Heating oils is a valuable and important commodity that will keep your and your family warm during the winter months. Due to the importance of oil, it is best to keep it safe and secure. Here are some tips on how to keep your heating oil tank safe from damage and theft.
How to make sure your oil storage tank is in good condition
Here is some advice on how to keep your tank running in tip top condition: -
Perform a monthly check on oil storage tanks
We suggest that you perform an assessment on the tank at least once a month. This assessment will highlight any issues with the tank and prevent any losses that may occur due to tank damage or leakage. When carrying out the assessment you want to: -
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check for plants growing on the tank. This makes damage to the tank and hides any leaks. It is best to remove any overgrown vegetation.
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check the base and supports for any signs of subsidence. Subsidence could mean your tank is no long secure and cause it to be unlevel creating internal pressure.
- ensure that the contents gauge is working. This is important for when refilling the tank and prevent any overflow that may damage the environment.
- double check all valves are closing correctly. A valve that has stopped working may start to drip oil on the base. Closing all entry ways will help to prevent water entering the tank.
- Check all visible pipework for signs of damage and leakage. Check joints thoroughly for signs of dampness or stains – these could indicate a leak.
- Clear all water and debris from the bund incase of an internal leak.
- Check for discoloration, bulging, rust, cracks, and splits. These are all signs the tanks integrity has been compromised and that it needs repair or replacement.
- Check for unusual smells. This can be a sign it that there is an oil leak.
Invest in a trustworthy tank
We recommend investing in a tank that has a reputation for design quality and durability. In doing so, you put yourself in the best position for the safe storage of oil and fuel. We would suggest browsing our Atlas, DESO and Titan ranges to find a reputable tank that will more than fit your storage needs.
Get your tank serviced annually
We recommended that you have your oil takes inspected once a year by a heating engineer – the same time you have your boiler and central heating serviced. A professional service will be able to catch hard to spot maintenance issues, such as having sludge and water in the tank that needs to be drained.
Know the life span of your tank
Know the life span of your oil storage tank. An oil storage tank has a limited life span and it is not recommended that a tank is used past this life-span. By knowing how long your tank is supposed to be used for you can make replacement arrangement early.
Never run on fumes
We recommend that you keep at least 12 inches of oil in the bottom of your tank at all times. When you go below this level there is the danger of disturbing the sediment in the bottom of the tank. This can cause clogs in the pipework.
Never fill to the top
We recommend that you only fill the tank to 90% of capacity. This will prevent rainwater and debris from causing overspills.
Always record oil levels
Keeping a record of the oil levels will indicate establish a baseline of average usage. A sudden increase in oil consumption could indicate a leak.
How to protect your oil tank from theft
Heating oil is very expensive and can be targeted by thieves. Theft not only leads to the loss of the heating fuel, but also to inevitable leakage and spillage, that will need to be cleaned up by the environment protection agency. Here are some ways you can keep your heating oil safe.
Install a lock on your tank
A big, sturdy pad lock is the first step to deter thieves from your oil tank. Opportunity is one of the major influences of theft. A padlock will remove the chance of it being stolen in the moment and will deter opportunistic criminals. Tank locks are readily available and are low-cost theft prevention method.
Install an alarm on your tank
Tank alarms are designed to alert you when your oil levels fall dramatically in a short period. This will alert you that a theft has occurred and won’t leave running on fumes when winter comes. It also gives you the opportunity to assess your tank for damage and prevent any environmental leakage or damage.
Install motion sensor lighting
Motion sensor lighting switches on whenever some triggers the sensor. This not only alerts you to the fact something is prowling around your garden but gives the thief an obstacle to overcome.
Install CCTV Cameras
Discrete CCTV cameras will allow you to identify those people interested in your tank, and whether any attempts at theft have occurred. It will also aid in the identification of the thieves.
Make your garden secure
There are ways to make your garden more secure and hamper the access thieves will have to your property, such as hard to scale bramble hedges, tall fences, and lockable gates. These make it hard to enter and exit with heavy containers. Gravel or stone paths are also a great deterrent due to the noise it makes when walked on.
Hide your tank from view
Place a screen or plants in the garden that obscures the tanks visibility from the roadside. Just ensure the screen is not too close to be a fire hazard and the plants are not close enough to impact the structure of the tank.
