Think Tank

How To Choose A Bunded Oil Tank That's Right For You

You can find a huge selection of oil tanks on the market today - from single skin plastic tanks to fully bunded metal tanks. Each style of oil tank has its advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to find the most suitable one that meets your needs and specifications.

What size bunded oil tank do you need for a home?

There is a huge variety of fuel storage options on the market today and oil tanks come in a wide range of different sizes and styles. Having a bunded oil tank installed on your property offers a number of benefits such as - protecting your fuel from leaks and theft, saving you money by allowing you to buy your fuel in bulk and also allowing you to create a home off the main grid. To get the most out of your investment, it is important that you choose an oil tank that is the most appropriate size for your property and needs.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bunded Oil Tanks

There is a massive selection of oil tanks available on the market today. This includes plastic tanks, steel tanks, single-skinned tanks, and bunded oil tanks. You may be familiar with the term ‘bunded oil tank’ but you may be wondering - what is a bunded oil tank and how is it different from other storage tanks available? Below, we are going to answer all the frequently asked questions about bunded oil tanks, and look at why a bunded tank is the safest and most efficient solution for your oil storage.

Where should an oil tank be placed?

A fact that is not particularly well know is that oil storage is governed by building regulations. Oil is obviously very hazardous if it leaks out or if the tank is overfilled and as such, there are a number of factors which need to be considered when you are planning the installation of a new tank or the replacement of the old.

How Much Money Can Be Saved with A Heating Oil Tank?

When it comes to looking for cost-efficient ways to heat your home, produce hot water – or power certain machinery, heating oil is a good option. Although not as common as mains energy, heating oil is used by about 1.6 million households across the UK.

How To Clean Your Domestic Oil Tank

If you are heating your home using a domestic bunded plastic oil tank, a bunded heating steel oil tank, or a single skin heating oil tank, cleaning it is an essential part of the tank’s maintenance process. If you do not clean your domestic oil tank on a regular basis, it can lead to malfunctions in the tanks, and, ultimately cause your heating not to work – as well as run the risk of damage to the system.

Can a Bunded Oil Tank Leak?

There are several reasons why some homes need to have an oil tank for the storage of oil. It might be that your home is not connected to mains gas due to its location or you might even choose not to connect it to the mains.

How Long Do Steel Oil Tanks Last?

If you use oil to heat your home one important consideration that you must always keep in mind is the lifespan of the oil tank in which it is stored. Ensuring that your oil is well protected is more than just about making sure that there is none wasted.

What To Do If You Have a Domestic Oil Spill?

If you use oil in your home, you will have a domestic oil tank to store it in. These come in a range of different types, according to what is best for you and your home – from plastic bunded oil tanks to steel bunded heating oil tanks.

Why Solid Fuel Bunkers are Essential for Winter

If you use oil in your home, you will have a domestic oil tank to store it in. These come in a range of different types, according to what is best for you and your home – from plastic bunded oil tanks to steel bunded heating oil tanks.

What size bunded oil tank do I need?

A good question. Generally, when putting in a bunded tank for the first time – either as a brand new installation or as the replacement for a single skinned tank, there are a few things to consider. Bunded tanks tend to be physically quite a bit bigger than single skinned tanks. The bund needs to hold 110% of the inner tank’s capacity but they always still seem to be larger than anticipated. This is down to the fact that plastic tanks are moulded in a machine and so have softer curves and edges which make them quite a feature in their own right!

What is a bunded oil tank?

When you start thinking about replacing your oil tank and doing some research into what is permitted under the current regulations and what is not, one of the first words, which is quite likely to be a new one to you is “bunded”. This essentially means that the oil tank is surrounded by a second skin of plastic. In an agricultural setting, bunds are generally used to protect and help collect run off and the principle is very similar.

Is OFTEC a legal requirement?

It can a very onerous job having your oil tank changed and not something that you will want to do too often. Generally, if you have planned to do this for some time you may ask your friends or neighbours if they have had a new tank and if so, who did the work? Were they happy with the job and would they recommend the people that they used? Is the paperwork all in place to confirm that the job is legal? Is the work part of a planned building project and if so, is it something that your builders are prepared to do for you?

