How To Maintain Your Oil Tank This Summer

With summer just around the corner and all that’s going on in the world, it can be easy to forget the little things you have to do to make sure the rest of the year goes as smoothly as possible.

Things like taking care of your heating oil tank, for example.

Generally speaking, a heating oil tank isn’t very fussy, but it does require at least some care and attention to run safely and reliably year after year. Here are three things you should do in the coming weeks to keep your oil storage tank working reliably well through the summer and into next heating season.

3 Ways to care for your heating oil tank

1. Visually inspect your tank. Give your oil storage tank a once-over, looking for obvious signs of wear. Here are some suggestions:
   • Make sure the tank legs are not missing, rusted, buckled or bent.
   • Check leg brackets for cracks and structural damage.
   • Check the tank platform for cracks and deformities.
   • Look for any signs of rust.
   • Run your hands over the tank and connectors to detect warps, dents, weeping or wet spots.
2. Call in a professional. A visual inspection of the exterior of your tank is important, but the big problems with a heating oil tank often happen – or at least start – on the inside. A professional heating oil tank inspector will use ultrasonic oil tank testing to reveal problem spots inside your tank, possibly preventing future leaks or even a tank failure. Look for professionals who offer this service, along with protective services like TANK GUARD™.
3. Order heating oil. Why order heating oil if you’re not going to use it until the fall? Simple: in a tank that contains more air than fuel, condensation (water droplets) will accumulate on the tank’s interior walls as temperatures change. This condensation creates two big problems for your heating system: first, a damp environment encourages bacteria growth in your fuel, which will eventually transform your heating oil into a thick sludge that will jam your fuel lines and rob your system of efficiency. Second, accumulated moisture will eventually sink to the bottom of your steel oil tank (since water is heavier than oil) and corrode it from the inside out – a problem you won’t see coming until it’s too late.

Need a heating oil delivery in Massachusetts? Call the pros at Holden Oil. Contact us today to schedule a heating oil delivery in the North Shore, or to become a Holden Oil customer.