Is My Oil Tank Efficient?
Keeping your oil tank in check can be a real time and money saver over the years. Ensuring it’s kept in good shape and being looked after properly as well as used correctly means your oil tank will last much longer, saving you a lot of money and hassle.
How To Tell My Oil Tank’s Efficiency
Inspect for Leaks and Corrosion
Oil leaks are not only devastating for the environment, but they can also be hugely costly if not dealt with quickly. The longer leaks are left without repairs, the worse they will get which can cost you greatly over time. By doing regular maintenance and inspections you can catch leaks or potential damage early before it has a chance to cause you problems.
Assess the Tanks Age
Older tanks are generally less efficient as the materials they are manufactured from may be older than the modern technology and manufacturing materials we have today. If your tank is very old, it may be worth replacing it with a newer one to save you money in the long run.
Monitor Fuel Consumption
Unless your usage varies greatly day to day, your tank should last for a similar amount of time before every refill. If you’re finding that you require a top up much sooner or later than expected, it may be worth checking your fuel consumption and seeing how you can make it more efficient or if there are any issues that require fixing.
Assess Tank Accessories
There are a huge number of different accessories for oil tanks that promote efficiency. Items such as anti-spill devices like overfill valves or spill trays can help save lost oil through leaks or spills, anchors to help improve the stability of your tank or even digital monitoring systems that let you know when your tank needs topping up can all help you remain efficient for longer. Check these regularly to see if they’re in good shape and if there are any issues that need addressing before they cause a bigger, more expensive problem.
Methods of Improving Your Stored Oil’s Efficiency
Ensure Proper Tank Sizing
Buying a larger tank may mean you don’t have to top up for longer, but it also means spending a lot more than you need on installation, purchase and maintenance. Likewise, smaller tanks may mean you run out sooner which can leave you without oil more frequently. Realistically plan out your usage to work out the right size for your needs.
Ensure Tank Insulation
In much colder weather, the drop in temperature can cause oil to thicken which makes it burn much less efficiently. Getting your tank properly insulated means your tank remains at a more consistent temperature all year round which helps remain more efficient for longer.
Use High-Efficiency Equipment
Heating oil isn’t an area you want to cut corners on, so be sure to buy the best equipment for the job to ensure longevity, safety, and overall efficiency for years to come.
Optimise Heating Settings
Reducing your heating usage when the warmer weather comes in can make your oil storage much more efficient, saving you money in the long run. Also, if there are parts of your home or building you aren’t using, turn the heating off or down to use less oil and make your heating oil tanks more efficient.
Control Moisture
Moisture in or around your tank can cause major issues such as rust on any metal fittings, corrosion on the materials leading to cracks or even water in the oil itself which reduces the overall heating efficiency of the oil itself. You can purchase water absorbing filters that help avoid this, both inside and outside the tank.
Explore Heating Oil Tanks with Tanks for Everything
Tanks for Everything has everything you need to make the best choice for your home and business. Our tanks guarantee safety, peace of mind and an OFTEC Certification on each and every one of our bunded oil tanks, as well as all the equipment that you require to heat your building. We provide an enormous range of storage solutions, including well-known brands to meet all of your needs.
Got a question? Give our sales team a call or just drop us an email, we’d love to help!