Does Home Insurance Cover Oil Tanks

Damaged oil tanks can cause a lot of disruption and can be expensive. Whether it is the cost of repairing or replacing the tank, the loss of oil that has leaked out, or the damage that has been caused by the oil leak, costs can add up. It is, therefore, important to know what aspects of your oil tank are covered by your insurance.

Bunded Oil Tank Manufacture Spotlight: Harlequin

Harlequin is a market leader in bunded oil tank manufacturing. It is a company that is well-known for its innovation in bunded oils tanks, exporting its tanks around the world, and providing high-quality liquid storage solutions to a wide range of different customers.

Can You Store a Bunded Oil Tank Underground?

When a property is off the mains gas network some properties need to have an oil tank to store the oil that is needed to provide fuel to feed the central heating boiler. If you have an oil tank on your property, it is important that the oil is kept safe, reducing the risk of fire, and ensuring that it complies with planning regulations. Safe storage can also be an insurance requirement.

Are Bunded Oil Tanks Fire Resistant?

Some buildings in the UK use oil for activities such as heating or cooking, and usually the oil needs to be stored on site. The storage of oil needs to be carefully monitored. Oil is flammable, and therefore, great caution must be employed if you are going to store it – even in relatively small quantities.

Benefits of Heating Your Home with An Oil Tank

In the UK, the majority of houses are connected to the National Grid to receive gas for heating them. Whilst this is convenient for most people, there are some downfalls – the cost of gas can fluctuate greatly, and we are seeing an increasing uncertainty in the future of gas supply and our energy companies in general, for example.

How to Disguise Your Oil Tank Safely

There are many homes in the UK that rely on the use of oil for heating the property. If you are one of these, you will have your own oil tank where the oil is stored, ready for it to be used as and when it is needed.

How To Maintain Your Oil Tank

If you are going to carry out maintenance on your oil tank, it goes without saying that the best time of year to do this would be in the summer. This is when it is less critical that your oil tank is working, easier to empty as you can have it running at lower levels, and means that your oil tank will be working at optimum efficiency during the winter.

Septic Tanks Regulations Simplified

The Environment Agency introduced new regulations relating to septic tanks in January 2015, these regulations are called the General binding rules: small sewage discharge to a surface water and were introduced as a response to growing concerns over pollution of water courses.

How Does A Sewage Treatment Plant Work?

For most people, the best way to get rid of their sewage and wastewater is through the mains sewage system. This isn’t always an option for everybody, however. If you live somewhere that connecting to the mains sewage system isn’t a viable option, you would normally need to consider either getting a septic tank or a sewage treatment plant for your property.

What Is Sewage Made Up Of?

It can be easy to confuse the terms ‘wastewater’ and ‘sewage’. For most people, both of them refer to the dirty water that is generated in a building, and that passes through a water sewage system that either cleans it or transports it to somewhere that it can be cleaned.

How To Calculate Sewage Treatment Plant Size

If you are living in a property that is unable to be connected to mains sewage systems, one option that you have to dispose of your wastewater is through a sewage treatment plant. If you are going to fit a sewage treatment plant, however, it is important that you get it right. 

What Are The 3 Stages of Sewage Treatment?

All domestic properties create wastewater, from flushed toilets to drained sinks, to washing machines. All of this water goes into a wastewater system. If you have a property that cannot be connected to the mains sewage system, it is important to find an alternative, and getting a septic tank is one option. Another is to get a sewage treatment system.

When Is A Sewage Treatment Plant Required?

For most people, disposing of their sewage safely is something that they don’t even think about. If you live in a house that is connected to the mains sewage, you flush your toilet, and away it goes, never to be seen again. If, however, you live in a house that is off-grid, or a good distance away from mains sewage, you need to consider how you can safely and hygienically dispose of your sewage and wastewater.

Tips For Making Your Septic Tank Last

Ensuring that your septic tank system is kept in good condition is essential not only to keep your neighbours onside but also to help to prevent environmental harm and costly damage to the system itself. Whilst it is important to ensure that it is properly maintained and serviced and inspected regularly, there are also several ways that you can help to keep it in tip-top condition and reduce the risks of damage, making it last for longer.

