If your existing oil tank is reaching the end of its life, it is essential that you replace it in good time, before it becomes a potential problem.
Most bunded oil tanks, if well maintained, will last around 20 years. But the potential for leaks increases with age. It is important to check for any damage, leaks or spillages more frequently if your tank is over 10 years old.
Things To Consider When Replacing Your Oil Tank
An OFTEC registered technician should check your tank at least once a year. They will be able to tell you if it needs replacing.
You should also carry out checks on your existing oil tank yourself. Things to check for are:
- Any visible cracks in the body of the tank, however small
- Discolouring of a plastic tank – especially if it has gone white or faded from the sun
- Bulging or sagging in the tank
- A strong smell of kerosene
- Wet or discoloured areas around the tank
- Corrosion and rust in the tank’s plumbing
Replacing an oil tank isn’t cheap, but it is a lot more cost effective than dealing with the costs of an oil leak.
Never delay replacing a tank until it has failed. A tank which has failed will leave you with a potentially big environmental problem.
It is against the law to cause pollution and you can face big fines if you fail to prevent an oil spill. As an oil tank owner, you are responsible for the clean-up costs of an oil leak and any damage it causes. It is very unlikely that this will be covered by insurance, so it is important to replace your tank before it is too late.
The Regulations
The rules you need to follow when replacing an oil tank will vary depending on whether the tank is used for domestic, commercial or agricultural use. You can stay up to date with the regulations by checking the OFTEC website.
Domestic oil storage includes storing less than 3,500 litres of oil for purely domestic use. For homes wishing to store more than 3,500 litres, the regulations for commercial settings would apply.
It is possible you may need planning permission for your oil tank. At the very least, it will need to comply with local building regulations. In England and Wales, an OFTEC registered installer can self-certify their own work when installing your replacement oil tank.
If your oil tank is installed by someone who isn’t OFTEC registered, you will need to pay for a Building Control Notice from your local council. Without this approval, you won’t have the necessary certificates of compliance you will need when you sell your home.
When deciding whether to replace an existing oil tank, it is important to get expert help and plan the process carefully. This is the process you should follow to ensure you get everything right:
- Check with the local council whether you need planning permission for your oil tank
- Choose a compliant position for your replacement tank
- Find an oil tank of the right size to suit your needs
- Get prices from qualified OFTEC installers
What Size Oil Tank Do I Need?
You might want to replace your existing oil tank with one of the same size, but it makes sense to give some consideration to the best size of oil tank for your home or business.
Tanks for Everything stocks bunded oil tanks from 350 to 10,000 litres. Most heating oil suppliers will deliver a minimum of 500 litres of fuel at one time.
When choosing the size of your oil storage tank, as a general rule you should allow at least 500 litres of capacity per bedroom and an extra 500 litres for the living room and any other rooms you spend time in.
So, a one-bedroom flat would need a 1,000 litre tank and a three-bedroom house would need at least 2,000 litres.
But in some cases, the size of your tank may be limited by the amount of space you have available. Although tanks do come in different shapes to make the best use of the available space.
Another key consideration is the price of heating oil (kerosene), which fluctuates over the year. If you have the space, it makes sense to buy a bigger tank so you can buy oil in bulk when prices are lower.
What Sort Of Tank Do I Need?
When replacing your oil tank, we would always advise a bunded oil tank. This has an inner tank which helps to protect against leaks and spills. The bund should hold 110% of the tank’s capacity. If a leak or spill happens, it will be contained in the bund.
A bunded oil tank, rather than a single skinned tank, is a legal requirement if you are storing over 2,500 litres of oil. Oil tanks must be bunded with less than 2,500 litre capacity in these situations:
- Where oil spills could run into an open drain or loose manhole cover
- Within 10 metres of coastal waters or inland water like streams, lakes or rivers
- Within 50 metres of a drinking water source
- Where the tank vent pipes can’t be seen when the tank is being filled eg because the delivery tanker is parked too far away
- Where oil spills could run over hard ground and reach coastal waters, inland fresh water or a drinking water source
- In the inner zone of groundwater source protection zone 1 (read more at Gov.uk)
For commercial premises in Wales, you are required to have a bunded oil tank if you are storing more than 200 litres of oil on your site – including heating oil, petrol, diesel, lubricants, gas oil, waste oil, plant oil and vegetable oil.
Your oil tank could be plastic or steel. Both tanks do an excellent job of containing oil safely. For domestic premises, most people will opt for a plastic tank, which is cheaper and less likely to corrode than a steel tank.
Where Should The Oil Tank Be Placed?
Oil tanks are usually stored outdoors and above ground, close to your house or commercial premises. But you can also store them indoors (eg in a garage or outbuilding, not in your house) or underground. Storing the tank underground will mean the whole process of installing the tank is more expensive – taking into account factors like excavation.
It is very important for an oil tank to be placed on a sturdy base. Your old base might still be fine to use, but you may need a replacement base, to ensure the oil tank is on a level surface.
Your oil tank needs to comply with the OFTEC regulations. It should be sited:
- 1.8m away from non-fire rated eaves of a building
- 1.8m away from a non-fire rated building or structure (eg garden sheds)
- 1.8m away from openings (such as doors or windows) in a fire-rated building or structure (eg brick house/ garage)
- 1.8m away from oil fired appliance flue terminals
- 760mm away from a non-fire rated boundary, such as a wooden fence,
- 600mm away from screening (eg trellis and foliage) that doesn’t form part of the boundary
Oil Tank Replacement Process
When you are ready to go ahead with the purchase of a replacement oil tank, the process should be a smooth one. With Tanks for Everything, you can have a new oil tank up and running within 48 hours.
This is the replacement process:
- The team will bring your new tank and all the tools and materials needed to do the job.
- All the clean, usable heating oil from your current tank will be pumped into a holding tank. Any water and contaminated oil will be removed and disposed of at a licenced site.
- The old tank will be taken away and either disposed of or prepared for recycling.
- Any base adjustments will be made (including a new base if necessary).
- The new oil tank will be placed, connected to the oil supply line and the pressure checked.
- The clean oil will be pumped from the holding tank into the new tank.
- Your new tank is ready to use!
Getting a replacement oil tank can feel like a pretty daunting prospect, particularly if you have never done it before. But there is plenty of help and advice available to make sure you make the right decisions. Get in touch with us at Tanks for Everything and we will be able to answer all your questions.
