Upgrade Now Before You Need Your Heat Again
While heating oil tanks can be replaced any time of year, the warm weather months are the ideal time to upgrade since it will cause the least amount of disruption for you and your family. And since this is the off-season for heating oil equipment service, it will be much easier to get an appointment that is most convenient for you.
Warning Signs of a Failing Heating Oil Tank
Heating oil tanks can last for decades, but like anything else, they eventually need to be replaced. Life spans vary depending on the humidity in the environment, the thickness of the tank’s wall and other factors. When tanks do fail, it’s hard to see problems coming sometimes, because they generally erode from the inside out.
If your oil tank is more than 30 years old, it’s a good idea to look into your heating oil tank replacement options.
Besides getting periodic professional heating oil tank inspections to examine the integrity of your tank, you should also do your own visual inspections because some trouble signs can actually be seen, including:
- dime-sized blisters in the paint, commonly found on the tank’s underside (feel the underside to find them). They can be a sign of pending failure.
- pinhole leaks, which are caused by rusting from corrosion inside the tank.
- condensation on the outside of the tank, long after a heating oil delivery.
- evidence of corrosion on the tank’s exterior
- sagging tank legs.
- clogs or restrictions in the fill cap or the vent cap.
- signs of spills.
Options in New Aboveground Heating Oil Tanks
Today’s heating oil storage tanks are light-years ahead of old models, because they are virtually leakproof and have features that include:
- double-wall construction, with an outer tank of corrosion-resistant galvanized steel.
- leak-detection systems.
- long-term warranties.
- sleek designs that can generally be installed in small or unusually shaped spaces.
Your Wisconsin heating oil company will help you with your choice based on your fuel usage volume, the installation location terrain and any municipal or commercial regulations in your area.
How to Extend the Life of Your Heating Oil Tank
A lot of empty space inside your oil tank causes trouble and can shorten the life of your tank. That’s why it’s best to keep your tank at least half-full (preferably more) during the warm months.
Condensation is the reason for the trouble. Empty space in your tank is space where water condensation can form. Condensation is more common during the summer. Hot, humid days and cool nights create the perfect atmosphere for condensation buildup to accelerate inside your tank. And if your tank is aboveground, outdoors and in an unshaded area, it’s especially prone to condensation.
After water forms on the bare walls on the empty area of the tank, it drips down and sinks to the bottom of the tank because it is denser than heating oil. There, it becomes an ideal environment for bacteria and other microorganisms. Over time, these become sediment that can create problems with your oil tank. One problem is that sediment, also known as sludge, can get into your fuel lines and clog them up. This will cause your heating oil system to shut down.
Keeping your heating oil tank full during the summer months prolongs its life. That’s because the same condensation that results in sludge can also corrode your tank from the inside out – a big problem that could be difficult to see coming and costly to remediate.
Reach out to your Wisconsin heating oil company to find out more about your heating oil tank replacement options. They can also help you if you have questions or concerns about your vent pipe, fill pipe or vent alarm whistle. Right now, you may qualify for rebates when you upgrade your oil tank. If the tank doesn’t need to be replaced right now, rebates are also available for upgrading your fill pipe and vent alarm whistle.