How to Spot the Signs of Septic System Failure

For properties that are unable to connect to the mains sewage and wastewater systems, a septic system is required to carry away and dispose of sewage and other wastewater from the house. Whereas properties with a connection to the mains sewage will take the wastewater away from the property to a central plant where it is treated, a septic tank system takes the wastewater only as far as a septic tank close to the property, where it is treated, and the treated or semi-treated water then dispersed into a determined drainage area close to the house.

Which Chemicals Are Not Safe for a Septic Tank?

Septic tanks are an essential part of a sewage system for properties that cannot be connected to mains sewage systems for whatever reason. If this is the case, septic tanks are used during the process of transporting sewage and wastewater away from the building, breaking down the sewage, and then disposing of the effluent into a local drainage field.

Landlord's or Tenant’s Responsibility to Empty a Septic Tank

In the UK, we have a mains sewage system that takes our waste and wastewater away from our homes. This mains sewage system reaches the majority of houses around the country, but some homes cannot be served by the mains sewage system.

What Is The Best Sewage System For Clay Soils

Sewage treatment systems come in a variety of different sizes and styles. It is important to find the best system for your property and needs, to ensure the most effective wastewater management treatment. This can be achieved by taking into account things like - the amount of waste produced, the location of the system, and the size of your property.

How Do Septic Tanks Work?

A septic tank system uses the processes of biological decomposition and drainage to dispose of sewage and wastewater where there is no sewage network or adequate drainage system. During the process, the wastewater from places such as toilets, sinks, and washing machines flows out of the house, into a septic tank, where it is separated and bacteria used to help to decompose the waste before it is drained away safely.

How Often Do You Need to Empty A Septic Tank?

If you have a septic tank, it is important that you regularly empty it. By not emptying it every so often, a build-up of solid waste can occur, clogging the system, and wastewater backup, resulting in the failure of the system.

Can Heavy Rain Affect Septic Systems?

If there’s one thing that we get a lot of in the UK, it's rain. Although it’s not often torrential, if you have a septic tank system, you need to be aware of how heavy rain could impact it. There are two main ways that heavy rain can affect a septic system.

How Long Does A Septic Tank Last?

If you don’t have adequate access to the mains sewage system but are able to accommodate a safe drainage area, a septic tank system is the ideal solution to deal with your water waste. It is important that your septic system is installed properly and well-maintained to ensure that it is as effective as possible and lasts as long as possible.

How Do I Clean My Septic Tank Naturally?

If you are unable to connect your wastewater to the mains sewage system, having a septic tank is a good alternative for many people. It is essential that, if you have a septic tank, it is regularly emptied, cleaned, and well-maintained to avoid problems such as damage and contamination (and nasty odours!).

Where Can a Septic Tank Be Installed?

Septic tanks are used as a sewage disposal system for places that cannot usually be connected to the mains sewage. They involve connecting a septic tank to the property’s sewage system, which then uses bacteria within the tank to naturally break down the waste, before disposing of the final effluent into a drainage area and collecting the sludge in the tank.

Can Septic Tanks Explode?

For buildings that are unable to be connected to mains sewage systems, one of the solutions that are available is to have a septic tank system. In a septic tank system, wastewater and sewage are taken out of the house and fed into a septic tank that is normally located a few meters away from the property.

What Are The Signs That Your Septic Tank Is Full?

If you have a building that cannot be connected to the mains sewage system, then it is important that you look for an alternative method of taking wastewater and sewage away from it. One of the most effective ways of doing this is through a septic tank system.

What Is a Silage Tank?

Ensuring that our wastewater is properly disposed of is the responsibility of each and every one of us. Fortunately, for most people, systems that are connected to mains sewage systems mean that we do not need to consider this. Some places, however, are not connected to mains wastewater systems, and this is where a septic tank system, cesspool, or silage tank is needed.

What Is A Water Tank?

A water storage tank does exactly what it says on the tin – it is a tank that stores water. There is a whole range of different shapes, sizes, and uses, that can be used in a range of different ways. From water butts to rainwater harvesting systems, to baffled water tanks, to above ground tanks and below ground tanks, in an array of different sizes, it is important to find the right one that suits your needs.

