BURCH OIL

The air is finally getting warmer, signaling the end of winter and the arrival of spring. As the new season draws near, it pays to give your heating oil tank the needed care and attention it deserves. After all, it served you well over the past winter months, providing fuel for your heating system to provide warmth and comfort. 

Inspecting and maintaining your heating oil tank helps ensure it remains in great condition when the next heating season comes around. Additionally, proper maintenance helps prolong its lifespan and reduces the need for costly repairs in the future. Burch Oil, your trusted quality heating oil delivery services provider, explains why you should add this maintenance task in your spring cleaning checklist.

Why Do You Need To Clean Your Oil Tank?

One of the common issues homeowners encounter with their heating oil tanks is the accumulation of sludge inside them. It is a byproduct of condensation that typically occurs when the tank is filled with oil that’s at a different temperature than the tank itself. Due to the thermal difference, water vapor starts to condense, resulting in the formation of sludge. Like the one inside your car’s gas tank, sludge in an oil tank can clog anything it passes through, slowing down fuel delivery. In a worst-case scenario, this issue may even shut the heating system down completely, preventing it from providing indoor comfort during the colder months. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can control the sludge formation in your heating oil. If yours is located outside your home, you may consider applying white or silver paint on its surfaces. This helps the tank reflect the sun’s heat and reduce its thermal load throughout the year. You should also consider topping off the tank during spring to avoid the formation of sludge as the temperature warms.

Maintenance Tips to Keep Your Oil Tank in Great Shape

Keeping your oil tank in good condition is fairly simple and straightforward. Here are some tips to keep in mind when performing maintenance on your heating oil tank this spring:

• Perform a Thorough Inspection

One of the first things you should do is inspect your oil tank. You can start by checking the tank’s support legs for any signs of damage such as cracks, dents, stains or rust. Whether it is located inside or outside your home, it should sit on an even concrete floor to ensure its stability. 

In addition, you need to thoroughly check the tank’s components for any leaking valves, vents or fuel delivery lines. You may also want to make sure that the insulation, seal cap, and vent caps are tightly closed. If your oil tank is located outside, keep it free from any oil puddles. Apply leak-sealing putty and sorbent materials to minimize spills. 

• Fill Up Your Oil Tank

Refueling your heating oil tank during the months when you don’t need it might seem odd, but it makes more sense to do so knowing that humid spring weather can lead to moisture buildup inside the tank. An empty – or close to empty – tank means more room for moisture to settle, causing the insides to accumulate rust between now and the next heating season. Thus, it’s best to refill your oil tank during the spring so you don’t have to deal with the headaches that are moisture and corrosion. Plus, the price of heating oil is lower than it was during the fall and winter months due to the low demand.

• Schedule HVAC Maintenance

Since you’ve relied on your heating system for warmth and comfort over the winter months, why not give it the same care and attention it deserves as your heating oil tank this spring? A certified HVAC technician can perform inspections and repairs, taking a look at not only the interior components of your furnace but also the pipes and other components that connect it with the heating oil tank. Depending on their assessment, they may implement repairs or recommend a replacement of either your heating unit or the oil tank.

When it comes to high-quality heating oil delivery and HVAC services, there’s one name to trust – Burch Oil. We are committed to doing everything we can to prevent that cold and frustrating experience you may be experiencing during the winter months. In addition to delivering high-quality heating oil to homes and businesses, we can also get rid of your old or incapacitated oil tank and replace it with a new, state-of-the-art model in as little as one day. We also offer annual tune-ups to ensure your heating system is working at optimal levels.

Call (301) 373-2131 or fill out our contact form to set an appointment.