies. A tank that’s improperly maintained can be cited and can be a reason used by the same insurance company that cited the said tank not to give payouts on household insurance, for instance in the event of poisoning or fire. Leaky outdoor oil tanks are not eco-friendly and can cause damage to the environment, which will not be covered by the insurance company. Oil leaks have the potential to completely ruin your garden or backyard if not attended to as early as possible. If you leave the problem unattended, you could run the risk of having to spend insane amounts of cash to both remove and replace the soil in your property. The disposing of oil-soaked dirt happens to be way more expensive than you’d think.
Carving out a bit of time each week to have a close look at your oil tank to check whether everything is okay will help you avoid unnecessary costs as well as potential problems. Inspecting whether your tank is in superb condition or not is something that really doesn’t have to take a lot of your time, especially when that alone can end up saving you hundreds of dollars. Why not seriously consider preventative maintenance. Besides, prevention is always better than cure, don’t you think? There’s really no need to let avoidable problems just sneak up on you.
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