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If you are heating your home using a domestic bunded plastic oil tank, a bunded heating steel oil tank, or a single skin heating oil tank, cleaning it is an essential part of the tank’s maintenance process. If you do not clean your domestic oil tank on a regular basis, it can lead to malfunctions in the tanks, and, ultimately cause your heating not to work – as well as run the risk of damage to the system.
When you are storing and using oil in a domestic oil tank, condensation can be caused by changes in temperature between the oil itself and the tank. This condensation can, consequently, create a by-product of sludge. Sludge in an oil tank can also be caused by debris and dirt, flakes of rust, or other sediments, which can then result in clogging the fuel filter or line over time. It is important, therefore, that you clean this sludge from your domestic oil tank every now and again.
When to Clean your Domestic Oil Tank
It is recommended that you clean the filter on your domestic oil tank at least once a year, but this can vary according to how much you use the tank. If you do not allow the level of oil to drop too low within the tank, it can help to prevent sludge from blocking the lines, making it last a little longer between cleanings. When you get your boiler serviced, you can also ask the technician about the condition of your tank and whether they would recommend that it needs cleaning or in the case of an ageing tank – replacement. It is usually one of these technicians that will first notice that there is a build-up of sludge in a domestic oil tank.
It is important to remember, however, that you should also clean your domestic oil tank if any moisture, insects, or air in the tank gets in – if you have had loose vent caps, for example. These can cause extra blockages and need to be removed before they cause any problems.
Cleaning your Domestic Oil Tank
In principle, the process of cleaning your domestic oil tank is a simple process. However, it is not necessarily as easy as it may seem, and many people prefer to ask a professional to do it for them. The process includes emptying the tank, cleaning it, then drying it so that it is in the best condition to be refilled.
Emptying your Domestic Oil Tank
The first step is to drain the existing oil out of the tank. This should be done by placing a plastic container underneath the outlet or drain valve and emptying the oil out of it into the plastic container until it is all gone. This container should then be sealed and stored so that it does not spill anywhere.
Cleaning your Domestic Oil Tank
You should then take a separate container and again, place it underneath the drain valve and use a hose to spray the inside of the tank. Let this water run through the valve until it runs clear and then replace the cap on the drain valve. This contaminated oil should be disposed of safely by a licensed waste disposal contractor or at a local authority disposal site if the facility exists in your local area.
Drying your Domestic Oil Tank
It is important that the domestic oil tank is thoroughly dried before putting any oil in it as this can affect the quality of the oil. To dry it properly you will need to tip the tank up and drain any remaining oily water out of it and then use a rag on a stick or a mop to dry up the last remnants of any moisture.
Once that the tank is thoroughly dry, it is ready to be refilled with oil to be used again.
It is important to note that if you have waste oil to be disposed of you should check what the local regulations are regarding how to dispose of it properly.