Can You Drink Harvested Rainwater?

Drinking rain water is not against the law, but you couldn’t sell it as drinking water, and you may even be prosecuted if you give it to children or people who are part of vulnerable groups. Rain water is not bad for humans, you can fill your paddling pool with it and sit in it all day without it hurting you. 

5 Things to Consider for Positioning your Water Tank

Rainwater tanks are beneficial for several reasons - they can reduce your water bills, give you an alternative supply during area-wide droughts and they can also greatly benefit your garden. Not to mention, it is a great way to reduce your environmental impact. What’s not to love? There are lots of different options on the marketplace, so there’s plenty to choose from.

How To Clean A Water Storage Tank

If you have a water storage tank at home that you are using as part or all of your water supply, then it is important that you ensure that it is clean. Without cleaning it properly every so often, you can find that dirt, algae, or bacteria can find their ways into your water.

How Does A Water Storage Tank Work?

Water tanks, whether we have them in our homes, or for commercial use, are there to enable us all to have running water whenever we might need it. Whether you are using a rainwater harvesting tank to store water that has been collected from natural rainfall, or a tank that is connected to a different water source, the principle is the same – to give us useable water, on demand.

What Are the Different Types of Tank for Rainwater Harvesting?

With UK residents being charged for the amount of water that they use, alongside the obvious environmental benefits of collecting and using rainwater, it is no surprise that more and more people are turning to rainwater harvesting systems in their homes.

What Type of Plastic Are Water Tanks Made From?

Domestic water tanks are used to store water for a range of different uses including sometimes for drinking water, water to be heated, water used to flush toilets, or to store rainwater that has been harvested (collected). Leaking or escaped water can be damaging to its environment, and this is why the water tanks need to be strong and robust, protecting their contents from outside risks, damage, and leaks.

What Can You Do with Harvested Rainwater?

In a world where water is becoming more and more scarce – and therefore more and more valuable – the idea of being able to harvest your own water is becoming increasingly appealing. Given the sheer amount of water that falls from the British sky, it seems somewhat bizarre that within a few weeks we are then seeing hosepipe bans and people talking about water shortages.

Why you should harvest your rain water

Water is a necessity in everyday life. We all drink water and use it to wash dishes, clothes and ourselves. If you have a garden, you also need water to help it flourish. The problem is that there is not an endless supply of usable water; you get to experience the lack of available resources every time there is a hosepipe ban during hot weather.

How Long Do Plastic Water Tanks Last?

Water tanks can be used in many different commercial and domestic circumstances, and there are many different water tanks available. You might be looking for a rainwater harvesting system, a below-ground water tank, or a baffled water tank, for example.

What Size Water Storage Tank Do I Need?

People get water storage tanks for a number of different reasons. It might be that they are wanting to store drinking water from a spring or borehole, it might be that they want to harvest and store rainwater, or maybe store water in an above-ground water storage tank. Water storage tanks, however, come in several different sizes, so it is important that you know what size to get.

How Are Water Tanks Made?

Water tanks are used for many different reasons both domestically and commercially. Although not always, they are often made from polyethylene (PE) using a process involving rotational moulding to create the tank. This means that they can be made to a range of different shapes and sizes and fit for purpose in many different situations and circumstances.

Can Water Tanks Be Buried?

There are many different reasons why you might need to have a water tank at your property. One of the most common is to have somewhere to store water that has been collected from the rain, giving you an eco-friendly way to utilise natural resources. Rainwater harvesting systems usually comprise a drainage system alongside a sizable tank to keep the harvested rainwater in until it is used in the property.

What Is a Baffled Water Tank?

Whether you work cleaning cars, windows, in agriculture, or just enjoy a road trip in a caravan, the issue of transporting the water that you need around can be tricky. Water is not only heavy, but it also can slosh around and throw vehicles off balance through the sudden changes in placement of the weight, especially if the water is being transported over rough or uneven ground. This can be a very dangerous situation and a solution to this problem is needed. As a solution to the safe and effective transportation of water issue, baffled water tanks have been designed.