How to Detect Water Contamination in An Oil Tank
Water contamination in an oil tank can be hugely damaging and lead to a variety of very expensive problems. If you suspect you may have water in your tank, it’s worth doing a visual check first as this will often give you an answer. Oil, when mixed with water may look either cloudy or hazy, which often means it’s been mixed with water. If the oil is completely still, you may notice a separation of layers, with water settling at the bottom separately from the oil as oil is less dense than water, so it’s easy to see the two different liquids.
What Problems Can Water in Oil Tanks Lead To:
Freezing Water
In colder climates, water will freeze inside the tank or pipes, which can cause blockages where the oil can’t follow properly. Constant freezing and warming can create wear over time inside the tank, worsening existing corrosion damage by causing cracks in the material.
Bacteria Spread
Moisture in general provides the perfect climate for bacteria to both grow and thrive. If bacteria is left to grow wild in your tank, it can lead to the degradation of fuel over time as well as the clogging of filters.
Rust
Rust occurs when specific types of metals are exposed to moisture and oxygen for a period of time. Rust in your tank causes the material to become weakened and can lead to major leaks and spillages. These can have not only expensive repercussions for the owner, but also have a hugely negative impact on the environment.
How Water Can Infiltrate Your Tank
Condensation
If your tank is poorly insulated, it can be affected by repetitive changes in temperature (e.g. day to night, summer to winter etc.). These changes can cause moisture to condense in empty spaces and on the surfaces within your tank, leading to issues down the line.
Weather (rain)
In wetter climates, rain can happen all year round no matter the season. Torrential rain can find it’s way into the smallest of cracks in the outer material of your tank, rust any metal attachments or find its way into poor applied seals/lids.
How You Can Prevent Oil Tank Water Contamination
Monitor Your Tanks Age and Condition
Frequent maintenance checks as well as proper record keeping can help prevent unnecessary wear on your tank. Checking the quality of your tank regularly means you’re able to deal with problems as soon as they come up rather than letting them develop into much bigger issues.
Undergo Regular Servicing with an OFTEC Engineer
While some problems can be solved with a DIY attitude, when it comes to fuel and the dangerous side effects of poorly repaired issues, it’s worth hiring an expert to keep your oil tank in check on a regular schedule. Acquiring the services of a seasoned professional with the right credentials means your tank can be regularly serviced with all the right tools and knowledge to keep it in good health. It also gives you the opportunity to catch any issues early before they can grow into major issues.
Ensure Suitable Weather Protection
Purchasing the correct tank for your climate can help keep your tank dry and weatherproof. Bunded oil tanks are specifically designed to withstand outside elements and prevent rainwater from entering the tank. You should keep your oil tank under appropriate shelter where possible, as well as applying weather resistant paint to the outside that stops rust and corrosion.
Eliminate Foliage That Could Produce Water
If the area around the tank is built up with heavy foliage, it can trap humidity in close to the tank and prevent airflow. All of these lead to a greater level of condensation which can have a negative effect on the general state of your oil tank.
Use Water-Finding Paste
Water finding paste is a special type of tool that is used to find moisture inside tanks and discover the level of oil tank water contamination by changing colour based on the presence of liquid. It can help in scenarios where it’s difficult to get a definitive answer, but you still need to check, for instance, if the tank is difficult to look into or in a low light area.
