While your heating oil tank doesn’t have a direct impact on your home’s energy efficiency, it is an important part of the “energy system” in your house and it can affect your family’s comfort and peace of mind. Here are a few important facts about the heating oil tanks that are being installed today:
Now that winter is behind us, here’s what you should do with your tank to make sure it’s ready to get you through another heating season.
If you have plenty of fuel in your storage tank right now, that’s good news. In warm weather, empty space in your oil tank can create problems for both the tank and your oil in it.
With empty space in your tank, water condensation can form. Tanks that are outdoors, aboveground and in an unshaded area are more vulnerable to developing condensation.
Water is denser than heating oil, and when it forms on the bare walls of the empty part of the tank, it drips down and sinks to the bottom. It becomes fertile ground for the development of bacteria and other microorganisms, which eventually results in sediment forming at the bottom of the tank.
Not only can that sediment corrode your oil tank, it can also break down your heating oil and cause other problems, including clogged fuel lines, which can cause your system to shut down.
You should be diligent about making sure your tank is properly maintained, clean and well-sealed. This way, you’ll have the comfort of knowing your storage tank is all set to get back to work once Michigan’s weather turns cold again.
Please contact your heating oil company if you have questions or need to fill up your tank.