Should I replace my heating oil tank?

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Should I replace my heating oil tank?

A heating oil tank is a sturdy device, but it won’t last forever. The question is, how long will it last?

The answer to that question depends on a lot of factors, including:

The thickness of its walls
Whether it is single or double walled
Whether it is made of steel, fiberglass, or plastic
Whether it is installed inside, outside, or underground
What kind of environment the tank has been exposed to
How well the tank has been maintained

As you can see, there are a lot of variables to consider. To get a better idea of the range of lifespans for heating oil tank, here’s a summary from inspectapedia.com

Indoor tanks

Steel tank, 14-gauge, single wall, connected at tank end wall	15 years
Steel tank, 14-gauge, single wall, connected at tank bottom	20 years
Steel tank, 12-gauge, single wall, connected at tank end wall	20 years
Steel tank, 12-gauge, single wall, connected at tank bottom	25 years
Steel tank, 14-gauge, single wall upper, double wall bottom	50 years
Fiberglass or Plastic tank, single wall	50 years
Fiberglass or Plastic tank, double wall	50+ years

Outdoor tanks

Steel tank, 14-gauge, single wall, connected at tank end wall	10 years
Steel tank, 14-gauge, single wall, connected at tank bottom	15 years
Steel tank, 12-gauge, single wall, connected at tank end wall	15 years
Steel tank, 12-gauge, single wall, connected at tank bottom	20 years
Steel tank, 14-gauge, single wall upper, double wall bottom	50 years
Fiberglass or Plastic tank, single wall	50 years
Fiberglass or Plastic tank, double wall	50+ years

Heating oil tank inspections: The only way to know for sure

While these numbers are a good starting point for typical oil tank longevity, they don’t tell you the whole story for your tank. They also don’t tell you how to spot a potential problem with your tank before it becomes a disaster.

When you consider that most oil tank complications begin with corrosion inside of the tank, it becomes all the more important to stay on top of oil tank maintenance. We strongly suggest you have your heating oil tank inspected by professionals every year: an experienced heating contractor will know what to look for to make sure your tank is operating the way it should be, and will be able to spot early signs that something is not quite right with your tank.

We also highly recommend signing up for TANK-GUARD protection to prevent corrosion in the first place; if your heating oil tank leaks once TANK GUARD protection is in place, they’ll replace your heating oil tank for FREE.

Contact us today to learn more about TANK-GUARD protection and heating oil tank inspections in the North Shore from the pros at Holden Oil!