Did you know that condensation can be a common problem for heating oil tanks during the summer? Hot and humid days, followed by cooler nights, create the perfect atmosphere for condensation buildup to form inside your tank. And if your storage tank is aboveground, outdoors and in an unshaded area, it’s especially vulnerable to condensation.
To avoid condensation build-up inside your storage tank, it’s best to keep your tank full during the warm months. Don’t worry, your heating oil won’t spoil or go bad if it sits in your tank unused for a couple of months. The average life span of home heating oil ranges between 18 and 24 months. In comparison, regular gasoline only has a shelf life of three to six months
After water forms on the bare walls on the empty area of the tank, it drips down and sinks to the bottom of the tank because water is denser than heating oil. There, it becomes an ideal environment for bacteria and other microorganisms.
Over time, these organisms turn into sediment. If ignored, this can result in corrosion inside your tank. Another problem is that sediment, also known as sludge, can get into your fuel lines and clog them. This will cause your heating system to shut down.
To make deliveries easier and stress-free for you, ask your heating oil company if they offer automatic heating oil delivery. This allows them to be accurate about your fuel needs so they can make a heating oil delivery. A delivery will be scheduled when your oil tank is about one-quarter full. This takes away the hassle of having to check your tank and order your fuel. It also lowers the risk and expense of running out of oil—and ensures you don’t go through summer with a near-empty tank.
There is no need to schedule and wait for deliveries, and you’ll avoid the expense and hassle of having your heating oil system tested and primed for restart, which needs to be done anytime a runout occurs.
Knowing you’re protecting your investment in a heating oil tank should give you plenty of motivation to get a summer fill. But there are other benefits to filling your heating oil tank now, rather than later.
If you call for your fuel and your tank is less than one-quarter full, reach out to your local Maine heating oil provider to schedule a heating oil delivery soon. After that, you can get back to enjoying some warm weather fun without worrying about your heating oil tank—or the heating oil inside of it.
Thinking about replacing your old oil tank? Learn about your options in new heating oil tanks.