Having a heating oil storage tank on your property offers an important advantage for New Jersey homeowners. The tank in your basement, yard or garage provides an ample supply of heating oil ready for immediate use whenever it’s needed. But there are misconceptions about heating oil storage tanks that should be cleared up. Here are answers to some of the most common questions New Jerseyans have about their 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 check out your replacement options.
Besides just wearing out due to age, a heating oil tank can fail because of condensation on the inside. When there is a substantial amount 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.
Besides getting periodic professional tank inspections, you should also do your own visual inspections because trouble signs can be seen sometimes, including:
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 safe to store inside the home, you can put your new leak-proof tank in a basement or garage. You can also put it outside, near your house, garage, or other outdoor space.
Today’s heating oil storage tanks are light years ahead of old models, because they are virtually leakproof and have features that include:
Your New Jersey 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.
To make winter deliveries easier and stress-free for you, ask your New Jersey heating oil company if they offer automatic delivery. This allows them to be correct about your fuel needs so they can make a delivery, and you can continue to feel warm and safe using heating oil at home.
But if you still prefer to call for heating oil, you need to give your fuel supplier extra time when conditions are harsh to avoid running out of fuel. It’s best to call for more fuel when your oil tank falls to the one-quarter mark.
If you’re ready to replace your tank, reach out to your New Jersey heating oil company for assistance.