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Written on: February 27, 2023
There are many misconceptions about oil storage tanks that need to be addressed and cleared up. This is especially important if you’re buying or selling an oil-heated home. With that in mind, here are answers to some of the most common questions we get about heating oil tanks.
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 it coming, 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 tank inspections, you should also do your own visual inspections because some trouble signs can actually be seen, including:
Besides just wearing out due to age, a heating oil tank can fail because of condensation on the inside. When there is a lot of empty space in an oil tank during the spring and summer, condensation can form along the inside walls. This eventually turns into sediment later, and, if ignored, can result in corrosion.
To avoid condensation from forming, you should keep your oil tank full during the warm-weather months.
The most common size for a residential heating oil tank is a 275-gallon aboveground tank. A general industry rule-of-thumb is that one or two-bedroom homes typically require a 275-gallon heating oil tank; three- or four- bedroom homes typically would need to go larger.
Because heating oil is biodegradable and safe to store inside the home, you can put your new leak-proof tank in a basement, closet or garage. You can also put it outside, near your house, garage, or outdoor space.
Yes. Computerized sonic or ultrasound methods are the preferred method for testing an underground (UG) tank because this doesn’t put any stress on the tank. Another method is to test the soil around the tank; soil borings are noninvasive and, in our area, tend to be less expensive than other test methods.
No, there are no current federal laws governing active, underground, residential storage tanks for heating oil.
Our experienced and skilled team of heating oil professionals will work with you from the beginning to ensure that you have the right size heating oil tank for your comfort needs, your heating system and the size of your home.
Once your tank is selected, our expert installation team will adhere to all industry regulations, guidelines and codes to handle a proper heating oil tank installation that’s safe and efficient.
Contact us today to request a heating oil tank inspection or for a FREE, no obligation estimate on a new heating oil tank system for your Bucks or Montgomery County, PA home.
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