A Heating Oil Tank -
Buy the Right One

Carrying the theme of saving money take a look at our page on buying heating oil. This may well give you an insight into ordering cheaper fuel.

This is quite simple as it just means getting yourself and a few friends organised. Our page tells how easy this can be.

It is essential you make sure that your heating oil tank is in tip-top condition capable of holding your oil(also known as Kerosene) safely.

If it is not any of the the following unfortunate things can happen. Take care!

1. If the heating oil tank develops a leak you can lose your expensive and precious oil.

2. If in the process of losing this oil, it should leak into a watercourse, you are likely to be liable for removing all contaminated soil. This can lead to a bill of several thousand pounds which is not always covered by your insurance policy.

3. There is a risk of fire.

So all in all, you may need to research this subject. This is not just a 'thing' that sits in a secluded part of your garden, this is something that holds probably a large proportion of your domestic budget. It needs some thought and consideration. If you have a heating oil metal tank, take a look and see if you can see any signs of rusting. Better be safe than very sorry.

If you contact a local supplier he should be up-to-date on all the latest regulations regarding the safe storage of fuel oil (of which there are plenty) regarding siting the tank, the correct base, heat retardant panels if needed, etc.

It is necessary to have a bunded tank. These are double skinned tanks that, by their very nature, are less prone to leakage. Basically, the actual heating oil tanks are a small tank enclosing a larger tank. The fuel oil is stored in the inner tank, whilst the outer tank is designed to act as a containment area in the event of a spillage originating from the inner tank e.g. as the result of an overfill.

Choose your tank installer carefully. Shop around and find a supplier who is not committed to just one tank supplier.

There are several brands of tanks on the market, Atlas, Titan, Midas, Balmoral etc.

When a supplier has several different brands of tanks for your selection you are more likely to be suited where your individual requirements are concerned. Plus there is the bonus that such a company is likely to be more impartial.

What size fuel oil tank will you need? This will depend upon the size (output) of the boiler, how often the boiler is used and the size of the house.

There is another consideration that is frequently overlooked. Buy the size of heating oil tank sufficient that is to hold the supply of oil you need for a full year. The reason for this is that you will get a better price from the oil supplier if you are ordering a larger quantity. Plus, having ordered for a full year – from start to end of winter, plus a little to see you through the summer months, then you will have no worries during this period.

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If you have a small tank and you live in a rural area, you will need to know that if you run low on supply around Christmas/New Year will the Oil Company be able to get to you? Will there be snow on the ground to add to this difficulty?

Think it over. Yes, you will have the added expense of a large tank – at present the difference between a 1300 litre tank and a 2500 tank is around £200. However, you will get a better price for the oil you are ordering, particularly if you are a member of a TSOC (again see our page - Heating Oil). Plus you will have more peace of mind.

This follows neatly on to…..

It is always advisable to have a Watchman Sonic device fitted. This is a small indicator that fits nicely into an electrical socket inside your house. Without stepping outside to look at the tank you will be given an accurate, up-to-date reading of the exact fuel oil content of tank any time of the day or night. Plus, more importantly, you will know exactly when you need to re-order the oil supply.

Some companies will endeavour to charge a fancy price such as £65.00 for this device. If you are having a new tank installed, negotiate for this to be included. First of all ask for a price without the Watchman and then ask for a price with the Watchman included. See if there is a difference and you will know what to do.