Looking after your Home Heating Oil Tank in Summer is just as important as during the Winter months. Although you may not be using as much home heating oil fuel during the warmer temperatures, there are lots of benefits to keeping an eye on your home heating oil tank. It can be an easy mistake to forget about the oil tank tucked away in the corner of the blossoming garden. But actually, it’s the perfect time to ensure your oil tank is ready for the long and cold winter months ahead. It should be noted that the heat and a half empty oil tank can put your home heating oil system at risk of blocked fuel lines.
LOOKING AFTER YOUR HOME HEATING OIL TANK IN SUMMER IS EASY WITH OUR EXPERTISE
As one of Cork’s leading home heating oil suppliers with over 30 years of experience in heating homes across Cork City and County, we would encourage our customers to ensure that they look after their home heating oil tank during the summer. Here are some handy tips to ensure that your home heating oil tank is well maintained in summer.
SCHEDULE THE ANNUAL SERVICE FOR YOUR HOME HEATING OIL TANK
Looking after your home heating oil tank in summer can begin with a routine service. Arranging a Maintenance Check with your Home Heating Service Engineer during the summer is a good idea for two reasons. First of all, you are less likely to be using your heating system during the summer so it’s the ideal time for a routine service. It will ensure your home heating system is in perfect condition for the winter. Secondly, engineers will be more flexible at this time of year too as there is less demand for their services than during the winter months.
KEEP YOUR TANK FILLED
This is actually quite important for a variety of reasons. The main reason is that you don’t want to have an empty space in your tank during the warmer months. Empty space in your tank is where water condensation can form. This water then sinks to the bottom of the tank, where it becomes the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. This in turn becomes sludge, which can clog up fuel lines. Water Condensation can also corrode your tank from the inside out. Another reason for filling up your oil tank in the summer is that you will have greater flexibility for oil deliveries. As well as that, you could save yourself some money as heating oil tends to be better value during the summer as demand is much lower.
PREVENT YOUR OIL TANK FROM OIL THEFT
During the summer, we are more likely to be heading off on our holidays and that can leave heating oil tanks vulnerable to fuel theft. Especially with oil thieves scanning Google Maps to see people’s properties and where their oil tank is located. Consider installing a tank lock or a security alarm to keep the heating oil safe in your tank as well as reducing the risk of damage to your tank in the process. There are lots of other ways you can reduce the risk of oil theft and you can read more about this in our Top Ten Tips To Prevent Home Heating Oil Theft.
CONDUCT REGULAR INSPECTIONS OF YOUR OIL TANK
Doing a full visual inspection of your tank regularly is a good idea. It gives you an opportunity to spot any damage or signs of leaking oil or oil spills. Having an oil leak can be very costly if not spotted in time so early intervention is preferable. Walk around the tank and pay close attention to the bottom of the tank. Make sure to note any weakness in the supports of the tank. Check for any damaged pipes and replace if necessary. You should ensure that the fuel cap is secured tightly after refill to prevent water from getting into the tank.
CHECK YOUR OIL LEVELS
You should check your oil levels at least once a month during the summer, especially if you’re using oil to heat the water for your shower. There are different gauges to use to check the oil levels – a float gauge is one that moves as the level of the oil increases or decreases, or a sight gauge which usually consists of a simple clear tube that runs up the side of the tank.
For the most accurate reading, you may want to invest in an electronic gauge which calculates tank dimensions in the unit so it can calculate the depth and air pressure. Some electronic gauges can be linked to your phone, so you can get an alert when the oil falls below a certain level. This can be very beneficial if you’re concerned about fuel theft – you will receive an alert on your phone if the level of the oil in your tank drops dramatically in a short period of time. You can read more about checking your oil levels here.
KEEP THE AREA AROUND YOUR OIL TANK CLEAR
During the summer, all the plants and trees are in full bloom and there’s rapid growth. While there are certain benefits to being clever about the types of plants you want to grow around your oil tank, you should avoid compromising the safety of your tank. Don’t allow your oil tank to be completely overgrown with foliage. First of all, you still need access to the oil tank for refilling and checking the oil levels. You don’t want to run the risk of leaves and petals finding their way into your oil tank. Secondly, if you have trees and climbing plants that are heavy with foliage and flowers weighing down over the oil tank, this could compromise the structure of the tank and supporting frame. So you should ensure your tank is kept clear at all times.
LOOKING AFTER YOUR HOME HEATING OIL TANK IN SUMMER
Of course, should you require an emergency top up of home heating oil, we are happy to offer a same day/next day delivery where possible. We deliver quality home heating fuel 6 days a week, from Monday to Saturday and we aim to deliver your fuel promptly and efficiently. To schedule a home delivery, give us a call on 022-4222011 to speak to one of our sales team or you can email us on info@cityoil.ie Unsure of which fuel to choose? Check out the full range of fuels available on our website www.cityoil.ie or you may want to have a look at our parent company website www.tria.ie. We are one of the leading Cork Home Heating Oil Suppliers with over 30 years of experience and happy to manage your home heating oil needs.