Having a heating oil storage tank on your property offers an important benefit for Michigan homeowners. With a storage tank, you can relax, knowing that you always have immediate access to a secure supply of heating oil. Of course, owning a heating oil tank can result in questions about how to avoid problems and extend its life. With that in mind, here are common questions oilheat consumers often ask.
Heating oil tanks can last for decades, but like anything else in your home, 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 often hard to see a problem coming. This is because trouble usually starts from the inside of the tank.
TIP: If your heating oil tank is more than 30 years old, it’s a good idea to start looking into your replacement options.
Here is an easy thing you can do to help ensure that your storage tank doesn’t fail prematurely. It’s simple. Your oil tank will last longer if you keep it full during the off-season. Don’t worry, your heating oil won’t go bad even if it sits in your tank unused for a couple of months. Here’s why a full tank is beneficial to its health, especially during the summer months.
In warm weather, empty space in your oil tank can create problems for both the tank and the heating oil inside of it.
When there is a lot of empty space in an oil tank, condensation can form. This causes water, which is denser than heating oil, to drip down from the tank walls and sink to the bottom. That’s where it starts creating a host site for bacteria and other microorganisms that eventually become sediment—and later, corrosion. This obviously will eventually result in tank failure.
You can avoid the problem of condensation simply by going through summer with a full tank of heating oil. Keep in mind that the average best-used-by lifespan of home heating oil ranges between 18 and 24 months. And that lifespan can be even longer if your Michigan heating oil supplier delivers high-quality, ultra-low sulfur heating oil.
Besides keeping your heating oil tank full in the summer, it’s a good idea to regularly inspect it, as signs of trouble sometimes become visible. Here are things you can check yourself on your aboveground heating oil tank. Look for:
If you notice any of these signs, contact your Michigan home heating oil service provider so they can evaluate the situation.
To make heating oil deliveries during the heating season easier and stress-free, ask your Michigan heating oil company if they offer automatic delivery. This is a complimentary service that allows them to be correct about your fuel needs so they can make a heating oil delivery well before your tank level gets too low.
If you still prefer to call for heating oil, however, you need to give your heating oil 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 interested in upgrading your heating oil tank and learning about your replacement options, please reach out to your Michigan heating oil service provider for advice.
Be sure to ask about an equipment rebate program launched by the Michigan Petroleum Association/Michigan Association of Convenience Stores (MPAMACS) with the support of the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA). Qualified homeowners in Michigan can receive rebates when they install a new high-efficiency heating system and/or new aboveground heating oil tank.
