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Some houses in the UK rely on oil to heat them. These are often houses that, for whatever reason, cannot be connected to the national grid and need to have their own sources of energy to heat the property. This means that if you use oil to heat your home, during the winter (when access to central heating is at its most important) it is vital that it is properly looked after to reduce the risk of problems.
It is generally recommended that you carry out any maintenance that is required on your oil tank once a year. However, it is also important that you constantly keep an eye on it and its condition throughout the year. The earlier that any issues are picked up, after all, the least amount of damage is likely to occur.
Maintaining your Oil Tank
If you are going to carry out maintenance on your oil tank, it goes without saying that the best time of year to do this would be in the summer. This is when it is less critical that your oil tank is working, easier to empty as you can have it running at lower levels, and means that your oil tank will be working at optimum efficiency during the winter.
When you are checking your heating oil tank before the winter there are some factors that you should be bearing in mind:
Oil Leakage
The most important factor to leak out for in regard to your oil tank is that it is not leaking – or likely to leak in the near future. You should look around every part of the tank – including the main body and any pipes or valves that the tank has. In addition to any leakage that might already be occurring, you should also check the general condition of the tank – including whether there is any rust or areas where the skin of the tank is looking compromised.
Even if you have a bunded heating oil tank, you should be checking for deterioration as well as leaks, as oil leakages can cause significant damage to the local area and beyond – not to mention being a fire hazard.
Some of the signs of damage to your oil tank can include:
- Rust
- Cracks
- Bulges
- Dents
- Any discolouration
If you notice any of these signs, you should seek help as soon as you can to ensure that it is dealt with before the winter sets in.
Blockages
Blockages can also cause big problems, especially during the winter. Most blockages usually come from either debris such as garden waste and plants, or sludge within the tank – often caused by debris within the oil.
You should ensure that you properly check access points such as vents and gauges. These small blockages can damage the heating system and stop it from working efficiently.
If you find blockages within the tank, you should clean it using the standard oil tank heating procedure – or get someone to do it for you.
Check Fittings and Accessories
In addition to the oil tank itself, you will have a number of parts, fittings and accessories that are instrumental in making the system work. You should check that these are all working properly – and check in the instruction manual how long they are likely to last. If you feel that there is a part that is likely to not last much longer, it is better to replace this before the winter sets in to avoid any downtime or misfunctioning of your heating system.
Check Oil Efficiency
A tell-tale sign of a heating oil tank that has a problem is one that uses up significantly more (or less) oil than expected. By keeping a constant eye on how much oil is being used, you will notice any drastic changes, and, therefore, that there is a problem. In some cases, this might be obvious – an oil leak, for example, but in other cases, you might need someone to investigate for you.
Heating Oil Tank Cleaning
Depending on how much you use your oil tank, you will need to clean it (or get it cleaned) at regular intervals. Most people recommend that this is roughly once every three years, but this could be more if you use it a lot, or if you notice that there are blockages or large amounts of sludge in the tank.
Some people are happy to do this themselves, but most prefer to get a professional to do this job as it can be tricky and messy.
