If you are thinking of having an oil tank installed on your property, then you’ll need to make a decision: a plastic bunded oil tank, or a steel bunded oil tank. The material you choose will depend on your needs and requirements. You might be asking - what is the difference between the two, and which one is best? To help you decide, we are going to look at the advantages and disadvantages of both plastic and steel oil tanks.
Advantages Of Steel Oil Tanks
Long-lasting - Steel is highly durable and potentially has a much longer lifespan than tanks made from plastic. Steel tanks are resilient to everything from UV rays to extreme weather, and can withstand most accidental damage.
Resistant to corrosion - Steel is a very strong material that can help to withstand internal and external corrosion, which again increases the lifespan of the tank.
Increased security - Theft of oil is on the rise, especially in rural locations. Research shows that incidents of oil theft have increased by 51% in just 6 years, with £4 million worth of oil stolen in 2016 alone - (Statistic according to BoilerJuice). Not only will stolen oil be costly to replace, but unexpectedly running out of fuel can be even more inconvenient. The security of your fuel tank should therefore be a top priority. Steel tanks offer better security as they are harder to drill and syphon oil from than plastic tanks. They are also heavier, and therefore more difficult to remove from your property.
Larger capacity - Steel tanks come in much larger capacities than plastic tanks and can hold up to 120,000 litres. This may allow you to take advantage of cheaper oil prices when they come up in the market and bulk buy your oil. Steel tanks are therefore the preferred option for larger businesses, that need to store larger quantities of oil than plastic tanks can handle.
Advantages Of Plastic Oil Tanks
Lightweight - Plastic tanks are lightweight and more manoeuvrable - this makes them easier and cheaper to transport, install, and move to a new location if required.
Insulator - Because plastic is an insulator, it slows the transfer of heat from the environment to the contents and therefore protects the liquid that it stores.
Less prone to rust - Plastic oil tanks are a good choice as they do not rust unlike metal tanks. Steel tanks can form rust which fills the bottom of the tank and clogs filters. The legs of steel tanks also have the potential to rust and become damaged. This could cause the tank to become unbalanced and tip over, leading to a major clean-up and costly expenses to replace the oil and repair the damage. Using a plastic tank reduces the risk of this occurring.
Pliable - Most plastic fuel tanks are seamless, so they are less likely to prematurely split or fail. Even if it deforms, plastic has an ability to regain its natural shape and often any deformations can be corrected if rectification work is carried out quickly.
To read about positioning your bunded oil tank, please click here.
Final thoughts
Your decision between a steel and plastic oil tank will depend largely on your needs and requirements. Steel tanks offer durability, higher capacity, increased security, and potentially longer lifespan but are more expensive. Plastic tanks are lightweight, making them easier and cheaper to install and move and are usually seamless minimising the risk of leaking in these vulnerable areas as seen on the older plastic single skinned tank. They are also non-maintenance, so you will not need to repaint them to keep them fresh and rust free as is required with steel tanks.
'To read about what size bunded oil tank you need for your property, click here'
