Autumn is here and the weather has started getting colder. Whether you’ve already started using your heating or are thinking of using it soon, it is essential to make sure your oil tank is ready for winter.
Hopefully, you will already have had your annual check-up and service by a qualified OFTEC-registered professional, which should include changing the outlet filter if you have one. If you haven’t had your annual service yet, schedule it as soon as possible – it’s better late than never! Regular servicing can cut fuel consumption by up to 10%, reduce emissions and extend your boiler’s lifespan.
Here is a simple DIY checklist of things you should do to prepare for the colder weather. Read on for more detail if you need it…
Quick checklist
- Visual inspection
- Check for water
- Check the level of your oil and order sooner rather than later
- Check fuel gauges
- Pipe lagging
- Get professional help
Visual inspection
You should carry out regular visual checks of your tank and the area around it to look for issues which might become problems if left unchecked. You shouldn’t dismantle anything or interfere with fittings yourself. Simply walk around the tank and look for signs that something isn’t quite right.
Look for cracks, rust or bulging of the tank, oil stains or damp patches around the base or a strong smell of heating oil. These could all be indications of leaks.
Check the base is still level and stable. If it has started to sink, tilt, crack or shift, the oil tank may not be properly supported. This can put pressure on the tank and pipes, especially when it is full.
Check for water
Water inside an oil tank can cause a multitude of problems, including internal corrosion, sludge build-up, fuel system blockages, reduced heating efficiency and even tank failure. So, it essential to make sure water isn’t getting inside your tank.
Check the fill caps and vents are properly in place to stop water ingress. You can also use inexpensive water finding paste for peace of mind. This changes colour when it comes into contact with water. All you need to do is apply it to a dipstick, clean rod or even a tape measure and lower it to the bottom of the tank. If there is water in your oil tank, the paste will change from brown to red.
Kolor Kut Water Finding Paste | Suitable for fuels | SR7010
If you do find traces of water in your oil tank, the Cim-Tek tank dryer is a fuel tank water absorber and another inexpensive product to help. The tank dryer should be lowered into the tank and will remove up to 350ml of unwanted water using highly absorbent silica gel.
Cim-Tek Tank Dryer | Absorbs water in oil | CTS1901
For extra peace of mind, a bund alarm can warn you if the inner tank has failed and leaked into the bund, or if water has got inside the bund.
Bund alarm for Heating Oil and Diesel Tanks | Fast Delivery
Check the level of your oil
Nobody wants to run out of heating oil in winter. Not only can it leave you very cold, it can also cause problems for your heating system. That’s why it is important to check the level of your oil before you starting using your heating regularly.
Don’t wait too long to reorder. Aim to order when your tank is at around 25 to 30% capacity. This will reduce the risk of you running out, allowing for rising demand and less flexible delivery schedules. It will also help cut the chance of sludge entering the boiler system and causing problems, if the oil level in your tank gets too low.
Check fuel gauges
If your oil tank gauge is stuck, cracked, unclear or giving readings that you don’t trust, it may need replacing.
Don’t rely on guesswork, because you may end up running out of oil. Tanks for Everything stocks a range of fuel gauges to suit all oil tanks, including electronic contents gauges, float gauges, oil tank sight gauges and hydrostatic gauges.
Oil and Water Tank Gauges | BEST Prices | Products from stock
Pipe lagging
In very cold or exposed areas, there is a risk of your oil freezing during the coldest winter weather. If your tank is particularly exposed, it makes sense to lag your pipes to keep them warmer. Pipe lagging can be bought from plumbers’ merchants.
Get professional help
While this is designed to be a DIY checklist, there are some things you can’t do yourself. If your tank is showing signs of leaks, damage or significant water ingress, the best thing you can do is call on a professional. They can stop an issue becoming a major problem and remove any water or sludge which has entered the tank.
Paying a professional may actually prove to be cost-effective, preventing the loss of oil, costly environmental clean-ups or a replacement tank.
Winter is the time when your oil tank is working its hardest and you need it more than ever. An oil tank failure when the temperature drops below freezing could be disastrous, so that is why it is important to spend a bit of time preparing your oil tank for winter. Follow this checklist and it will help keep your home warm and cosy right through to the spring.
